Thousands of people turned out March 28 at Cora Roberson Park in southwest Gainesville for the No Kings III rally, part of a nationwide day of protests against the policies of the Trump administration.
A coalition of pro-democracy groups and others protested with signs, costumes, noisemakers and energy against what organizers described as perceived anti-democratic actions of the Trump administration, including the war in Iran, inflation, cruelty to immigrants, efforts to take away voting rights, corruption and lawlessness, according to a press release.
“My message to the people today is to vote in November, impeach Trump in January, stop the wars and stop the genocide in Gaza,” said Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, a longtime civil rights activist and retired University of Florida professor who served as a member of both the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Nation of Islam (NOI) in the 1960s.
Nearly two dozen community agencies and organizations tabled at the event, distributing literature and engaging with attendees.
Protesters mingled as speakers addressed the crowd and live music played. At about 10:30 a.m., hundreds of people were on site at the park, with thousands more continuing to flow in as the rally began at Depot Park on Southeast Seventh Avenue and proceeded west to Cora Roberson Park.
A banner over the main stage displayed the words “Love Is Strong” in black lettering, with “Stop Murder Stop War” printed below.
Many attendees wore gold T-shirts with black lettering that read, “No Thrones, No Crowns, No Kings.”
A major highlight of the rally was the singing of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” performed by the Rev. Dr. Gary Neal of Micanopy, which moved several people in the crowd to tears.
The nationwide No Kings III rallies held March 28 were expected to rank among the largest protests in U.S. history.
Local organizers included Gainesville Women for Democracy, Badass Feminists Gainesville, the Democratic Women’s Club of Alachua County, 50501gnv, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Indivisible Gainesville and others.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Crowds turn out in Gainesville for No Kings III demonstration
Reporting by Cleveland Tinker, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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