Lynchburg residents took to the streets Friday morning to protest Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, who spoke at Liberty University for Convocation.
Donna StClair, a local resident who organized the protests, planned two locations for the demonstration. One was at Hobby Lobby while the other was across Wards Road from the entrance to Liberty’s campus at University Blvd.
StClair told ABC13 ahead of the event that it is a “one size fits all protest” and that it would target everything from gun control to abortion to banned books. She decided to organize the protest after seeing how the people around her did not support DeSantis and what he stands for.
Those issues were reflected across the signs of people who showed up.
Some targeted the so-called, “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which restricts access to books with graphic sexual material for children in Kindergarten through fourth grade.
The bill has no usage of the word, “Gay,” anywhere in it.
Others protested supposed book bans or abortion or other topics.
“His extremist positions are not welcome by mainstream America,” StClair said. “Whether that be for abortion, or gun control, or book control, or mind control. We consider him to be an extremist and that his policies can’t work in the United States.”
Another woman, Pam Proffitt, dressed as the Statue of Liberty and was quick to express her opposition.
“I am Lady Liberty,” Proffitt said. “I am standing for Liberty. And Lady Liberty says, ‘Say yes to democracy.’ ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ no drag queen shows. The list goes on and on. And we’re taking a stand and we’re saying, ‘No,’ to all of that. And no to Ron DeSantis.”
StClair also added that DeSantis’ latest action, banning abortions after six weeks, is wrong.
“Is it reasonable for a 9-year-old who’s been raped and impregnated to be forced to carry — I mean none of it makes sense,” StClair said. “Women should have autonomy over their own bodies.”
She said that protests like this one are essential in their fight.
“That’s what the youth needs to continue to do,” Carter said. “Get up, say no, get out, vote, protest, make your voices heard.”
Sonja Harding said DeSantis’ trans-policies are another reason for opposition.
“I am a transgender parent and I have to worry about if my child is going to be okay in school,” Harding said. “I hear a lot about discrimination within the local public schools as well for both trans-kids and children of trans-parents.”
They also have one thing to say about a potential President Ron DeSantis.
“No,” Proffitt said emphatically. “No.”
Carrying the likeness of David was one way she chose to protest among those at the University Blvd. protest site. Meanwhile, others in the group at Hobby Lobby sent messages of their own.
One protester explained the meaning behind the Bible verse banner he held
“A whole lot of what they are calling good is turning out to be evil,” he said. He added his Floridian relatives believe DeSantis is trying to turn Florida into a fascist state. “And so the Scripture says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.'” he quoted.

Wset