Latest news with #TorchofFriendship
Miami Herald
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
What was a Proud Boys leader doing at a Miami anti-Trump rally? Take a look
Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was spotted Saturday at a No Kings protest near the Torch of Friendship in downtown Miami. No Kings protests spread out across South Florida and the country Saturday as thousands of people demonstrated against President Donald Trump's policies on how he's handling immigration, budget cuts and a $45 million military parade in Washington. MORE: 'What democracy looks like.' Why thousands marched in South Florida protests As one of his first executive orders upon taking office for his second term in January, Trump pardoned Tarrio for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the nation's Capitol. Tarrio is now promoting an app that lets citizens report undocumented immigrants — and get paid for it. He told reporters he ventured into the Miami protest crowds to interview people for the app. Tarrio chose the Miami No Kings protest among the nearly 80 in Florida and thousands of similar demonstrations against Trump across the country because he expected a peaceful reception, he told South Florida TV station NBC 6. Aside from some shouts and a few raised middle fingers in his direction, Tarrio seemed to get what he wanted. 'You know, it's Miami. DeSantis is the governor. We know that. So I didn't expect anything here. Maybe in another location we might see something. But for the most part here, it's been peaceful,' Tarrio told the station. 'But I disagree with all these people; I actually agree with them on the message — no kings in the United States. And what we're seeing now is a judicial coup in the United States by these unelected federal judges going against Article II in the Constitution, which is the executive branch. So, you know, I'm just here. What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna interview some people. Keep it friendly. We got our cameras out. We're ready to go so I'm hoping everybody has a fun day.'
Miami Herald
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
‘What democracy looks like.' Why thousands marched in South Florida protests
No Kings protests fanned out across South Florida and the country Saturday as thousands of people demonstrated against President Donald Trump's policies on his 79th birthday and the day of a military parade in Washington. Surrounded by a heavy police presence, the 'No Kings' protesters were passionate but peaceful. As people took to the streets, reports came in that two Democratic lawmakers were shot in Minnesota in what is being described as political violence. More than 70 official rallies unfolded across Florida, including Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale and the Florida Keys. The demonstrations, about 2,000 nationwide, hit the streets after a federal crackdown on protesters in Los Angeles who were marching in response to the nation's new stringent immigration policies and ICE raids. MORE: Live updates: Anti-Trump protests start in South Florida. See what's happening Downtown Miami A downtown Miami crowd swelling into the thousands gathered around a steamy Torch of Friendship, many people holding signs and waving American flags. 'This is what democracy looks like,' hundreds of marchers chanted as they made their way through the streets. Many waved American flags, while a few Mexican, Venezuelan, and Guatemalan flags also were visible. 'No hate, no fear — immigrants are welcome here,' echoed a chant, yielding a call-and-response vocal chorus. Among the imagery on the signs: 'Power to the People, Not the Crown.' 'This season of America needs new writers 0/5,' read another from a would-be critic, assigning no stars to their review of Trump's first six months of leadership in his second term. Bad Bunny's recent tune 'Lo que le pasó a Hawaii' blasted on a speaker. Childish Gambino's 2018 single, 'This Is America,' sparked cheers and dancing among the swelling crowd. With a temperature pushing 90 and a heat index of 100, the weather proved a formidable foe. One person fainted near the torch and was carried away by a handful of people. 'We have security, we have medics — there's training that goes into all of that,' said Raquel Pacheco, co-chair of the organizing group Indivisible Miami. She said the group worked closely with the Miami Police Department for the downtown event. 'Safety is our number one priority. We've never had an issue at any of our events.' Pacheco expressed concern over what she described as an 'attack on our constitutional rights' and the 'tyrant-type of actions' taken by the government during President Trump's second administration. President Donald Trump earlier this week said he doesn't 'feel like a king' when asked about Saturday's nationwide 'No King' protests. Pacheco said one of her key goals is to unite people and encourage them to show up to events like the 'No Kings' protests. 'We believe democracy is something you build every day,' added Ariana Hernandez, Pacheco's co-chair. 'We're raising awareness and creating solidarity groups — that's what we're doing, too.' Guena Rod, 44, didn't carry any signs or flags — instead, he came equipped with camera gear, ready to film content for his YouTube channel, 23yflagler, which he says he uses to promote to his 65,000 followers events like Saturday's protests. A Cuban national who has lived in Miami-Dade County for 12 years, Rod is also a member of the leadership board at Indivisible Miami. He drew sharp comparisons between his experience in Cuba and what he sees as emerging threats to democracy in the U.S. 'I know what happens when they start to ask you to give away your neighbors, your family, the people who surround you. I know how it feels. I know how it feels when they start using the military to threaten people. I know how it feels when they start to fight against the free press, and I don't want that to happen here in the United States,' Rod said. Rod emphasized that he would not flee again. 'I escaped once from Cuba. I'm not going to escape from the United States. I'm going to fight to the end.' While he said he respects traditional conservative values, what he sees now goes beyond ideology. 'This is pure and absolute fascism, textbook fascism,' he said. 'Not in their end stages or in their final stages — this is how it begins.' Miami Beach About 250 people carrying signs with slogans such as, 'This is the government our founders warned us about,' streamed into Pride Park in Miami Beach and formed a circle adjacent to a dozen police vehicles surrounding the park. Officers, dressed in riot gear, observed. James Fabiano, a self-employed 57-year-old, stepped into the circle to address the crowd. He was dressed in a black shirt with a rainbow-colored American flag and a paper Burger King crown painted over to read, 'No Kings.' 'When I grew up, I paid attention in social studies,' Fabiano said, recounting how, as a child, he was moved by the stories of Holocaust survivors he grew up around in New York. 'I see the same thing happening in my country in 2025,' he said. Fabiano said he moved from Brooklyn to Miami Beach in 1985, when he was 17, enamored with a feeling of safety and community he felt here as a gay man. 'I could walk around in eyeliner and Daisy Dukes with beach blond hair and nobody attacked me, I was free,' he said. 'The immigrant community were loving and accepting; there was no judgment.' Broadcasts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials rounding up immigrants across the country incensed Fabiano and compelled him to rally. 'I came to protest Trump, the Republicans, the MAGA supporters, to me they're no different from Nazis,' Fabiano said. Speakers took to a megaphone to share concerns about what they see as the Trump administration's divisive rhetoric, immigration policy and cutbacks to government agencies. Monica Tracy, a 67-year-old retired real estate agent, organized the No Kings rally in Miami Beach. 'We were founded as a country — we all learned in grade school — founded in protest to King George,' Tracy said. 'Our founding principle is that we didn't want a king, and now we have one.' Tracy's motivation to organize the Miami Beach rally was spurred by the administration's cutbacks to governmental agencies that monitor health and the environment. Her growing involvement in local environmental, political and community organizations flourished after she retired, she said. 'The destruction of government agencies that do the work of making our country a good place, like the EPA, the NIH, the CDC,' she cited. 'Young people don't know what they have, and maybe they won't — until they lose it,' Tracy said, casting her gaze around the morning crowd. 'I don't know why they're not out there as much, it's the older people that are fighting.' Not everyone agreed. A counter-demonstrator interjected, shouting that the country could not afford to support immigrants who enter the country illegally. Within seconds, the crowd drowned him out with boos and chants of 'no kings.' Three police officers escorted the counter-demonstrator away, peacefully, along the sidewalk. Afterward, demonstrators applauded and chanted 'no hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.' 'Authoritarianism, it's not on the way, we're there now,' Tracy said. Fort Lauderdale Around 500 people attended the No Kings Protest along A1A and Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Dozens more cars passing along loudly honked their horns in support. Hector Miranda, 57, has never protested before. A laid-back, 'couch supporter' is how he says he's chosen to fight for the causes he believes in. However, seeing the fear in his co-workers' and friends' eyes who are vastly undocumented spurred him to don a gray shirt with a phrase so divisive those same migrants pleaded with him to keep it locked away — 'I'm an illegal immigrant.' 'I never felt this strongly about anything to come out and protest,' Miranda said. 'It was the fear I saw in the people I work with.' Miranda, born in New Jersey and living in South Florida for the last 15 years, may not be an illegal immigrant but he felt he represented all the undocumented people he knew in the hospitality industry who wanted to join the No Kings Protest but couldn't risk being thrown in a jail cell. 'I know the last time Trump was elected people were p-----, but nothing like this,' he said. 'But this is different, we need to be out here now.' American, Venezuelan, LGBTQ and anti-Trump flags flew high and waved under the near-blistering 90-degree summer heat. Some signs read 'No Kings in America'; 'No Cons, No Clowns, No Kings'; 'Hands off Our Democracy.' Others depicted pictures of guillotines, shattered crowns and Trump in prison clothes. Charlene Burke, 60, was raised by generations of American soldiers, she said. Her father served in a tank division during the Cold War. Her Uncle Bill slugged through European trenches, while her grandfather served as military police during the China-Burma-India campaign during World War II. She has relatives who are still in active service, she said. She proudly held a poster that urged veterans to call a hotline, which she listed, along with spurring on fellow protesters by leading dozens to chant, 'This what democracy looks like.' 'I'm here to support all the protesters, support our right to protest peacefully, to assemble and just to say that we need to impeach Donald Trump, I've had enough,' she said. The president's lack of aid to those who have served the United States is abhorrent, Burke said. 'All veterans deserved to be respected and to have them denigrated and their benefits stripped is an absolute disgrace,' Burke said. 'The lack of continuity of care for the service that the VA provides them is falling short, bad, and these people need help, and they're not getting it.' Organizing the protests Plenty of behind-the-scenes work went into organizing the downtown Miami protest, said Pacheco, co-chair of Indivisible Miami, a progressive grassroots movement that co-sponsored the demonstration along with the 50501 Movement. According to Pacheco, 50, clad in a pink flower dress for the protest, planning for the downtown Miami protest had been underway for about a month. Indivisible Miami has been active since February. Pacheco, who was born in Angola and has lived in Miami Beach for 22 years, has long been involved in activism. A former Army veteran, she ran for Florida State Senate in 2022 against Sen. Ileana Garcia, the co-founder of 'Latinas for Trump.' Miami Republican Sen. Garcia broke ranks by condemning Trump's mass-deportation campaign and immigration enforcement actions as 'unacceptable and inhumane' last week. 'This is not what we voted for,' Garcia said in a statement. Monica Tracy, who organized the No Kings rally in Miami Beach, said she chose Pride Park's location near the Convention Center for its convenience. 'I didn't want to try to get downtown,' she said, referring to the downtown Miami protest. Tracy said it took two weeks to gain approval through the website to organize the rallying site. Charmelle Gambill, a protest organizer working with Hope and Action Indivisible to arrange the Fort Lauderdale No Kings protest, emphasized that a peaceful and safe rally was a must. 'We appreciate everyone who's come out, and it's been peaceful and non-violent which we just wanted to stress,' Gambill said from the protest.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Live protest updates: Hundreds gathering at South Florida rallies. See latest
Anti-Trump 'No Kings' protests have started across South Florida as part of nationwide demonstrations. From the Keys to Tallahassee, protesters are gathering in Miami, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale to rally against Trump administration policies. 'No Kings' organizers have said the demonstrations are to protest against 'abuse of power,' including the crackdown on illegal immigration. Here's what's happening in South Florida: Hundreds of people streamed into Pride Park in Miami Beach Saturday morning, one of several 'No Kings' rallies across South Florida. The crowd, many carrying signs with slogans like 'This is the government our founders warned us about,' formed a circle and invited attendees to address the crowd using a megaphone. Speakers stepped forward to share concerns over issues including the Trump administration's divisive rhetoric, immigration policy and cutbacks to government agencies. 'We were founded as a country — we all learned in grade school — founded in protest to King George,' said Monica Tracy, a 67-year-old retired real estate agent who organized the No Kings rally in Miami Beach. 'Our founding principle is that we didn't want a king, and now we have one.' In between speeches, one man interjected, shouting that the country could not afford to support immigrants who entered the country illegally. Within seconds, the crowd shouted the man down chanting 'no kings' and booing to drown him out. Three police officers quickly arrived and escorted the counter-demonstrator away peacefully along the sidewalk. — Carl David Goette-Luciak By 11 a.m., a crowd of about 200 people had gathered around the Torch of Friendship in downtown Miami, many holding signs and waving American flags. There was a lot of behind-the-scenes work that went into organizing the protest, said Raquel Pacheco, co-chair of Indivisible Miami, a progressive grassroots movement that co-sponsored the demonstration along with the 50501 Movement. Pacheco, 50, who was born in Angola and has lived in Miami Beach for 22 years, has long been involved in activism. A former Army veteran, she ran for the Florida Senate in 2022 against Ileana Garcia, the founder of 'Latinas for Trump.' Pacheco expressed concern over what she described as an 'attack on our constitutional rights' and the 'tyrant-type of actions' taken by the government during President Donald Trump's second administration. One of her key goals, she said, is to unite people and encourage them to show up to events like the 'No Kings' protest. 'We believe democracy is something you build every day,' added Ariana Hernandez, Pacheco's co-chair. 'We're raising awareness and creating solidarity groups — that's what we're doing, too.' — Milena Malaver President Donald Trump earlier this week said he doesn't 'feel like a king' when asked about Saturday's nationwide 'No King' protests that rally against his administration's policies. 'I don't feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved,' Trump told a crowd of reporters at the White House Thursday while signing a resolution to block California's efforts to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035. 'No, no, we're not a king. We're not a king at all,' he said. — Michelle Marchante 'Above average' temperatures are expected this weekend across South Florida, with afternoon highs possibly in the upper-80s or lower-90s and a chance of rain, according to the National Weather Service in Miami. It's expected to feel hotter, with some parts of the region forecast to experience 'feels like' temperatures ranging from 98 to 102, according to the weather service. While it's forecast to be mostly sunny in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, there's a 40% to 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. The forecast is also calling for mostly sunny skies in the Florida Keys, with highs in the upper 80s and a 30% chance of showers. Anyone who plans to be outside — either for the 'No Kings' protest, to enjoy the beach or other outdoor activities this Father's Day weekend — should make sure to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen. Forecasters also recommend people try to seek shade or avoid being outside during the hottest peaks of the day to reduce the risk for heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses. — Michelle Marchante In Fort Lauderdale, drivers will face delays or detours by the No Kings Protests on Saturday. A1A and Sunrise Boulevard will be affected between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Fort Lauderdale police are advising drivers to use Las Olas Boulevard or Oakland Park Boulevard instead. Additionally, the 400 block of Southeast Sixth Avenue will be affected from 2 to 4 p.m. Drivers are advised to use Broward Boulevard as an alternate route to get around. Miami police early Saturday said officers are not planning to close any roads or create detours in downtown Miami for the expected protests near the Torch of Friendship on Biscayne Boulevard. However, officers are monitoring the situation. — Cordell Jones and Michelle Marchante There are more than 70 planned 'No Kings Day' protests in Florida. Here are the locations and times for Miami-Dade, Broward and the Florida Keys: Miami-Dade County: ▪ Downtown Miami: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Torch of Friendship ▪ Miami Beach: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pride Park ▪ Homestead: Noon to 8:30 p.m. at Homestead City Hall Broward County: ▪ Fort Lauderdale: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at A1A and Sunrise Boulevard, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Southeast Third Street and Sixth Avenue. ▪ The protest planned to be held in Hollywood Saturday at North Young Circle was canceled. Monroe County: ▪ Key West: 11 a.m. to noon. The protest's location is private, according to the website. ▪ Marathon: Sombrero Beach Road and Overseas Highway ▪ Key Largo: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Murray Nelson Government Center Read more about the protests here. — David Goodhue Residents from Belmont Village Senior Living in Coral Gables will rally from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Le Jeune Road and Altara Avenue. Though not officially registered under the No Kings movement, the group is focused on similar issues, including Medicare, Medicaid and immigration. Read more here. — Isabel Rivera
Miami Herald
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Live protest updates: Anti-Trump rallies across South Florida. See the latest
Anti-Trump 'No Kings' protests are planned Saturday across South Florida as part of nationwide demonstrations. From the Keys to Tallahassee, protesters are expected to gather across Florida, including in Miami, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale to rally against Trump administration policies. 'No Kings' organizers have said the demonstrations are to protest against 'abuse of power,' including the crackdown on illegal immigration. Here's what's happening in South Florida: Protest locations in South Florida There are more than 70 planned 'No Kings Day' protests in Florida. Here are the locations and times for Miami-Dade, Broward and the Florida Keys: Miami-Dade County: ▪ Downtown Miami: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Torch of Friendship ▪ Miami Beach: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pride Park Broward County: ▪ Hollywood: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Young Circle ▪ Fort Lauderdale: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at A1A and Sunrise Boulevard ▪ Fort Lauderdale: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Southeast Third Street and Sixth Avemue Monroe County: ▪ Key West: 11 a.m. to noon. The protest's location is private, according to the website. ▪ Marathon: Sombrero Beach Road and Overseas Highway ▪ Key Largo: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Murray Nelson Government Center Read more about the protests here. — David Goodhue Senior citizens in Coral Gables join demonstrations Residents from Belmont Village Senior Living in Coral Gables will rally from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Le Jeune Road and Altara Avenue. Though not officially registered under the No Kings movement, the group is focused on similar issues, including Medicare, Medicaid and immigration. Read more here. — Isabel Rivera DeSantis says protesters can be run over by drivers Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that drivers will not be at fault if they hit protesters that block roadways. Interviewed on a Reuben Report podcast episode, he said 'you have a right to defend yourself in Florida.' 'You have a right to flee for your safety, and so if you drive off and you hit one of these people, that's their fault for impinging on you,' DeSantis said. 'You don't have to sit there and just be a sitting duck and let the mob grab you out of your car and drag you through the streets.' Read more here. — Charles Rabin Why are the protests happening on the day of parade? The anti-Trump group 'No Kings' planned the protests to coincide with Saturday's military parade in Washington, D.C. The group, on its website, states that 'No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance' to 'reject authoritarianism — and show the world what democracy really looks like.' 'No King' protests are planned across the country, except in Washington. The 'No Kings' website states this is intentional and is meant 'to draw a clear contrast between our people-powered movement and the costly, wasteful, and un-American birthday parade in Washington.' — Michelle Marchante Why is there a military parade in DC on June 14? Saturday's military parade honors the Army's 250th anniverary and President Donald Trump on his 79th birthday. The U.S. Army's anniversary falls on Flag Day, which commemorates the adoption of the U.S. official flag. June 14 is also Trump's birthday. More than 6,000 troops are set to march near the National Mall, with the parade expected to feature period costumes, tanks, aircraft and fireworks. The Army's Golden Knights parachute team is expected to present Trump with an American flag as part of the parade's finale, according to the Associated Press. Saturday's event could cost up to $45 million, according to NPR. — Michelle Marchante
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Tyrannical downslope': Anti-Trump protests continue to draw large crowds in Miami
Kelly Robinson pulled out her old 2017 inflatable Donald Trump Halloween costume and wore it to a protest in Downtown Miami on Saturday. She said she originally wore it during Trump's first term, back when she thought 'we as a country would have learned our lesson.' Robinson, 51, was one of hundreds who gathered at the Torch of Friendship to oppose the president's policies, including proposed cuts to Social Security and Medicare, mass deportations, layoffs and sweeping reductions to the federal budget. Protesters also voiced opposition to billionaire Elon Musk, who has led Trump's aggressive plans to slash federal agencies and spending. Wearing her Trump costume, Robinson danced with a poster reading, 'Who will protest when they come for you?' as demonstrators chanted, 'Donald Trump has got to go,' and some banged on pots with spoons. 'My parents have worked for the federal government my entire life,' she said. 'I was always taught that that was service and a good thing, and what is happening now is not a good thing.' The event was the second in Miami this month protesting the Trump administration. The hundreds of protesters in Downtown Miami were part of a 'National Day of Action' organized by the 50501 Movement, whose name stands for '50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement.' People gathered in cities and towns nationwide to denounce the administration's measures. Saturday's protest blended activism with community outreach. Informational tables lined the area, staffed by national groups like the ACLU and local organizations such as Semillas Colombia, which offers free medical and legal aid to undocumented immigrants. Martin Vidal, an organizer with South Florida 50501, described the protest as a stand against what he sees as an erosion of constitutional rights. 'We're out here trying to stop the government from doing the tyrannical downslope that it's on as the president ignores the Supreme Court and violates due process and violates the First Amendment,' Vidal said. Among the crowd was 75-year-old John Dolson, a retired oil worker and University of Miami adjunct professor, holding a 'Dump Trump' sign. He said he's worried about his 401(k) retirement savings plan and his family's financial future. 'I've worked in the oil industry for 45 years and lived through plenty of layoffs,' Dolson said. 'I know how to cut waste, and you don't do it by sending form letters out, slashing tens of thousands of jobs, telling people they're not fit to work. You don't do it that way.' Dolson also reflected on his past as a park ranger at Black Canyon in Colorado's Gunnison National Park, expressing dismay over shrinking federal park budgets. 'It depresses me to see parks being shuttered, being closed early. People can't get into them. Those are our precious heritage.' Nina Guerra, a 21-year-old student at Florida International University, said she's alarmed by recent political developments in Florida education, including the appointment of former Lieut. Gov. Jeanette Núñez as interim president of FIU. She called it a 'hostile takeover of South Florida education' and said she's already seeing the effects, with some classes being removed. She also condemned FIU police's participation in a federal immigration enforcement program known as 287(g), which allows local law enforcement to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 'The agreement between FIU and ICE is just abhorrent,' Guerra said. 'I don't think that should be on a school campus.' Vanessa Brito, a Miami-Dade-born activist and co-organizer of the event, emphasized the importance of events such as Saturday's protest to give people a sense of community. 'They have support, but they also have a path toward education and civic understanding of what is happening,' Brito said.
