GULFPORT, Miss.—Dozens of people gathered in Gulfport, Mississippi, on Oct. 17 with signs encouraging people to go out and vote as well as protesting the Trump administration’s actions ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. 

The gathering in Gulfport is part of the national “No Kings” protest movement, which has included multiple days of action across thousands of cities in the United States over the past two years. The Oct. 17 weekend event was organized as a nonpartisan push across the country to promote voting in the midterm elections. Still, many protesters held signs voicing support for candidates and expressing messages in protest of the Trump administration’s actions. 

Cayla Kelton, founder of Indivisible Gulf Coast and the lead organizer of Saturday’s event, said the protest in Gulfport was a nonpartisan effort to encourage Mississippians to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. 

“Go vote because your ancestors died for it. Your ancestors fought for it. Your voice wouldn’t count without it,” Kelton said. 

Ash Caranna, the co-organizer of Saturday’s event, said Indivisible Gulf Coast also hopes to spread awareness about its “Coast to the Polls” initiative, which they said is a nonpartisan initiative that provides free childcare and transportation to the polls for all voters on election day on Nov. 3. 

Kelton said they feel helping people get out to the polls is especially important in Mississippi right now amidst efforts by lawmakers to “dilute Black voting power” through legislative redistricting. 

“There’s definitely a lot of barriers to voting as we saw in Mississippi—they’re trying to redistrict right now,” she said. “So the idea is to make sure that everybody that is registered to vote goes out and votes.” 

Here are some photos from the “No Kings, Just Voters” protest in Gulfport, Miss. on Saturday, Oct. 17. 

People hold signs reading “This land was here for you and me” and “Facism is BOO-sheet” with a drawing of a ghost and pumpkins.
Protesters hold signs as they gather beneath the bridge at Jones Park in Gulfport, Miss. on Oct. 17, 2026 for a ‘No Kings, Just Voters’ protest. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
An organizer holds a microphone as she addresses a group of people ahead of a protest
Cayla Kelton addresses the crowd with announcements including a land acknowledgement, pledge of nonviolence and moment of silence for Nolan Wells ahead of a “No Kings, Just Voters” protest on Oct. 17, 2026 in Gulfport, Miss. Kelton is the founder of Indivisible Gulf Coast and organized the event. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
protesters stand under a bridge holding signs that encourage voting in midterm elections
Protesters gather under the bridge in Jones Park in Gulfport, Miss. on Oct. 17, 2026 to listen to instructions and safety tips from organizers as they prepare to take part in Gulfport’s “No Kings, Just Voters” day of action. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
people stand on the sidewalk beneath a bridge that reads ‘Gulfport’
Protesters stand beneath the bridge near Jones Park in Gulfport, Miss. holding signs as cars pass during a “No Kings, Just Voters” protest on Oct. 17, 2026. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
An organizer holds a microphone as they address a group of people ahead of a protest
Ash Caranna addresses the crowd with announcements about safety and voter information ahead of a “No Kings, Just Voters” protest on Oct. 17, 2026 in Gulfport, Miss. Caranna is a member of Indivisible Gulf Coast which helped organize the event. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
protestors stand along a bridge holding signs that encourage voting in midterm elections
Protesters stand along the bridge near Jones Park in Gulfport, Miss., holding signs as cars pass during a “No Kings, Just Voters” protest on Oct. 17, 2026. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
A protester holds a sign reading ‘Representative Not Ruler’ as she stands under a bridge
A protester holds a sign reading “Representative Not Ruler” as she participates in a “No Kings, Just Voters” protest in Jones Park in Gulfport, Miss., on Oct. 17, 2026. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
protestors stand on the sidewalk along a highway holding signs
Protesters stand along Beach Boulevard in Gulfport, Miss., holding up signs as cars pass by during a “No Kings, Just Voters” protest on Oct. 17, 2026. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer
protestors stand on the sidewalk along a highway holding signs and one reads: ‘The Big Beautiful Blue Wave’
Protesters hold up signs along Beach Boulevard in Gulfport, Miss., as cars pass by during a “No Kings, Just Voters” protest on Oct. 17, 2026. MFP Photo by Amy Schafer

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Amy Schafer is the Mississippi Free Press' Gulf Coast bureau reporter in partnership with Report for America. A 2026 graduate of Pennsylvania State University's Schreyer Honors College, she holds degrees in advertising/public relations, global and international studies with a concentration in human rights and women's, gender and sexuality studies. Before joining MFP, she served as editor-in-chief of Penn State's student newspaper The Daily Collegian and freelanced for The Washington Post.