‘No Kings’ protest draws thousands to downtown Patchogue

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Patchogue on Oct. 18 to protest the actions of President Donald Trump during the second No Kings Day.

Organizers said around 6,000 people participated in the protest. Many demonstrators expressed their frustrations with the Trump administration through signs reading phrases like “No Kings” and “No Tyrants,” while many cars driving past honked in support.

The Patchogue protest, which spanned across the south side of Great Patchogue Lake along Holbrook Road before moving outside the office of U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino on Oak Street, was one of 11 demonstrations across Long Island and 2,700 nationwide during the protest day.

Demonstrators present said they showed up to protest due to the outrage they feel over actions taken by the federal government, such as increased ICE activity, National Guard deployments in major cities, and the passing of the “Big Beautiful Bill” over the summer.

“We’re just really frightened about what’s going on in America,” said protestor Kimberly, from Patchogue. “Trump is trying to do everything, like mobilizing the National Guard, breaking so many laws, that if any other Democratic President were to do this, it would just be unthinkable. But now it’s become so normalized that we need to stand up and say something, because it isn’t right.”

Numerous protestors, including Kimberly, dressed as inflatable unicorns or dinosaurs to honor those in Portland, Ore., who are protesting the ongoing military deployment while wearing the same inflatable costumes.

One Portland protestor dressed in a frog costume gained national attention recently after being allegedly pepper-sprayed by federal officers in the air vent of his suit, and has inspired anti-Trump protestors in the week since.

Under Trump’s orders, National Guard troops have been deployed to five cities across the country since early summer: Washington D.C., Chicago, Memphis, Portland, and Los Angeles, with troops also sent to Missouri.

When first announcing National Guard deployments in early August to D.C., Trump listed New York City as a potential future deployment. On Oct. 20, a bill was introduced in the State Senate that, if passed, would require Gov. Kathy Hochul’s permission for other states’ National Guards to enter the state.

Amidst the car-honking and chants of “No Kings” during the protest, some demonstrators broke out into song and dance, singing tunes like “This Land is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie and “America the Beautiful.”

Some even brought instruments like flutes and drums to rally the crowd.

Patrick Halpin, a former Suffolk County executive and Democratic candidate for Congress in 2026, was also present to protest the actions of the federal government while introducing himself to demonstrators and voters as he runs against incumbant U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino.

“He [Garbarino] doesn’t care about the middle class; he cares about the billionaires, can you believe that?” Halpin told the crowd.

Only a fraction of the demonstrators near Patchogue Lake walked to Garbarino’s office to continue to protest. Besides a few passing drivers yelling out “Trump,” there was no counter-protest activity.

“I had a great day in Patchogue attending the Fall Festival and patronizing local businesses. I hope, if the protestors work up an appetite, they will stop in and visit some of our great restaurants,” Garbarino said during the protest.

Organizers of the national No Kings movement said over 7 million people participated in events nationwide, and would host a public debrief to talk about future activities. In reflecting on the day’s meaning, some protestors were driven by deeper issues dividing the country.

“Part of the reason why I’m here is I feel like having humanity for people that you might not even know is being seen as like some radical idea. That makes absolutely no sense to me,” said demonstrator Kiara Brown. “If we all have to share this planet, why don’t we all care about each other?”