'Things Have Only Gotten Worse:' 'No Kings' Protest Saturday In Mineola, Organizers Share Their Voices

MINEOLA, NY — Three organizers have teamed up to bring a 'No Kings' rally to Mineola on Saturday – 16 separate rallies are planned across Long Island.

The 'No Kings' Movement is estimated to have 3,000 similar protests planned across the nation, and organizers from the Mineola Rally say the goal is to peacefully protest the escalating signs of authoritarianism being displayed by President Trump and his administration.

Engage Long Island, Show Up Long Island, and Long Island Network for Change are working together, with the League of Women Voters of Huntington as a co-sponsor, to make Saturday's rally a reality.

Halle Brenner-Perles of East Northport, and Co-Founder of Show Up LI, said Saturday will mark a "historic day." She shared that all the planned 'No Kings' rallies in the U.S. should be peaceful gatherings and family-friendly.

"These are peaceful gatherings of patriots who love our country, celebrate that we are a nation of immigrants, and are showing up to defend our democracy from all of the president’s attacks against it," she said.

People of all ages will attend and show up for different reasons, she said. Some of these include those who will come on behalf of the U.S. troops against "an illegal war," some in solidarity with immigrant communities on Long Island, and some to stand up for science and medical research.

She believes others will come to stand with those who have lost their healthcare or for other reasons.

"Some come to stand with artists and journalists, often the first under attack when free speech is threatened," she said. "Others come to stand for the honest telling of history. Even if the President doesn’t value the truth, we do, and we will continue to tell it."

Brenner-Perles said many will show up with frustration over the increasing cost of living in the U.S., from the price of gas to childcare to groceries, and more.

"But there is always enough money to give tax breaks to the rich, fund wars, and enrich Trump and his associates," she said. "Some may come for all these reasons and more. Either way, 'No Kings #3' will be a historic day of peaceful protest. Let’s all behave right now like we’ll want to be able to tell our grandchildren we did some day. Time to show up."

Huntington resident Emily Kaufman helped found LINC in 2016. She estimates thousands of Americans will show up to "take the street to rise up, and say no thrones, no crowns, no kings."

Kaufman said she is proud to attend the rally and share her voice.

"We will not stand silent as our immigrant neighbors are unlawfully detained, held in dangerous conditions, and deported," she said. "We will not stand silent while our troops get put in harm's way for an illegal war that has no clear goals and objectives. We will not stand silent as pedophiles are protected while survivors are shunned by a DOJ that protects the rich and powerful over those most vulnerable."

For Kaufman, she hopes joining together peacefully with a unified voice will make an impact.

"A reminder that the power of the people will always be stronger than the people in power," she said. "We will fight , and we will win."

Rachel Klein, founder of Engage LI, said there has been a downward spiral in the direction of the nation.

"Things have only gotten worse since the last time we gathered in Mineola for No Kings 2," she said.

She listed a few of the reasons she is attending on Saturday.

"We’re putting our troops at risk for a war that Congress never authorized and is costing us $1 billion per day," she said. "Masked federal agents with little training and seemingly no guardrails are kidnapping people off the streets and killing citizens. Immigrants are dying in detention centers with inhumane conditions. Trump is threatening to take over our elections because of how deeply unpopular his policies are. Everything is costing us more, and there is chaos at the airports. Nobody wants this."

Klein urges people to stand up and join the three organizations on Saturday.

"We don’t have to agree on everything, but if you agree that what’s currently happening in America is wrong, please stand with us in what’s expected to be the largest single-day, nationwide, peaceful protest in US history," she said.

Some speakers who are planned to attend are Assemblyman Chuck Lavine, Veteran and Former NYPD Officer and Prosecutor Joe Scianablo, Lawyer and Community Advocate Frederick Brewington, and more.

The rally will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Nassau County Courthouse at 262 Old Country Road in Mineola. A full list of 'No Kings' rallies can be found online.