News and Public Media for North Central Florida

1,000 Anti-Trump Protestors March In Gainesville

A woman holds a sign reading "Power to the People" as anti-Donald Trump protestors march along University Avenue in Gainesville in November 2016. The same group that organized that protest has put together another to coincide with Trump's inauguration Friday. (File/WUFT News)

About 1,000 people marched along University Avenue in Gainesville Saturday against President-elect Donald Trump.

Protestors met at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center about 4 p.m. and marched past the University of Florida and Midtown before eventually ending up at downtown's Bo Diddley Plaza, where speakers encouraged the protestors to be active in politics.

As they marched, protestors played music and waved signs that read, "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable members," and "Safe place for all."

Adding to the noise of the protesters as they traveled through Midtown was a large cheer that erupted from the rooftop of Midtown Social as the Gators won their football game against Louisiana State University.

Protestors were met with some pro-Trump supporters holding Trump signs and flags. There was a slight altercation between a supporter and a protestor that ended with the protestor running away.

There were a few other minor incidents, Gainesville police spokesman Ben Tobias said, but overall, the event was safe.

Gainesville police blocked off parts of the shoulder of University Avenue to create a barrier between traffic and the protestors. It's the police department's job to "protect their rights to protest" and to make sure everyone is safe, Tobias said.

Anti-Trump protestors hold cutouts of President-elect Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Rick Scott as they gather outside the University of Florida's football stadium. (Michael Stone/WUFT News)

 

The protestors at the head of the line hold a banner that says

 

A woman holds a sign reading

 

A man at the Delta Tau Delta house across from the University of Florida waves a Trump flag as the protestors walk by. (Michael Stone/WUFT News)

 

The protestors continue along University Avenue. (Michael Stone/WUFT News)

 

Trump supporters wave a flag and signs as the protestors pass Gainesville's Midtown area. (Michael Stone/WUFT News)

 

Gwendolyn Simmons, an assistant professor of religion at the University of Florida, talks with anti-Trump protestors after they reached downtown Gainesville's Bo Diddley Plaza. (Kayla Ziadie/WUFT News)

 

Rebecca Ragan, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Florida, records the Freedom from Fear march crowd at Bo Diddley Plaza while holding an anti-Trump sign.

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Diana Illingworth is a reporter for WUFT News. She be reached at 352-392-6397 or news@wuft.org
Mary Kate is a reporter for WUFT News. She can be reached at mkc1083@ufl.edu or 352-392-6397.