By Arren Joseph-White
On October 18th, people all around the country gathered in various cities such as New York, Chicago, and even here, in Pensacola in an estimated over 2,000 protests total for No Kings Day. Here in our own town, about 3,000 total people gathered at the corner of Airport and 9th to use their right to their voices. Each person might have had their own reason for protest, but ultimately the goal was to speak out and fight for what they believe in.
For those not aware, No Kings is an organization that is affiliated with several organizations, notably the 50501 Organization and Indivisible. The movement itself was created with the peaceful intention of prioritizing the everyday people of America and the things they have to say to government officials. They have had one demonstration previously, on June 25th, where over 2,000 cities and millions of people participated. These were considered to be some of the largest collective efforts against President Donald Trump in his second term.
The protest itself was a sprawling event; from distance to turnout. A variety of ages, causes, and political parties took this chance to let their voices be heard about the path the country is taking. Over a block of Airport and 9th was covered by demonstrators. Everyone had different causes to fight for and strong, passionate things to tell passerbys, some who even honked in recognition or distaste. Local activism organizations, such as the Pensacola Center for Liberation and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, even showed up.
Many people were out with signs and high energy. One of these people is Lauren Storey, a psychology student at PSC. No Kings was her first protest, but she has been interested in speaking out since 2016. “[It] has made me really fired up and [made me] realize the importance of getting involved,” said Storey.
When asked what Storey was fighting for, she stated she wanted to express support for the LGBTQ+ community. “Those [communities] are near and dear to my heart,” she said. She prioritizes spreading love and inclusivity with her advocacy moving forward. “I just want to be a voice for the minority,” Storey said when she elaborated. “As a white woman in America, I’ve had a lot of privilege, and I didn’t realize that until my adulthood,” she continued. “I would like to use my voice for people who don’t have as loud of a voice as I might [have] in society.” Storey finished.
Another important voice was up-and-coming mayor candidate Jasmine Brown, a powerful voice within the community part of the socialist party. Brown was there not only to support the protest, but to also share her cause and campaign, which in her words is “Pensacola for the people, not the developers.” A Pensacola native, Brown has noticed the constant uptick in cost of living for the average person, while developers use land for more million-dollar projects without consulting the people who it affects the most; the everyday workers and living families in the city. “We see our mayor bragging about the million dollar homes that are on sale in Pensacola,” Brown explained. “Meanwhile, you know, I’ve spoken to people who are crowded in their houses because they can’t afford anywhere to go.” She continued. Her focus is on giving the everyday person a voice in Pensacola, instead of developers and the ultra-wealthy. “We’re not consulted when [like] these new developments happen.”
Brown’s 3-year history with activism runs strong; with supply drives, neighborhood organizations, and even free family Christmas photos. Jasmine Brown is a powerhouse, and she has no plans of stopping. Her goals are to “be a voice for the people of Pensacola” and represent them. Overall, with a bit more “student activity” and college students “keep[ing] up to date with things” Brown has the ability to be a true trailblazer. To find more about her campaign, you can find her under “jaminebrownformayor” on Instagram, and “Jasmine Brown for Mayor of Pensacola” on Facebook.
Not only for us, but for protests all over the country, everything went swimmingly. As far as reports say, none of the protests ended in violence, and police seemed to observe, but not interact. The most important aspect of events such as these is not only to exercise rights, but also to make sure you and your fellow Americans stay safe if things escalate. Luckily, there have been no cases of any of the events ending in violence. No matter opinion nor affiliation, No Kings Day was a success to all who participated.