Tampa Bay’s anti-Donald Trump terms have been fired.
Hundreds of demonstrators flocked to downtown St. Petersburg on Saturday afternoon, chanting, chanting and speaking out about their disapproval of the 47th American president.
And they promised to continue to show up.
Helen Ambargie, lead organizer for the St. Petersburg event, said:
This was the second major protest in April against a coalition of locally led groups by the Pinellas branch of the national women’s organization. On April 5th, the protests saw millions of Americans take them to the streets nationwide, “Hands Off!”
More protests were held around the area on Saturday, including ones located near Cypress Point Park in Tampa and the University of South Florida.
Approximately 1,000 people have been registered to appear at the St. Petersburg event, Amburgey said. The crowd didn’t look very big, but the protesters were still crammed around Williams Park. Just like two weeks ago, the St. Petersburg event was part of a national day of action.
Amidst the grievances of protesters: The Trump administration’s move to reduce the size of federal workforce. It is clear that it ignores the legitimate process of deporting people who say they are illegally in the country. Florida’s six-week abortion ban was founded by many, Roev. He attributes it to the conservative Supreme Court’s justice appointment that voted to overturn Wade.
“Why are you holding this event?” Please read the web pages distributed online to protesters in advance. “This provides a collective way to express our anger.”
One attendee is dressed like the characters from “The Handmaid’s Tale.” This is a story about a society dominated by highly oppressive men. Another appeared in a full orange jumpsuit and playing card mask, hinting at Trump’s felony conviction. The man walked along the west sidewalk of the park, playing cards face and proudly holding Aloft toilet paper.
Melina Jennings stood at the corner of 3rd and 2nd Avenues, abandoning the sign that read, “Eggs are expensive because all the chickens are in council.”
When a large speaker nearby slammed “American Pie,” Jennings said she came to protest because she wanted a way to express her feelings about Trump’s federal power integration.
What particularly shocks her is the Trump administration’s immigration policy. All over the country, authorities have legally revoked the legal status of a large number of immigrants here.
“They completely ignore everything this country stands in,” Jennings said.
Largo’s Michael Sanford, a 25-year Air Force veteran, stood on Third Avenue, holding a sign protesting the veterans administration’s planned cuts.
Sanford said he only heard good experiences at Bay Pines’ local VA health system. He is worried that the Trump administration will endanger the care provided to veterans who have only served for a short period of time.
“It’s not about reducing waste to get it the way they go,” Sanford said. “It’s about destroying it.”
There was no uniform theme in the protestor’s message. Several wave signs stuffed with paragraphs of text. The Trump administration has been making critics extremely angry. Finding themes of resistance is difficult. As one sign said, “Too many for one sign!”
However, logistically, the event was closely organized. The leader handed out free bottles of water to roast in the April sun. Volunteers worked to prevent crowds from disrupting traffic and pedestrians.
“Please make all the crosswalk clear! Thank you!” said Joe Weddleton from the sunny corners of 3rd Avenue and 1st Avenue N. “We don’t go beyond the law!”