No Kings Rally Draws Hundreds In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Ocean County is known for its staunch support of President Donald Trump. The president won the county's vote handily in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

On Saturday, those who oppose a number of the president's actions since taking office in January lined Hooper Avenue in Toms River in a local No Kings protest, one of more than 40 in New Jersey and one of hundreds nationwide.

The protests were timed to coincide with a military parade in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, which was Trump's 79th birthday as well as the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. Saturday also was Flag Day. Trump has said the Washington parade was meant to celebrate the Army and Flag Day and not necessarily his birthday.

Multiple videos shared on social media showed protesters stretching along part of Bay Avenue at the south end of Ocean County Mall all the way to Oak Avenue at the north end.

On Threads, a user named one_of_sinatras_dads wrote, "This was the 'NO KINGS' protest in very red Ocean County, Toms River NJ. It was a nice feeling to see that there (are) others who think like you." His video shows protesters four and five deep from Bahama Breeze to the main entrance and beyond, with a number of drivers honking in support as they pass the crowd.

Threads user joaniestudio's video shows the stretch from just south of the main entrance to the mall to the area of BJ's Brewhouse.

A third view of the rally from Threads user sandraaccomando showed the turnout from the corner of Bay Avenue at Hooper stretching north.

Not everyone was in support of the protest. Commenters said there were some Trump supporters who drove past the protest and voiced their anger. The Republicans for Toms River posted a commentary Sunday on the club's Facebook page, criticizing the protesters, saying, "To the Democrats behind yesterday’s 'No Kings' protest: Where were you in 2020, when New Jersey had a governor ruling more like a king than an elected official?

"Governor Phil Murphy shut down our schools and our businesses. He allowed our loved ones to die alone, then told us we couldn’t even hold funerals to mourn them. He fined people for leaving their homes. He forced our children to wear masks for hours each day. He threatened people’s livelihoods if they refused to get vaccinated. You weren’t protesting then. You were silent. In fact, many of you supported those policies. So spare us the lectures about tyranny now. When we actually had a governor acting like a king, you cheered him on."