As the time neared for the start of the July 17 “Good Trouble Lives On” protest along Southern Boulevard near Mar-a-Lago, there was a small gathering of protesters — some who came to decry President Donald Trump’s policies and some who support them.
Loxahatchee resident Debra Hammett said she came out to combat what she called the vitriol of the MAGA movement with love.
“Please change your mind; just a little kindness can go a long way,” Hammett said of the MAGA movement.
Democrat candidate for U.S. House District 21 Elizabeth Pandich said the protest will combat the anger and hate she said defines the MAGA movement.
As protesters made their way to the parking lot just east of Mar-a-Lago, a small contingent of protesters and counter-protesters traded barbs with a police officer who was there to ensure space is kept between the two groups.
Trump supporter and Boynton Beach resident Debbi Macchia said she decided to attend the event the moment news of the Good Troubles protest was announced.
“We haven’t done anything since Trump won. But we decided to show up because of this,” she said, pointing toward the anti-Trump protesters walking to the edge of Bingham Island.
Jupiter resident Kathy Olejniczak said she joined the demonstration to protest the Trump Administration’s federal funding freezes, especially those targeting FEMA.
“Republicans and Trump backers complained about spending money housing immigrants in hotels in New York and Chicago, but we’re going to pay $3.3 billion to house them in Alligator Alley, and spend billions building new detention centers all over our country,” Olejniczak said.
Organized by the United+ and the Democratic Progressive Caucus, the July 17 protest was one among the more than 50 that occurred in Florida as part of a nationwide “Good Trouble Lives On” day of action.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Protesters gather near Mar-a-Lago for ‘Good Trouble Lives On’ event
