August 2025

23 Aug 2025

“This week I was inspired by Stephen Miller’s comment on “elderly white hippies. “As if his mocking comment was going to keep us off the streets!

I also listed 3 of my favorite things. Lots of smiles, waves, honks, thumbs up, and claps. Only two fingers and one “f**in’ cow.” One woman had a sign - “Stop the Cruelty” and even that got a finger. Read people! 

Finally, a man walking by said, “Keep up the good fight!” and I petted his 2 dogs. Anyway, it’s been a great day!”

16 Aug 2025

“One of my signs was inspired by John Lennon’s song “Power to the People.” 

The other sign was inspired by the President’s call to the Texas governor telling him to redistrict to rig the elections for “5 more Republican seats.”

Today a man pulled over to ask me why he sees me protesting every Saturday. I had typed up my thoughts, but this was the first time someone spoke with me and read what I wrote! Lots of honks today! 

“Get on your feet and into the street, power to the people” - John Lennon

Vigilance. Resistance. Persistence.”

9 Aug 2025

“Fubby Bubbles, did you make that sign?

Yes, I did! Then I stood adjacent to it with my “Loyalty to the Constitution NOT the President” sign.

Go, figure! So far "Free Balls" is my most popular sign!  Lots of smiles, waves, and photos taken. We will be back at it next Saturday.

Vigilance. Resistance. Persistence.”

2 Aug 2025

 

“Each Saturday we station people at each of the four corners of an intersection. A few times vehicles swerved at me (I am standing on the public sidewalk, not in the street) and then quickly straightened. Today was different. A SUV jumped the curb across the street from my corner. No one was injured and some signs were knocked down. It happened so fast that my friends couldn’t get the SUV’s license plate number. This is the type of behavior supported by MAGA and our current administration. 

We continued with our protest. We will be back at it next week. 

Vigilance- Resistance- Persistence”

July 2025

26 Jul 2025

“One “oldie” and one new sign this week. 

Counter protesters were back this week with the same signs: “Deport these Democrats” and “Honk for ICE”. Now they added “Trump” flags to their pickup truck. (He is all they have, while we have loyalty to the whole Constitution)

Meanwhile… the Trump flags are gone from the yachts in the marina and from neighbors’ yards. More honks, thumbs up, and friendly waves this week. We will be back at it next Saturday.

Vigilance- Resistance- Persistence”

19 Jul 2025

“Yesterday there was a protest against another "detention" center at Camp Blanding. First and foremost, the actions of ICE and this administration ignore the fundamental right of due process for ALL persons in the United States. (See comments for my "two cents" with citations.) 

My comments: Understanding Due Process for Immigrants

***Constitutional Guarantee: The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution guarantee due process of law to all "persons" within the United States, including non-citizens.

Meaning of Due Process: Due process requires the government to follow fair procedures and laws when taking action that could deprive someone of life, liberty, or property.

Essential Protections: In immigration cases, due process generally includes:

the right to be informed of the charges,

the right to a hearing,

the right to legal representation,

and the right to present evidence and challenge the government's case.

Citations: 5th Amendment, 14th Amendment, and Article I, Section 8, Clause 18

Then there is our governor ...

Gov. DeSantis plans (with approval from Trump?!) to use Florida National Guard JAG officers as immigration judges (which they are not trained to do!). This and the use of troops in Los Angeles insert our apolitical armed forces into polarizing domestic issues that risk politicizing the military itself. The dangers of politicizing the military are twofold: 1. Domestic uses of our military render it less prepared to perform its primary missions, and 2. injects the military into civilian situations our troops are not trained for. Maintaining a strong military, with a commitment to THE RULE OF LAW AND DUE PROCESS, is undermined when politicians disregard our founding traditions and put our service members where they don’t belong.”

12 Jul 2025

“BACK IN FLORIDA –My sign today said nothing about Trump. It said, ‘Support & Defend the Constitution.’ Yet, I received multiple fingers and “Go, Trump”s. (So, are we at the point of either Trump or the Constitution? ...) One car pulled a u-turn just to give me another two-handed, pumping finger. Sigh, I just smile and give them a peace sign. I figure they need some peace in their lives if a simple sign about our Constitution elicits that much anger and hate. Meanwhile, I continue to support and defend ALL Constitutional rights 🇺🇸– and I am proud to do it (with a smile)”

4 July 2025

Thanks to our Founding Fathers,
my collection of First Amendment signs is growing! 

June 2025

28 Jun 2025

“My protest signs this week were inspired by our nation’s continuing descent into fascism. This current administration is characterized by an utter disregard for the nation’s foundational principles, norms, and our Constitution. Most notably Missing in Action (MIA) are the rule of law and due process.

The number of drive-by harassers was almost nonexistent this week. Instead, we had 2 counter protestors standing adjacent to us today. Their signs: “Honk for ICE” and “Deport these Democrats.”  They must be getting a little worried that not all of Florida is blindly supporting MAGA Republicans. 

Our group, Neptune Beach Coalition, represents various backgrounds and lifestyles but we are all dedicated to supporting and defending our Constitution.”

21 Jun 2025

“My signs for this week’s protest were inspired by Juneteenth and the assassination in Minnesota. Yes, both signs were greeted with honks, waves, and thumbs up while others gave me the finger, blasted their horn while “rolling coal” and shouted obscenities at me. (Do they even read the sign?) 

On Juneteenth we remember the day when enslaved people in Texas finally received the news of “a new birth of freedom” that President Lincoln spoke about at Gettysburg.

Newly freed people built schools, churches, colleges, and businesses. They created caring communities with mutual aid societies and stood up for their Constitutional rights - and still do today. 

A week ago, Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman was assassinated in a shooting at her home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Her husband and dog were also murdered. The shooter had a “hit list” of Democrats. People of all political stripes can be targets as they exercise their constitutional rights. Even in my own beach community, I experience the potential for violence because I dare to stand in public and exercise my First Amendment rights. 

So today, I choose to honor OUR American history and the people who literally built our nation with their bodies and souls. I remember that freedom isn’t just a word, it’s a practice.”

14 Jun 2025 - No Kings #1, Jacksonville

“This week’s protest:  No Kings with thousands in Jacksonville. As a military veteran, I commemorate the creation of the Continental Army in 1775 by our 2nd Continental Congress with a reading of General George Washington’s Farewell Address. He was the first to use the term “band of Brothers.” Washington also expressed his hope that our “union and brotherly affection may be perpetual, … that a free Constitution, which is the work of your hands, may be sacredly maintained, stamped in every department with wisdom and virtue.” 

We don’t need a king; we need leaders like Washington who refused a crown and led with wisdom and virtue. Ignorance and hate are killing citizens, assassinating public servants, and destroying our nation. 

Political violence sows fear, attempts to silence voices, and undermines our democracy. Stand in opposition to this latest attack, affirm our fundamental right of speech without fear of violence and intimidation.

Live Washington’s words, “Observe good faith and justice towards all nations, cultivate peace and harmony with all.” (Washington’s Farewell Address to the People of the United States, September 1796)”

7 Jun 2025

“Yes, we continue to protest! One of my signs this week was inspired by Sigrid Schultz, an American reporter for the Chicago Tribune stationed in Berlin, Germany during and after the rise of Nazi fascism. At a dinner party one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party, Hermann Göring (later Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe), backed her into a corner because he wanted to tell her about “the greatest experience of his life.” 

Göring then told, in vivid detail, how he killed a French soldier with his saber. When he finished, Schultz looked at him and said, “Interesting.” If that is the greatest experience of his life, she thought, it told her everything she needed to know about how the Nazis thought and how they would act. Her comment, “They confuse manliness with brutality,” was proven correct!

We weren’t backed into a corner, but Americans saw Trump encourage people to respond to hecklers at his campaign rallies by knocking “the crap out of ’em, punch ‘em”; watched him mock a man who has a congenital condition called arthrogryposis; heard him say "Grab 'em by the p*ssy.”; etc. all BEFORE he was elected. If that was the best Trump could do to win votes, didn’t it tell us everything we needed to know about how he thought and how he would act? 

Trump revels in brutality, mockery, and name calling. He lacks any capacity for human compassion or remorse, and, most important of all, REFUSES to support and defend Constitutional rights as required by his Presidential Oath of Office. He may yet meet his downfall. But it would be more heartening if the cause were not failure to reduce the price of eggs but a mass revulsion against his administration’s brutality. Again, “They confuse manliness with brutality” and it will only get worse unless We the People speak up!

… My First Amendment 2 cents.”

6 Jun 2025 - 81st. Anniversary of D-Day

Signs I posted in my front yard.

My Beginning - May 2025

24 May 2025

“My Memorial Day Weekend “protest” signs. We had more “protesters,” supportive honks, waves, and thumbs-up than last Saturday. I still received the finger, f-bombs, and men yelling, “Trump.” (Did they even read the signs?)

Trump gave the commencement speech at West Point today. JFK’s commencement speech at American University was about nuclear disarmament. LBJ’s at University of Michigan was about the Great Society. George W.  Bush’s West Point commencement speech was about the global war on terror. Trump wore a MAGA hat and his speech included discussion of trophy wives, Al Capone, cadets looking like male models, yachts, etc. Sweet Mother of Pearl, what a week for the history books!

“We better stop. Hey, what’s that sound? Everybody looks what’s going down!” - Buffalo Springfield, For What It’s Worth”

17 May 2025 

“I joined with about a dozen community members today to demonstrate. We protested at the same site where, in November, a Trump supporter threatened Harris supporters with a machete. The Republican State Attorney dropped all charges against the perpetrator. (So much for the “party of law and order”!) 

We received waves, honks, and thumbs up - only a few men gave us the finger and dropped F-bombs - but no machetes. (This is red, MAGA Florida after all!) I will demonstrate again next Saturday. 'If I were to remain silent, I'd be guilty of complicity.' - Albert Einstein.”