Protesters across Long Island attending No Kings rallies say they are standing up for Democracy in the face of what they call a slide into authoritarianism.

Thousands gathered in Mineola where demonstrators spoke out against immigration raids, health care costs and the deployment of National Guard troops to some U.S. cities.

“I'm here with the thousands of people in Mineola, and across Long Island and the country to stand up and fight for our Democracy…We don’t want kings in America. We want rights. We want free speech. We want safety. We want our Constitution respected," said Emily Kaufman, with Long Island Network for Change.

Some counter protesters supporting the president have been driving by and standing across the street.

“Trump had won Nassau and Suffolk County, so he needs to be represented and so here I am," said Lance Larkin, of Hicksville.

There are about a dozen more No Kings rallies taking place Saturday across Long Island and thousands being held across the country.

While the earlier protests this year — against Elon Musk’s cuts in spring, then to counter Trump’s military parade in June — drew crowds, organizers say this one is building a more unified opposition movement. Top Democrats such as Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are joining in what organizers view as an antidote to Trump’s actions, from the administration’s clampdown on free speech to its military-style immigration raids.

News 12 reached out to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for a comment:

“It’s ironic that the same people who are calling our president a king are exercising their right to free speech under the protection of our great Nassau County Police Department.”