Signs of Fascism 2

By Philip Cardella 21 February 2026

Tropical Park, Miami, Florida

At least 75 people attended a protest here on Saturday around noon holding signs denouncing what they see as an emerging fascist regime in the White House. Organized by Nan Imbesi, a concerned citizen and member of the Coral Gables Democrats and with their help in raising awareness of the event, Ms. Imbesi was pleased with the turn out.

Inspired by another Signs of Fascism event in a different state, Ms. Imbesi's first attempt to organize this sort of protest only saw three people show up on a chilly Veteran's Day weekend in 2025.

This time the weather was perfect and the attendees were plentiful and energetic for the hour and a half event.

Former city council candidate and founder of Coral Way Democrats Rob Piper attended the protest because he believes that what the United States is experiencing today is textbook fascism.

While Mr. Piper and Ms. Imbesi are frequent activists in Miami over the last decade or so, no one out protests Stephanie Rupp, who stands along US 1 in the southern part of the county near Maria Elvira Salazar, US House Rep for Florida's 27th Congressional District, every single Wednesday.

Ms. Rupp was adamant on Saturday that Miami, the city she was born and raised in, is beautiful because of its huge immigrant population and that she protests at least once every single week because she loves immigrants and she loves our country.

She was emphatic that she isn't paid to be here. When asked how much she's paid to be at these protests, Ms. Imbesi belly laughed for a long time and said she's paid "1000% of zero...zero, zero, zero."