Press Release: “No Kings in Gainesville! No Kings in America!”
Press Release from North Central Florida Indivisible (NCFL):
President Trump Continues Authoritarian Actions and Power Grabs; We Dissent.
Gainesville, Fla. – Alachua County turned out today, and not just for the UF Gators. We had over four thousand people peacefully gather at Cora Roberson Park in Gainesville to say: “No Kings!”
What does “No Kings” mean to us? The Founders pictured someone like Donald Trump when they set up our Constitution’s checks and balances and wrote the Bill of Rights. America did not want a tyrant in 1776 and we do not want one now!
As Americans, we exercise our rights of free speech, assembly, and association to come together and help each other solve our problems. Every speaker provided an inspiring way each of us can pitch in and make our voices heard. These included advocating to shut the “Baker Cruelty Camp,” asking local businesses to put up Signs of Solidarity, getting out the vote to support the GRU referendum on Gainesville’s November ballot, and petitioning the Alachua County School Board to protect students’ Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights by preventing ICE agents from detaining or questioning these minors without a warrant or parental consent.
NCFI collected and distributed clothes for kids at its mutual aid table. We sent bins full of feminine hygiene products and kids’ clothes and shoes to clothing closets at local schools. Organizations from the NAACP to the Sierra Club and the Rural Women's Health Project also ran tables and shared projects we can join to make a difference.
Participants’ creativity was clear from their signs and inflatable costumes. NCFI Executive Director Jyoti Parmar said, “Why should a serious movement have this silliness? First, joy fuels resilience. Second, bullies hate laughter because their power comes from people fearing them. Just look at President Trump’s vendetta against America’s late night talk show hosts.”
NCFL is proud to have hosted this event, with co-hosts Gainesville Women for Democracy, Badass Feminists, Democratic Women’s Club of Alachua County, and Alachua County Labor Coalition, and support from 50501 GNV and PSL. NCFI also hosted an afternoon rally in High Springs with 250 attendees.
All 3,000+ nationwide No Kings events adhere to a shared commitment to nonviolent protest and safety. Organizers are trained in de-escalation and are working closely with local partners to ensure peaceful and powerful actions nationwide. Visit www.NoKings.org or email media@nokings.org.
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GnvInfo was present to cover both the Gainesville and High Springs No Kings protests and articles will be released within this week.
