National day of action demonstrations held in Tampa Bay area
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla (WFLA) — A coalition of Pinellas County organizations mobilized to stop what they say is an assault on the nation and the Constitution. Those who agree with the Trump Administration said voters gave President Trump a mandate for stronger immigration policies and to cut back on federal spending.
Dozens of people lined street corners in St. Petersburg Saturday as part of what organizers call a national day of outrage.
'There is a ton of people out here, we all want the same thing. We want to protect our freedoms and protect democracy,' said Kimberly Landry, a protestor.
National day of action demonstrations held in Tampa Bay area
The rally brought together people who said the Trump administration has increased drastic attempts to dismantle government. Critics said a few examples are cutting the federal workforce, proposed cuts to crucial programs, attacks on those who are marginalized through its immigration policy, and undermining democracy by threatening to hold funding against those who disagree with the president.
'We're heading towards an authoritarian nation where more than half the country does not want this and yet it's being forced upon us,' said Landry.
Dr. Sirena Pellarolo is the president of the Republican Club of Greater Largo. She argues President Trump is doing what he was elected to do, and is abiding by the powers of his office, spelled out in the Constitution.
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'I come from Argentina. I'm a legal immigrant in this country and I know what it is to live under an authoritarian regime and this is not at all what that is,' said Pellarolo. 'What this administration is doing, is going back to that Article 2 and reclaiming those executive powers of the President who is the only person that has been elected by the whole nation.'
Protesters said the actions of President Trump and Elon Musk are putting people on a path for destruction.
'We know that this is not safe for us, yet we're all still here because we don't want to have this experience for our country. People fought hard for us to not have this,' said Landry.
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