'This is not OK': Thousands turn out as 'No Kings' protesters march toward Mar-a-Lago
Thousands of people bearing hand-drawn signs, flags and megaphones gathered in downtown West Palm Beach today for a nearly two-mile march toward President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club as part of a daylong, nationwide protest movement.
"No Kings National Day of Defiance" — or "No Kings" for short — aims to oppose Trump's multimillion-dollar military parade in Washington, D.C., as well as his policies and militarized response to protests in places like Los Angeles.
Multiple "No Kings" demonstrations were scheduled to take place throughout Palm Beach County, coinciding with Flag Day, the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary celebration, and Trump's birthday.
Those rallies were held in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton.
The West Palm Beach protest, which drew a large law enforcement presence but remained peaceful, began at Phipps Skate Park, where participants gathered to make signs before marching to the Southern Boulevard Bridge and heading east toward Mar-a-Lago. Police intervened at the Marjorie Merriweather Post Memorial Causeway, stopping protesters before they could arrive at the club.
'Anything with a group demonstration typically gets held to the tidal relief bridge or west,' Palm Beach Police Department spokesperson Capt. William Rothrock told The Daily News on June 12.
He added that gatherings are not allowed farther east past that smaller bridge on Southern Boulevard because of traffic, safety and security concerns.
After they reached the causeway, marchers then turned around and headed west back over the bridge before proceeding to an afternoon rally at the Meyer Amphitheater in West Palm Beach.
Jupiter resident Jaine Ackley, along with her dog, Miso, joined the protest on her bike.
She said she joined the demonstration to speak out against the Trump administration and encourage others to take action.
"I just want to raise awareness and let the administration know that this is not OK," she said. "Other people than us need to step up, including Congress. It's time they pay attention."
Leticia Buck, of Boynton Beach, expressed concern that civil liberties were under threat.
"I feel that our rights are being jeopardized," she said. "I feel that people are not treated properly. Not everybody is treated the same way, so I wanted my voice to be heard. I want to be here and say that this is not good. It's not good for me, and it's not good for the entire country. I'm tired of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer."
Joyce Vicente, a Palm Beach County resident, voiced her concern about the harsh treatment faced by immigrant families.
"I feel like people really lack empathy, especially these days, which is really sad to see," she said. "At the end of the day, we're all humans. We all bleed red. To see people treating one another with such hate is so sad. I think we honestly need to be doing better."
Michelle Lopez, also a county resident, added that immigrants — even those who hadn't committed any crimes — were facing increased violence from law enforcement.
"There are videos everywhere regarding the immigrants being caught by ICE agents," she said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "They're putting knees on them. But let's be honest. They don't do the same amount of strength or force on people that have committed severe crimes, like murder and school shootings.
"Those people, they don't receive the same amount of force that immigrants receive. Some of them are really innocent. They work to provide for their families."
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Thousands participate in 'No Kings' protest march toward Mar-a-Lago
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