Manatee residents join nationwide No Kings protest against Trump. See the crowds
Thousands of Manatee and Sarasota County residents rallied as part of the national No Kings protest on Saturday morning, protesting President Donald Trump’s administration.
At least 2,500 protesters gathered along University Parkway. Another protest along Cortez Road drew about 1,000 people for the same movement against Trump administration initiatives like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and a crackdown on illegal immigration.
No Kings is a national movement that first mobilized to protest Trump on June 14, the day he organized a military parade on his birthday. Hundreds of No Kings protests took place across the country on Saturday as millions of people protested Trump’s administration.
“Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and bigger,” the organization wrote on its website. “‘NO KINGS’ is more than just a slogan; it is the foundation our nation was built upon.”
About a mile-long stretch of University Parkway from N. Cattleman Road to Honore Avenue was filled with protesters clutching homemade signs and chanting in protest.
Manatee-Sarasota joins No Kings protest
“Dump Trump,” some signs read.
“Rejecting Kings since 1776,” another said.
A few signs said, “Release the files,” in reference to the Jeffrey Epstein files that some say incriminate Trump in relation to the convicted sexual offender.
The crowd started gathering around 9 a.m. Throughout the over two-hour protest, the honking of car horns was constant. Drivers honked their horns, cheered out their windows and gave a thumbs up.
Some drivers honked in opposition. One pickup truck adorned with several pro-Trump flags circled the protesters numerous times, sparking chants from the crowd.
People with Indivisible Manatee, which helped organize the event, said they had a little over 900 people sign up and didn’t expect the crowd to grow over 2,000 along University Parkway.
“This is the culmination of a whole lot of people thinking that the Trump administration is not doing a very good job,” Mary Ann Toal, one of the organizers with Indivisible Manatee said. “We’re particularly not happy with the ‘Big, Awful Bill,’ because it’s cutting people off from healthcare, Medicaid…the whole idea of people’s healthcare premiums jumping up to these enormous amounts is just ridiculous.”
Many who showed up for the local No Kings protest said they were there to fight for democracy.
“My grandparents and great-grandparents fought for our country and I want to do the same,” said Chloe Shuskey. “I want to make this country better and I care about everyone who lives in it…this administration has caused harm to so many people and our planet. Showing up matters.”
Christine Kennedy Meier, the chair of the Manatee County Democratic Party, was also among the crowd.
“I am here supporting democracy and I am here supporting my voters exercising their First Amendment right,” Meier said. “I think that it is so important that my community stands up to this tyranny.”
Mark Davis, a candidate for the congressional District 16 seat held by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, said he was inspired to jump into politics about seven months ago after watching Trump’s interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“I’m just tired of us heading toward a fascist state,” Davis said. “I’m just a pissed off dad and just tired of Donald Trump and tired of where this country is headed. I decided to step up and do something about it.”
Another protester was Autumn Mathisen-Edoff, a breast cancer survivor who was advocating for healthcare access, especially for those who are self-employed and take advantage of government health programs like the Affordable Care Act.
“People need access to healthcare,” she said. “I’m here because my healthcare is going to double. I was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 and the Affordable Care Act saved my life.”
Many protesters dressed up in inflatable suits, whether it was an eagle, Tyrannosaurus rex, frog or Bigfoot. Dori Summerlin dressed in a chicken outfit and held a sign that said, “Trump is a bad egg.”
She worked on former President Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign before becoming an independent and, now, a Democrat. She said she showed up to fight for voter rights and the next generation, including her grandchildren.
“I’ve been involved in politics my whole life. Voter registration is my passion,” Summerlin said. “And I do not like what I see going on.”
But Dane Trask stood out among the crowd as he donned Revolutionary War-era garments. He’s part of the Sons of the Revolution, and his family fought in the Revolutionary War that ousted the British reign in the 1770s.
“My family fought in the Revolutionary War to do away with kings in America,” Trask said. “Just to have a president even say that they want to be a king…it’s anti-everything that we’re about.”
