Hundreds of protesters gather at Bayfront Park in opposition to President Trump
Protesters gathered and marched through downtown Miami on Saturday in opposition to recent executive orders by President Donald Trump.
Hundreds made their way to Bayfront Park before walking along Biscayne Boulevard and through downtown streets carrying signs and a large banner with the message “Dump Trump.” The event was organized on Facebook by a group called the Anti-Trump Action Committee
As with many local and national protests, members of the crowd held signs expressing support for Muslims and with messages like, “Build a wall around Trump! I’ll pay for it.” Other sang songs and chanted in opposition to the president’s plan for a border wall.
"We want a leader, not a creepy Tweeter," protesters sang to the sound of the guitar in downtown Miami. @MiamiHerald @realDonaldTrumppic.twitter.com/Ssw51ogSqG— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) February 4, 2017
The group made their way to the Miami-Dade County Courthouse and left peace signs, ribbons and other small memorials with signs and messages saying “Love Trumps Hate.” People in the crowd wore rainbow flags as capes, painted their faces with the message “#resist” and wore hijabs.
First-time protester, Mackenson Daniel, 19, said he came out to advocate for “basic human rights.”
“That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “Isn’t this supposed to be the land of the free?”
At the courthouse, 12-year-old Nya Jacobson carefully placed 34 origami cranes — made out of pastel green, pink and yellow paper — against the wall near the entrance. She said she chose cranes because they symbolize peace.
“Hate plus hate just makes more hate,” she said.
Her dad, Brian Jacobson, 38, said he brought his daughter to show her how to make their voices heard.
“There are so many unjust policies,” Jacobson said. “We want to resist in every way we can.”
Anti-Trump protestors left little memorials at the Dade County Courthouse.pic.twitter.com/FSCtFQeRQW— Alex Harris (@harrisalexc) February 4, 2017
Saturday’s protest comes after demonstrations last weekend at Miami International Airportfollowing the president’s executive order banning travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries. And about two weeks after nationwide women’s marches including a large gathering at Bayfront Park that became a march into downtown Miami and onto Interstate 95.
While the previous rallies and protests seemed to focus on women’s issues and concerns over the impacts of the travel ban the demonstration on Saturday, according to the organizers, is explicitly expressing an anti-Trump message. Still, several protesters focused on other issues like opposition to the Dakota Access pipeline.
Later Saturday, thousands are expected to gather at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate for a protest called “March to Mar-a-Lago We Will Not Be Stopped.”
The route could change, but the plan is to gather between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Trump Tower in West Palm Beach and march down Flagler Drive across the Intracoastal from Mar-a-Lago.
The protest will coincide with Trump’s weekend visit to his Palm Beach mansion — the first since he was inaugurated as president. The International Red Cross Ball is being held at his estate Saturday night.
Monique O. Madan: 305-376-2108, @MoniqueOMadan
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