A protest at the Night of Lights kickoff event in St. Augustine ended peacefully Saturday night.
Led by local Pastor Ron Rawls, hundreds were there to rally against two Confederate statues and the city’s decision to keep them.
Groups from Jacksonville also joined the march, which began at St. Paul A.M.E. Church and ended at the city’s main plaza.
The protesters’ main goal was to be heard and impact tourism at perhaps the city’s biggest event of the year.
“You see what’s happening with all that tourism,” said Essey Howard with the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville. “They don’t want that to really happen, but we did it anyway.”
At the center of the group’s frustration is two Confederate monuments and St. Augustine’s recent decision to not remove them.
Protesters are marching away, people in the crowd started cheering. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/NwSu87SUO9
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) November 18, 2017
The city wants to add context to the monuments instead.
Local police bolstered the number of officers in anticipation of the protest. There is usually a lot of security at the Night of Lights kickoff event.
St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Shaver said she believed Saturday night couldn’t have gone better. She also said she knew of no arrests related to the protest.
Protesters have gathered to chant by the stage. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/tuv6LQXfRo
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) November 18, 2017
Chant is, "Sorry about your Christmas lights, we are in a bigger fight. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/dK2bAb1OLs
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) November 18, 2017
Protesters marching toward the Plaza.@ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/hpP2ZHC3GC
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) November 18, 2017
Directions were "if things get physical, lock arms with the person next to you." @ActionNewsJax https://t.co/Ah96Chd9hh
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) November 18, 2017
Protest against St. Augustine Confederate monuments set to begin. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/yPim98UC0T
— Kevin Clark (@KClark_News) November 18, 2017
Cox Media Group