Protesters in Lake County are preparing for a weekend of coordinated demonstrations against recent immigration enforcement policies, with three separate events scheduled for Saturday, June 14.
The No Kings activist group organized the protests, which aim to call attention to “unlawful deportations, civil rights violations, and growing government overreach.” Demonstrations will take place at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 441 and Donnelly Street in Mount Dora from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Lake-Sumter State College in Leesburg from 10 a.m. to noon, and at the Morse Boulevard Roundabout in The Villages from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The protests come amid mounting national concerns about immigration enforcement, as well as a growing wave of grassroots rallies in response to violent clashes in Los Angeles, where recent protests turned chaotic, with allegations of looting and missiles thrown at ICE trucks.
On its website, No Kings accuses authorities of overreach, writing: “They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services. The corruption has gone too far. No thrones, no crowns, no kings.”
The group is urging Lake County residents to participate peacefully and has emphasized a strict code of conduct. “A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action,” the group states. “We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought.”
Organizers are also providing protest training classes to assist attendees in preparing for the demonstrations. In addition, a mass organizing call is planned for later this week to brief members on the movement’s objectives and the role of local sheriffs in immigration enforcement.
“President Trump thinks he can disappear people,” one post on the site reads. “Join us for a mass organizing call to learn why this moment matters, how sheriffs play a central role in this crisis, and what you can do to push back, starting in your own community.”
Local law enforcement authorities have not issued any public statements regarding the protests, but homeowners and motorists should be aware of potential delays around the designated protest areas.
