Regardless of political affiliation, Lake County residents deserve recognition for the largely peaceful conduct displayed during this weekend’s “No Kings” protests. Aside from a few isolated incidents and some questionable signage, demonstrations across the county remained civil, with participants heeding warnings from local sheriff’s deputies.

Multiple protests were held throughout the weekend in areas including The Villages, Clermont, Leesburg, and Mount Dora, with the largest gathering taking place in The Villages.

Known as “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown,” The Villages is one of the nation’s largest retirement communities, spanning parts of Sumter and Lake counties. Residents are known for their strong opinions on political matters, and the “No Kings” rally drew passionate crowds.

Demonstrators began arriving before 10 a.m. and lined Morse Boulevard near the entrance to Lake Sumter Landing. As the morning progressed, the crowd was estimated to be around three thousand people. Sprinklers turned on in the median and protesters remained undeterred, standing along the roadways and making their voices heard without blocking traffic or engaging in confrontational behavior.

(Sprinkers ran during the protests in The Villages. These were turned on in the middle of the median.)

A separate protest in Clermont carried more tension, with verbal exchanges between opposing groups. Still, the event remained largely peaceful with no reports of property damage or physical altercations.

Similar scenes unfolded in Leesburg and Mount Dora, where protesters were vocal yet civil.

(Protesters in Clermont holding up No Kings protest signs.)

Earlier in the week, Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed the issue of unruly demonstrations during an interview on “The Rubin Report,” saying: “We have a policy in Florida where, if you are driving on a street with protesters and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle and threatens you, you have a right to flee for your safety. If you drive off and you hit one of these people, that’s their fault for infringing on you. You don’t have to sit there and be a sitting duck and let the mob grab you out of your car and drag you through the streets.”

(The crowd in Clermont was very vocal about how they felt.)

Law enforcement agencies, including the Lake County and Sumter County Sheriff’s Offices, maintained a visible and effective presence throughout the events. Officers ensured order was preserved and the protests concluded without major incident.

Across the board, residents on both sides of the political spectrum demonstrated how peaceful assembly and free speech can be exercised responsibly. While a handful of signs suggested aggression, the overwhelming majority of protesters avoided inflammatory rhetoric or behavior.

In contrast to more volatile demonstrations seen elsewhere in the country such as those in Los Angeles, Lake County served as a model for how to conduct civil protest without resorting to violence.