Thousands of protesters opposed to the Trump agenda and expansion of executive power could rally in Sarasota and Manatee.
By Ed James III
Original Air Date: March 25, 2026
Host: Expect thousands of opponents of the Trump agenda to rally this Saturday along the Suncoast for another No Kings Day. Ed James III has a preview of local events.
[Vehicles honking, crowd cheering]
Crowd: No Kings U.S.A! No Kings U.S.A! No Kings U.S.A!
At Sarasota’s June 14, 2025 No Kings demonstration | Photos: Werner
Ed James III: If you’ve spent any time in downtown Sarasota lately, you’ve likely seen the groundwork being laid for this weekend. From sign-making parties at local community centers to digital organizing across Sarasota and Manatee counties, the No Kings movement is making its presence felt.
The primary focus this Saturday is Payne Park. Starting at 4:00 p.m, the Democratic Women’s Club of Sarasota County, alongside Indivisible Sarasota and Florida Veterans for Common Sense, will host a gathering at the amphitheater. The goal, according to local organizers, is to go beyond simple protest, engage in elections, and move toward what they call “active liberation” — building the world they want to see without waiting for permission.
Sarasota’s June 14, 2025 No Kings demonstration.
At 5:00 p.m, that energy moves from the park to the pavement. A massive sign-wave is planned along the sidewalks of US 301 between Mound Street and Fruitville Road. For those who remember the 700-foot Pride flag walk last June, the organizers are aiming for that same level of visibility.
But this isn’t just a Sarasota story. In what is expected to be the second-largest rally, on the county line with Manatee County, Indivisible Manatee activists are coordinating a morning protest along University Parkway near the UTC Mall at 10:00 a.m. Simultaneously at 10 a.m. in Bradenton, Indivisible Manatee will host a protest at Cortez Commons, on the north side of Cortez Road. Another location in Manatee County at 10 a.m. is Ellenton, at the Rocky Bluff Branch Library on US 301.
To the south, also at 10 a.m, an Indivisible group in Venice is planning a gathering at Biehl Park at 100 Tampa Avenue West. Half an hour later, at 10:30 a.m, No Kings protesters will meet in Englewood, at West Dearborn Street and Indiana Avenue.
Zander Moricz, executive director and founder of SEE Alliance, at Sarasota’s June 14, 2025 No Kings demonstration.
Meanwhile, an all-day conference Saturday in Venice is titled “Save Democracy for All.” This one runs from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Venice Community Center, and it’s organized by the Social Justice Alliance of the Florida Suncoast. It features Katherine Stewart, a New York Times bestselling author on anti-democratic movements, as keynote speaker.
No Kings protests are also planned at Port Charlotte, Sun City Center, Brandon, Gulfport, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa.
According to organizers, this nationwide and regional mobilization responds to what they describe as a “climate of fear”. Because of this, there is emphasis on community support this weekend. The Sarasota rally will include a Food for Our Neighbors drive, collecting non-perishable goods for local families in lockdown due to the immigrant crackdown.
At Sarasota’s June 14, 2025 No Kings demonstration.
Organizers are bracing for a large turnout in downtown Sarasota. They are advising anyone planning to attend the Payne Park event to arrive early and use the Ringling Boulevard parking garages or the judicial lot, as street parking will be hard to find. They are also stressing a strictly non-violent code of conduct. The instructions circulating in local group chats are clear: “Focus on the message, ignore the opposition, and stay hydrated.”
Some of the protests will have a very local feel. The latest addition to the event lineup: Residents of the Sarasota Bay Club retirement community announced today they will be rallying—also at 10:00 a.m—on the North Tamiami Trail in front of Whitaker Park, just north of the 14th Street roundabout.
Reporting for WSLR News, I’m Ed James III.
WSLR News aims to keep the local community informed with our 1/2 hour local news show, quarterly newspaper and social media feeds. The local news broadcast airs on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm.