Thursday, October 1, 2026
“History repeatedly demonstrates that democracies decline not solely through coups or invasions,” wrote Rev. Ronald McHenry, a minister from the Evangel Revival Community Church. “But through the gradual normalization of concentrated power, public complacency and the abandonment of constitutional guardrails.
This is why people from every race, generation, faith tradition and socioeconomic background are uniting under the declaration: ‘No Kings.’”
On May 17, Long Beach saw its first organized “No Kings” rally as nearly 200 citizens gathered at Kennedy Plaza. The crowd displayed homemade signs to cars passing by West Park Avenue, with many drivers honking in support.
“A lot of people in Long Beach want to participate and they don’t want to go to Mineola,” said Long Beach resident Roy Lester. “This is their opportunity. People really feel frustrated now. They want to have their voices heard and, unfortunately, this is the only way it can happen.”
The event was organized by Dems by the Sea, a local democratic party with members from across the South Shore. Lester clarified that the rally was protesting national policies, not reflective of legislation specifically in Long Beach.
All afternoon, McHenry led several responsive chants, asking the crowd at one point, “When immigrants are under attack, what do we do?” Participants responded together, “Stand up. Fight back.” Another collective cheer was a repetitive sing-song, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go.”
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“I didn’t expect to see this much democratic support here in Long Beach,” said local resident Jacqueline Calvo.” I thought it was more, kind of bigoted. But now that I’m seeing all this, I’m surprised and happy, actually.”
A collection of impassioned speakers talked to the crowd throughout the event. Among them, Helen Dorado-Alessi, executive director of the Long Beach Latino Civic Association, told her father’s story — escaping the dictatorship of Havana, Cuba in 1954 to eventually work for U.S. Customs after President Ronald Reagan’s amnesty program.
Long Island-based civil rights attorney Frederick K. Brewington reminded the crowd of the people’s critical role in politics, calling the public “the fourth branch of the government.” M.T. Pariti, of Bay Shore, offered original poetry motivated by the tense political climate. In one stanza, he wrote:
“Let’s make fascism a crime
Or at least what we abhor
They’re so way out of line
Violations are galore
And you think that it is fine
To just sit there and ignore?”
