Large crowd of Trump protesters rallies outside airport
MELBOURNE — Hundreds of demonstrators — the largest group of progressive protesters in Brevard County in more than a decade — lined Apollo Boulevard before, during and after President Donald Trump’s rally, stretching from the AeroMod International hangar entrance to Airport Boulevard.
Organized by Women’s March Florida and Speak Out! Brevard, Saturday’s Trump protest was the Space Coast’s largest liberal demonstration since a February 2003 peace rally in downtown Melbourne opposing the Iraq invasion, said Vicki Impoco, past president of Brevard’s NOW chapter. A crowd estimate was unavailable immediately after the event.
A loud chorus of boos erupted when Air Force One descended for landing across the street at Orlando Melbourne International Airport.
“Lock him up! Lock him up!” hundreds of demonstrators chanted in unison shortly before Trump took the stage.
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“We’re such a predominantly red community. And we’d really like to show that there are progressives here who care about our community,” said Megan Cheatham, a rally organizer, holding a red and white bullhorn.
Cheatham, a Florida Institute of Technology doctoral student studying clinical psychology, is Brevard’s Women’s March Florida captain.
Throughout the day, passing motorists honked, shouted and cheered in support — while other drivers yelled expletives and made obscene gestures. Protesters displayed hundreds of colorful anti-Trump signs and joined voices for a variety of chants:
“We say no to racist fear! Muslims are welcome here!”
“Hey hey! Ho ho! Donald Trump has got to go!”
“We need a leader, not a creepy tweeter!”
“Ban Steve Bannon!”
Participants stood behind an orange plastic fence inside an airport-designated "First Amendment zone." During Trump’s speech, some protesters crossed Apollo Boulevard, approaching a grass field where Trump rally attendees were watching the president outdoors on two large video screens.
Rally organizers implored participants not to join, but dozens did. There, they interacted in close quarters — and occasionally face-to-face — with Trump supporters who were heading home.
Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Melbourne police officers responded, separating both political sides and stepping in during a few heated confrontations.
In practical terms, the event kicked off at 1 p.m. sharp when retired Cocoa Beach teacher Bill Hausmann knelt on the grass and used a black marker to write “Fake Prez” on a neon-green poster board. He was the first person to enter the First Amendment zone near the hangar entrance.
“I am a retired science teacher. And I am appalled at Trump’s environmental stand, his educational stand, his stand against science in general — a climate denier,” Hausmann said while he wrote. He taught for 38 years at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High, Roosevelt Middle and Edgewood Jr./Sr. High.
“From his very first appearance in front of a crowd, he reminded me so very much of Mussolini. And he’s becoming more and more autocratic and dictatorial,” Hausmann said.
Near the south end of the First Amendment zone, Trump campaign volunteer Gary Snow “trolled” protesters from the Apollo Professional Center parking lot using a microphone and loudspeakers from the flatbed of his flag-decorated green Dodge Dakota.
Snow waved a “Resist Liberalism” sign, mocked protesters and blared the song “We Are The Champions” by Queen.
“I’m going to resist liberalism. I’m going to resist socialism. I’m going to resist this movement conjured by ex-staffers of the Obama administration,” said Snow, a Jacksonville fiber-optic cable splicer.
Contact Neale at 321-242-3638, rneale@floridatoday.com or follow @RickNeale1 on Twitter