As football fans from across the nation gathered to watch and attend Super Bowl LIX on Sunday afternoon, a march took place through downtown New Orleans protesting President Trump’s presence in New Orleans for the game, as well as his policies and administration.
Over 200 students and community members met in Armstrong Park for speeches before marching to Poydras Street and circling back to the park, peacefully dispersing around 6:30 p.m. Football fans and tourists observed the protesters from the sidewalks, and some joined in chants against Trump, Elon Musk, and their policies.
“This protest was to make it clear that Donald Trump is not
welcome in New Orleans,” Samantha Cuellar, Loyola junior political science and Latin American double major, said.
Cuellar spoke at the protest for Liberate and Unite New Orleans Students for a Democratic Society as a first generation college student and a child of immigrants.
The protest was organized by groups such as LUNO SDS, New Orleans for Community Oversight of Police, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and Queer and Trans Community Action Project.
“We are a city of immigrants, people of color, queers and marginalized groups, and we are fighting against Trump’s hatred agenda.” Cuellar said.
As the protestors marched through the streets, they called out a variety of components of Trump’s administration, and they advocated for transgender and immigration rights, Palestinians in the Gaza strip, and more.
“Trump is not welcome in New Orleans,” New Orleans local Lindsey Wiggins said. “This is a city of diversity, of color, of culture, of all different types of people. These are people who love hard and strong, and he is against everything we stand for.”
Protestors and speakers also highlighted the United States Capitol building attack by Trump supporters in 2021 and the swift involvement of Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk in governmental affairs.
“I hope he sees all these wonderful people out here that are saying no to his causes, to his supporting of hatred, of illegal overtaking and overthrowing of our government.” Wiggins said. “This is a group of people who are here to stand up for the rights of the human beings of America, and he needs to hear that.”
Kloe Witt contributed to this report.
