ORLANDO, Fla. – Demonstrators gathered across Central Florida on Saturday as part of a coordinated “No Kings” protests, with one of the largest turnouts seen in downtown Orlando.
Protests were reported in several Central Florida locations including Sanford, Palm Bay, Poinciana and Ocala, in addition to the demonstration outside Orlando City Hall.
Organizers and attendees said the protest comes amid heightened tensions surrounding immigration enforcement, including the potential deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to assist Transportation Security Administration operations at airports, as well as discussions about a possible ICE detention center in Central Florida.
At one point during the demonstration, a brief moment of opposition emerged when a man sitting inside a vehicle displayed a Trump-Vance hat toward protesters. The interaction prompted visible reactions from some in the crowd.
“Well, he was trying to incite it,” one protester said. “I mean, it was clearly coming from him first. I think that’s an important part to report.”
From a nearby parking garage overlooking South Street, the size of the crowd was visible, with demonstrators filling sections of the roadway and sidewalks. After witnessing the exchange from above, a protester explained why they approached the vehicle.
“Because I think that people need to understand this,” the protester said. “It’s not about being left or right. It’s about being right or wrong. And this is what’s right.”
While many participants voiced opposition to current federal policies, not all identified as Democrats.
“I’m a lifelong Republican who doesn’t support what the administration is doing,” said Sarah Rumpf, who attended the downtown protest.
Rumpf said her political stance has strained personal relationships.
“I’ve lost friends. I’ve lost people I cared about deeply,” she said. “But it’s been a long tenure process of losing people. And you learn who your friends are and you learn who puts principle over party.”
Some attendees said Saturday’s turnout appeared larger than previous “No Kings” demonstrations held in downtown Orlando.
“I think more and more people are feeling affected by it, and they’re seeing the direct impacts on others,” said Amanda Kohn. “I think that people are starting to see that this isn’t normal. This is what we stand for as Americans.”
Some protests in other parts of Central Florida, were met with differing opinions. Viewer-submitted video showed a group of Trump supporters gathered along a street in Palm Coast.
U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat representing Central Florida, also weighed in when asked what message he had for Republican elected officials.
“Grow a spine and stand up for our country and for our democracy,” Frost said.
News 6 has reached out to Florida elected officials for comment on the protests.