- A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis on January 7, sparking protests in Gainesville.
- The University of Florida Students for Socialism and the Party for Socialism and Liberation organized protests condemning ICE and Trump in Gainesville last week.
- Alachua County was one of six Florida counties Trump lost in the 2024 election, although he won the state with 56.1% of the vote.
A series of protests occurred in Gainesville after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis last week.
The local protests mirror larger national protests that have happened since the Jan. 7 shooting, called self-defense by Vice President JD Vance and an abomination by U.S. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who added that the blood was on the hands of administration officials pushing extreme immigration policies.
The University of Florida Students for Socialism and the Gainesville chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation organized a protest on Thursday at the corner of University Avenue and NW 13th Street.
Residents chanted and waved signs to condemn ICE and President Donald Trump and held candles to remember Good.
On Saturday, a group of protesters with Badass Feminists Gainesville gathered near Wells Fargo, located by The Oaks Mall, The Gainesville Sun reported. The group has held weekly protests at the spot since December, protesting Trump in general and including ICE.
On Sunday, around 60 protesters hit the sidewalks around Albert Ray Massey Park. Signs read “Silence is Compliance, Be Brave” and “Impeach Them All.”
It’s been a year of protest in Gainesville since Trump entered office for his second term. The local protests have included a downtown protest against Elon Musk as DOGE operations started, a “Tesla Takedown” rally in March, an anti-Trump protest for International Workers’ Day in May, the No Kings protest in June, anti-ICE protests at the school board and the second No Kings protest in October.
Alachua County was one of six in Florida that Trump failed to win in his 2024 victory over Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris. He took the state with 56.1% of the popular vote.
