As “Hands Off” demonstrations erupted nationwide Saturday in opposition to President Donald Trump’s administration, somewhere close to 1,000 protestors gathered in Pensacola at Graffiti Bridge Saturday afternoon, eager to have their voices heard.
Heading into the “Hands Off” protests, they were expected to be the largest and most numerous since Trump’s second term began. Nationwide, more than 500,000 people RSVP’d to attend one of 1,000 rallies, marches, or protests organized by grassroots groups.
One of Pensacola’s “Hands Off! Pensacola Fights Back” rally organizers, Alicia Trawick, said that while people may think of Pensacola as a small coastal town, its size doesn’t stop it from being part of history.
“I think it’s really making a statement. People think, ‘Oh, this is just little Pensacola. It’s a small town, it’s a small city. There’s not going to be that many people,’ but look at all these people here,” Trawick said, as peaceful protesters with hand-made posters overwhelmed the streets and lined the grassy hillsides. “I think that’s going to make a huge difference with all of us doing that at the same time.”
Trawick said the organization for the Pensacola movement began a few weeks ago in response to the chaos surrounding Trump’s administration, such as his attempts at dismantling the Department of Education.
“IKEA has better cabinets” and “Keep the immigrants, deport the fascists” were among the written messages aimed at sending a statement to the Trump administration. Fear and anger surrounding issues such as Social Security, education, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, immigration, social justice, veteran affairs, national security, and many more prompted attendees to advocate for change.
‘Hands Off’ nationwide updates: Anti-Trump protesters gathered at hundreds of locations
“The energy is buzzing. This is more energy than we expected,” Trawick said. “It’s very peaceful, but people are angry. People are not happy about what’s happening in our country.”
Attendee Linda Fussell said that Trump’s policies were more than just making headlines; they were hitting home in her household, from the expected drop in retirement benefits she and her husband receive to the cancelation of her daughter’s school’s National History Day due to funding cuts.
“We worked real hard for all of that money, my husband and myself,” Fussell said.
“The message that we’ve got to do something is getting out,” Fussell said, gripping a “We The People are pissed” poster. “We don’t see this very often in Pensacola or Escambia County, people getting together over a variety of issues.”
William T. Young III, a former 3rd class petty officer in the Navy on disability, sat with a black flag waving high, appalled by the handling of military war plans.
“I, as a service member, know for a fact if I had leaked war plans, as this administration did, I would be tried for treason and be in prison in Fort Leavenworth for the rest of my life. They need the same,” Young said. “I was disturbed. I wanted to show up to the hearings and blast them.”
“I don’t classify myself as a Republican or a Democrat − I’m a patriot,” he added. “After 12 years of service, I’m a patriot.”
Every honk from a passing car only continued to invigorate the growing crowd, followed by roaring chants such as “The people, united, will never be divided.”
Rodney Dillota, member of Pensacola activism group The Mockingbird Movement, had an important message for those watching his poster: “First, it’s Mahmoud. Next, it’s you.”
Dillota is referencing ICE’s arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia student who led pro-Palestinian protests last year but was taken from his home and arrested on March 28. He is now facing deportation, despite documents proving he is a green card holder. Khalil’s supporters argue that he has broken no laws but is being targeted solely for his speech, which is a protected First Amendment right, USA TODAY reported.
“The reason we’re out is to bring awareness that ICE is deporting legal migrants. Legal-status migrants. This is wrong, and this is illegal. It shouldn’t take place,” he said. “We’re here to bring awareness to that.”
“We’re amplifying voices. The people that can’t be heard, this is their moment. We’re here for them,” he added. “Long live ‘The People’.”
Concerns over LBGTQ rights were also addressed, with many attendees expressing fear surrounding “the war on trans rights” and bodily autonomy. These concerns are in response to Trump’s executive orders that restrict the rights of transgender Americans – impacting their ability to serve in the military, participate in school sports, and obtain government documentation, including passports that reflect their gender identity, according to USA TODAY.
While many fears and concerns affected people in different stages of life, the Hands Off! movement allowed for a shared space to stand in solidarity with one another.
“You have to look around and see all these people and a lot of them are just not happy about what’s going on with our democracy and our impacts on our constitutional rights that we have,” Fussell said.
Trawick said the Pensacola Police Department was “extremely helpful and supportive” throughout the process of patrolling the area for security, encouraging others not to let the fear of lack of safety stop them from attending future events.
“I really hope that people will see this event and feel inspired. If you felt hesitant and didn’t have the courage or you just felt like maybe, ‘I don’t know if I can be out there,’ just know we’re doing it peacefully. We’re taking all the safety precautions that we can. It’s a very safe environment,” Trawick said. “We want more and people to come out. This is the first of many over the course of the next two years.”
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: ‘Hands-Off’ anti-Trump protest in Pensacola Saturday draws nearly 1,000 people
Reporting by Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
