'No Kings III' protest draw large crowd in Gainesville

“No Kings” protesters march from Depot Park to Cora P. Roberson Park in Gainesville on Saturday to oppose President Donald Trump’s policies, including those related to immigration, war and the economy.

Photo by Megan V. Winslow

Key Points

About 4,000 people protested at Cora Roberson Park in Gainesville to oppose President Trump's war, economy, and immigration policies during the "No Kings III" rally.
The rally was part of over 3,100 nationwide events, with local speakers including university lecturers, former commissioners, and NAACP leaders.
Local elected officials and Democratic candidates addressed the crowd, and the event was sponsored by groups like Gainesville Women for Democracy and Party for Socialism and Liberation.

Thousands of protesters gathered at Cora Roberson Park in Gainesville on Saturday for the nationwide “No Kings III” rally to protest President Donald Trump and his policies.

The rally, one of over 100 in Florida and 3,100 across the country, started with people marching from the Cade Museum roundabout to Cora Roberson Park. A coalition of groups joined with signs, costumes and noise makers to protest the Trump administration’s war in Iran, the economy and immigration policy.

According to a press release, the event drew around 4,000 people and the keynote speakers included Warren Goldstein, an award-winning author and former Chair of the Department of History at the University of Hartford, and Zorhara Simmons, Senior Lecturer Erimita at the University of Florida, and an activist who worked in the Civil Rights Movement as a member of Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee.

Other local speakers included David Arreola, former Gainesville City Commissioner and founding member of Gainesville 50501; Carmen Ward, President of the Alachua County Education Association; and Evelyn Foxx, President of the Alachua County Chapter of the NAACP.

Local elected officials and candidates who attended and addressed the audience included:

Sarah Rockwell, Alachua County School Board

Casey Willits, Gainesville City Commissioner
Ken Cornell, Alachua County Commissioner
Seth Harp, Democratic candidate for US House District 3
Amy Trask, Democratic candidate for Florida State House District 22

The sponsors of the rally included the Gainesville Women for Democracy, Badass Feminists Gainesville, Democratic Women’s Club of Alachua County, 50501gnv, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Indivisible Gainesville and others.

The first “No Kings” event was held on June 14. Gainesville residents held a similar, smaller rally in February at the corner of Main Street and University Avenue. A “Tesla Takedown” rally followed in March, along with others in April and May, including the “International Workers’ Day” rally. In July, a group gathered on West Newberry Road in front of Oaks Mall. The second “No Kings” rally was held on Oct. 18.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional information.