By Brooklyn Dottin
Colorful signs and posters filled the crowd as scores of people voiced their discontent with President Donald Trump. Motorists honked horns in a sign of approval with the protesters who gathered along Old Country Road, while music played in front of the Nassau County Court House.
That was the scene at the No Kings Day demonstration in Mineola. The Oct.18 protest was one of several across Long Island and in New York City that day.
The common sentiment among the protesters was anger over Trump’s ramping up of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in several cities, cuts to federal programs that serve the public and what they saw as his ability to act without checks on his power.
Protester Robin Dolan held a sign that read, “No kings, no fascists, no tyrants, no hate,” with a peace sign emblazoned across the bottom.
“The biggest thing is that he has too much autonomy,” Dolan said. “He is rewriting the Constitution … . My biggest issue is he is taking away democracy.”
Jaime Pertuz, a clinical social worker, stood in front of the flagpole outside the Nassau County Courthouse. Among his concerns were the Trump administration’s cuts to federal funding for community healthcare.
“The vast majority of the economy is being supported by spending at the upper-income level, while everyone else is struggling, paycheck to paycheck, including people on the right,” Perutz said. “That’s why they are angry. They have the correct diagnosis of the problem, of what is going on, but not the cause.”
Susan Ryan, a retiree from Point Lookout, held a sign that read, “No dictators, no kings, we love America, land of the free,” as she sat in her wheelchair. A member of The Huddle, a group of Point Lookout residents who meet each month to discuss ways to improve their community, she listed several issues that brought her to the protest.
“My key issues are healthcare freedom of speech, the arts — everything that makes life worth living,” Ryan said. “I just think that we need to have stable communities, and we all care about it. That’s why there are a couple thousand people here today, so we need to continue to fight for all of our rights.”
Susan Cushman, an English professor at Nassau Community College, is a member of the League of Women Voters of Central Nassau, which for a century has helped people register to vote. She expressed hope that local government leaders would take heed.
“I hope [Nassau County Executive] Bruce Blakeman is listening and seeing how committed Nassau County residents are to defending our democracy,” she said. Blakeman is a Republican and Trump ally.
A few officials present, including Joe Schianablo, the Democratic candidate for Hempstead Town supervisor, offered a more local perspective on the protest. “We have an illegally appointed supervisor in the Town of Hempstead who is putting politics over the people,” Schianablo said. “We are just sick and tired of career politicians taking care of themselves, ignoring the law and putting themselves before the people. And that is one of the reasons we are all out here today.
“I think that this protest is absolutely amazing,” Schianablo added. “It’s sending a message because it’s not even limited to Nassau County. It’s not limited to our country. There are No Kings protests going on around the world today.”
According to Newsday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said during a news conference on Oct. 15 that the No Kings demonstrations were merely “Hate America rallies.”
The protestors did not agree.
Lauren Wisely, a psychologist from Northport, said she she was appalled by the rise of intolerance in the U.S., and that she was at the protest to show that she loved the U.S.
“It’s absurd. It’s the exact opposite,” she said. “I think the people who understand the core of American ideals are the ones speaking up at these rallies.”
Ryan emphasized that the protesters were peaceful, with no intent to harm. “I think it is completely, completely, a lie,” she said. Johnson “has got some nerve to say that. The issue with this new regime is that anyone that talks against them is considered a violent enemy, and that is not true. The Democrats are not violent. We are here [for a] peaceful protest, and we love our country.”
Olivia Forbes, a registered home care nurse from Oceanside, agreed with Wisely and Ryan.
“We would not be here if we hated America. We would leave. And I love America. That is why we are here,” she said. “We work here, we love everybody here, we think that different people make America great, we believe in the freedom of America, we believe in our Constitution, and we feel that the current administration is not following our Constitution.”
Adults were not the only attendees at the demonstration. Several teenagers and children were present and voiced their opinions on Trump and the protest.
Grace Gillen, 14, held a sign that read, “Fire is catching, ice always melts,” with an insignia for the resistance movement from author Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” trilogy.
“We are the ones that need to project our voices the most and spread what we believe in,” she said, referring to the young people present at the demonstration. “We are the ones who are this country’s future, and we need to make sure that our rights are protected.”
Sarah Wiggins, a seventh-grader who was there with her mother, Wisely, wore a flag draped over her shoulders condemning hate in the U.S., saying it has no home here.
“I don’t like that we have a dictator who wants to be a king in America when the whole point of America is not to have a king,” Wiggins said.
Hofstra students turned out as well.
Grace Lacek, a sophomore film student, described some of the issues of concern to her. “It’s so bad right now,” Lacek said, “particularly the stuff with ICE and the stuff in Gaza right now.”
This protest was part of the second wave of No Kings protests. The first wave was held June 14, the same day as the 250th U.S. Army birthday and Trump’s 79th birthday.
According to NPR, No Kings organizers estimated that about 5 million people participated in the first wave of protests. The organizers projected an even larger turnout for this past weekend’s demonstrations.
There were a few counter-protestors present, holding signs and flags supporting Trump. They were far outnumbered compared to the hundreds of No Kings demonstrators, but had strong opinions about them.
One of the counter-protestors, who would only go by the name of Christine, gave a broad reason for presence at the demonstration.
“Joe Biden killed it,” she said. “He killed whatever is left of our country, him and Kamala-whatever her name is. They killed the United States of America, and [Donald Trump] has to come in and fix every one of their mistakes. He has only been in office for a couple of months. People need to give him time.”
Trump has been in office for nearly nine months after beginning his second term in January.
Another counter-protestor, who declined to reveal his last name, identified himself as Wojack. He had a message for the protestors across the street.
“All those signs there that say, ‘Down with America,’ and everything, they obviously don’t want to live here, and maybe should go to Russia or North Korea, where they would be better suited,” he said.
A few No Kings protesters crossed the street to where counter-protestors had gathered. Among them was Barbara, who did not provide her last name. She’s a small business owner who was born and raised in Nassau County.
“I’m absolutely sick at what is going on with our country,” she said. “[Nassau County] used to be all Democrats, and I cannot believe that people do not have feelings anymore. People are getting picked up in the street, and that seems to be OK. It is not OK.”
Sandra Carvalho, a social worker, explained why she chose to protest on that side of the street.
“These are ‘love the people’ rallies. The people are suffering, even Trump supporters,” Carvalho said. “I fully understand that they are turning everywhere they can because they are suffering, and they are looking for a solution. The reason I came to this side is to show them we are all on the same side, we all want the same things.”
