JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Indivisible Mandarin, a local advocacy group, and other local organizations were a part of a nationwide protest Wednesday afternoon.
The Jacksonville-based grassroots movement held its protest outside of Florida Senator Rick Scott’s Jacksonville District Office.
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Gloria Einstein, a lead coordinator with the organization, said the reason they were protesting is to push back against recent executive orders from President Donald Trump.
The groups were also speaking out against the nomination of Russell Vought as the director for the Office of Management and Budget.
“In the case of Russell Vought, it’s really easy because he wrote Project 2025 and we know what he wants to do,” Einstein said.
Einstein added that protesters want the president to know they don’t agree with Elon Musk, a non-elected official, being involved with the government.
According to the Associated Press, Musk has gained access to sensitive databases and is dismantling a leading source of humanitarian assistance.
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Carol Brady, president of Beaches Activist Movement, attended the protest, saying, “We’re organized outside of Rick Scott’s office to try to ask him to be accountable and to stand up for this.”
Einstein said her group has reached out to Sen. Scott’s office for days but hasn’t received a reply, and, in an effort to communicate directly with Sen. Scott, Einstein and others walked inside his office’s building.
Minutes later, the group came walking out after not speaking with any of Sen. Scott’s staff.
“I mean it feels real disempowering, and you’d think this is a democracy [so] people should have access to their elected officials,” Brady said. “So, I think it’s disappointing and a little maddening.”
Protesters said although this is a very polarizing time, they want both Republicans and Democrats to be united and stand up for what’s right.
News4JAX reached out to Sen. Rick Scott’s Office for comment, they responded Thursday:
"Floridians may visit Senator Rick Scott’s website at www.Rick Scott.senate.gov or links below to share their opinions or request assistance with a federal agency - our team is here to help."
Madeline Holzmann, Press Secretary, Office of U.S. Sen. Rick Scott
Click here to contact Sen. Rick Scott’s Office.
We also reached out to Representative Dean Black, the Republican Party of Florida State Committeeman for Duval County, he said:
These far-left protesters are another sad reminder of why the American people, and especially Floridians, rejected them so thoroughly this November. Unlike Democrat politicians, President Donald J. Trump is fulfilling his campaign promises and making America Great Again!
Dean Black, Republican Party of Florida State Committeeman for Duval County