At least nine demonstrations take place in and around Sarasota on May 1 and May 3.
By Johannes Werner
Original Air Date: April 30, 2025
Host: In the United States, May Day is usually eclipsed by Labor Day when it comes to rallies. But this year, there is a flurry of activity in this area on May 1, and the following Saturday, May 3. That’s thanks to the 50501 movement organizing protests nationwide against what they see as executive overreach by the Trump administration. Johannes Werner has the details.
Protesters gather near the Sarasota Opera House. Photo by Alex Lieberman.
Johannes Werner: The protesters want to take their displeasure with Trump’s first 100 days to local Congresspeople. The day of protest begins with the Sarasota and Manatee chapters of Indivisible organizing a May Day protest near the Lakewood Ranch office of Rep. Vern Buchanan. That’s this Thursday, May 1, from 9:00. to 10:30 a.m, at University Parkway and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. In the afternoon at 3:30, it’s Rep. Greg Steube’s turn. The same groups will be protesting near Steube’s office at 7598 Fruitville Rd, east of I-75.
Winding back the May 1 clock a bit: Overlapping with the Steube protest in the morning, at 10:00 a.m, there will be a protest in Venice, at Michael Biehl Park, corner Tampa Avenue West and US 41 in downtown Venice. And just an hour later, at 11:00 a.m, there will be a protest in downtown Englewood, corner Dearborn Street and Indiana Avenue.
CIW demonstrators show how farmworkers carry the world on their shoulders.
There will also be protests in Fort Myers and Naples on Thursday afternoon.
But that is just the opening act. On Saturday, May 3, 4:00 p.m, the Democratic Women’s Club will hold another protest in downtown Sarasota, at Bayfront Park along US 41.
In Tampa that day, the West Central Florida Labor Council will host a rally at Centennial Park, near Ybor City. There will also be protests in Port Charlotte and Fort Myers on May 3.
Reporting for WSLR News, Johannes Werner.
WSLR News aims to keep the local community informed with our 1/2 hour local news show, quarterly newspaper and social media feeds. The local news broadcast airs on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm.