Villagers caravanned by golf cart across the southern part of The Villages, alerting passersby of the upcoming Villages-South No Kings 3.0 protest.
One team started in Brownwood and ended near Everglades Recreation Center, while a second team started at Sawgrass and traveled to Eastport and Middleton.
“I live south of 44, so I’m glad to have a No Kings protest nearer to where I live. I was excited to be part of the caravan,” said Edi Rebhahn, Village of DeLuna.
The Villages-South No Kings 3.0 protest will be from 10-11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 28, at the intersection of Warm Springs and Marsh Bend near Magnolia Plaza shopping center. A second protest in the northern part of The Villages will be from 10 a.m.-noon along Morse Boulevard near Sumter Landing. And for the first time, there will be a No Kings protest from 10-11 a.m. in Lady Lake, 225 W. Guava St., near the Lady Lake Library.
More than 5,000 people participated in No Kings 2.0 protests in The Villages last Oct. 18. The organizers expect even larger crowds for No Kings 3.0 on March 28.
Cheryl Franson, a Minnesota snowbird living in the Village of Pinellas, caravanned with the group that started in Brownwood and traveled south. While standing next to the multi-modal path by the CVS on Warm Springs, Franson said she experienced a variety of reactions to her No Kings sign, both pro and con.
“People have a right to their opinions, and I really enjoyed and appreciated people who shared their feelings respectfully. That’s how we can start to have the more important conversations we need to have,” Franson said. “I spoke with one man who stopped his golf cart and chatted with me for about 10 minutes. He said he always used to vote Republican but now there are things he just can’t go along with.”
Dom Nati of the Village of Monarch Grove, was part of the team that caravanned from Sawgrass to Eastport and Middleton.
“I’m out here today to make sure that there’s a better tomorrow for my grandkids. And I will be back for No Kings next Saturday, too” he said.
Those interested in finding out about No Kings 3.0 protests nearby or in other parts of the country and the world are encouraged to go to https://www.nokings.org, where they will find a map showing the more than 3,000 No Kings 3.0 protest sites, including at least 110 in Florida.
At the Villages-South location, protesters can stand or sit on the grassy areas along the northeast, northwest and southwest corners of the Warm Springs/Marsh Bend intersection. Golf carts can park next to the nearby multi-modal path. Limited space is available for cars and golf carts in nearby public lots; drivers should avoid parking lots owned by private businesses, such as CVS. Carpooling is highly recommended.
Participants are encouraged to create their own signs; extra signs and free golf cart-decorating kits will be available at the Villages-South location.