'No Kings Day' peaceful protests attract thousands in Daytona Beach, Palm Coast

DAYTONA BEACH — With clanging cowbells, blasting car horns of support, and the occasional anti-Donald Trump chanting, around 3,000 people clustered in front of Daytona Beach City Hall and down the sidewalks Oct. 18 to protest much of what President Trump and his administration have done since the beginning of the year.

One woman was in a full Lady Liberty costume, another was dressed like a town crier from another century and a third donned a homemade Santa costume complete with makeshift white beard. Many carried signs, their messages ranging from "Nothing is more American than opposing a tyrant" to "Imagine all the people living life in peace," a quote from John Lennon's iconic song.

The Daytona Beach-area residents joined millions of Americans across the country Saturday morning in a nationwide day of nonviolent protest at the second major "No Kings" Day of Peaceful Action.

There were eight "No Kings" events in Volusia and Flagler counties Saturday, more than 80 in Florida, and over 2,600 nationwide. In addition to Daytona Beach, the Volusia County events took place in New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, DeLand and Orange City. Flagler County had two protests in Palm Coast and one in Flagler Beach.

They gathered to protest everything from the escalating U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids to Trump's attempts to deploy National Guard troops to Democrat-controlled cities to what some would argue is the weaponization of the justice system.

Saturday's three-hour demonstration on the southeast corner of Ridgewood and Orange avenues was peaceful, but at least two small groups of counter-protesters inserted themselves into the event, with one man standing directly on the front steps of City Hall.

As one man stood in front of City Hall with a large wooden cross, another man standing nearby shouted into a megaphone hurling anti-gay slurs, saying men at the demonstration were "effeminate," and proselytizing that people there needed to repent or face burning in Hell.

A small handful of other counter-protesters stood across the street on the west side of Ridgewood Avenue.

As the event was wrapping up around noon, one man walking back to his car hand-in-hand with his wife was verbally attacked by a man with a megaphone standing outside a bar a stone's throw from City Hall. Once he finished taunting the man with his wife, saying "that's what a gay man looks like," the man with the megaphone shifted to telling a woman leaving the demonstration that she was fat.

'No Kings Day' Daytona event full of patriotism

The small number of counter-protesters, and the occasional passing biker who gave the crowd the one-finger salute, were the exception. There was joy, friendliness and support throughout the thousands of demonstrators and volunteers at the Daytona "No Kings" demonstration.

"We love our country, our neighbors and the U.S. Constitution," said Kelly Czajkowski, president of the Just Us Volusia: Daytona Beach 50501 group that organized the event. "People from all different walks of life and various political affiliations are uniting today and standing together to say 'enough. We will not stand for dictators and kings in America.'"

Four months ago, a "No Kings Day" event in Daytona Beach drew about 3,000 peaceful protestors, Czajkowski said. That same day, June 14, more than 5 million people in 1,400 cities across all 50 states joined "No Kings" events. The Oct. 18 events were expected to be even bigger.

People spent their Saturday morning at the Oct. 18 Daytona event to make their voices heard. Ormond Beach resident Linda Klajian said Americans are living "under a reign of terror" and "fear is rampant now."

"That is not America," Klajian said. "People are powerless unless they speak out."

Another Ormond Beach resident, Roger Duvernoy, doesn't like the vibe in the United States now, either.

"To me it feels like Germany pre-World War II, or Vietnam since the sides are so polarized," Duvernoy said.

While some Republicans tried to paint the "No Kings" events as hate-filled, anti-America gatherings, the Daytona demonstration was pulsing with love and patriotism. Many people carried American flags, there were veterans throughout the crowd and strangers became instant friends.

"I am here because I love the USA" read one demonstrator's sign.

'No Kings' highlights the power of protest

Ricki Stofsky, a former television reporter and producer, said her focus is on free speech.

"You can't take that right away," Stofsky said.

Flagler Beach resident Kimberly Hedges said she came to the Daytona Beach event with her 10- and 11-year-old sons to give them a life lesson.

"We have discussions all the time about how important it is to stand up for our country and the Constitution," Hedges said. "They're very aware of what protests can do, the power of it."

She said Saturday's Daytona "No Kings" event felt different than the one in June.

"It feels like there's more at stake because there's a lot more going on with the (Trump) administration than in June," Hedges said.

Alice Jaeger of Holly Hill was dressed up like a town crier and had a "let freedom ring" bell people could clang.

"If you look up the word tyrant, that's exactly what (Trump) is doing to our country now," Jaeger said.

Many people at the Daytona demonstation, which stretched a few blocks south of City Hall along Ridgewood Avenue, let their signs do the talking for them.

"Idolizing a politician is like believing the stripper really likes you," one sign said. "Someone told you I was your enemy, but I'm standing here fighting for your rights, too," read another.

There were many more signs: "You can't spell hatred without red hat;" "The military is not a play thing;" "Hey Taco, our country is nacho kingdom;" "Unfit from the jump Trump;" "Big beautiful betrayal."

'No Kings' demonstrations in Palm Coast, Flagler Beach

Vicky Haley, the founder of Flagler 50501 in Palm Coast, said the turnout was good at the three Flagler County events. All the local Democratic groups helped, including with a sign-making party and “living billboards” on overpasses over Interstate 95 reminding people of “No Kings Day.”

Haley estimated between 800 and 1,000 “No Kings” demonstrators lined State Road 100 east of Belle Terre Parkway in Palm Coast by Target, while another 500 held signs at the Island Walk location at Palm Coast Parkway and Old Kings Road. She estimated about 200 at A1A in Flagler Beach.

“The whole community has done a lot to build up to this day,” she said. “We’ve had a big effort leading up to today, so we are really pleased with the turnout.”

She said drivers were primarily positive. A group of about 30 counter-protesters were at the Island Walk location, and some “agitators” were at the Target location. But she said the protests had been peaceful.

“It’s always the intent of Flagler 50501 and the other community groups to protest peacefully,” she said.

Rescue was called for a woman who suffered a health-related issue at the Target location to make sure she was OK.

Demonstrators held a variety of signs. Some simply said “No Kings” with a slash across a crown, while others said, “Freedom in America,” “No Kings, no masters, no misogynists,” and “Release the files” referring to the Epstein controversy that has followed Trump.

'No Kings' protesters wore costumes

Kristy Williamson, of Palm Coast, was one of the demonstrators at the Target location. But she would have been hard to recognized since she was dressed as a “skeleton unicorn.”

“I’ve seen violence going around the country,” Williamson said. “It’s close to Halloween, so we are peacefully protesting and what could be more peaceful than a unicorn?"

Kathleen Mitchell held a sign that showed an eagle and a crossed-out crown. On the other side, the sign read “United We Stand” and “Stop Ice” and ICE crossed out.

"I’m out here to preserve our rights as an American,” Mitchell said.

Patricia Ramos of Palm Coast was also dressed as a skeleton unicorn, but in an inflatable costume.

"I am out here fighting for freedom for everyone," Ramos said. “… love is love. Everyone has a right to be respected, to due process and to live a life free from fear. And that’s what we are fighting for right now. I’m fighting for my children, for women, for immigrants, definitely immigrants, the LGBTQ-plus community. We are out here to get our freedom back and to get our democracy back.”

A man in an inflatable Trump costume said he was at the demonstration. “I don’t want people to know I’m in the file,” he said.

A woman wore an inflatable T-Rex costume and held a sign that said "Democracy is Dyno-mite. No kings."

You can reach Eileen at [email protected]