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First Week of Classes

Nothing to Lose but Our Chains

Erica Thompson gave birth inside a jail cell at Alachua County Jail. Shortly after, baby Ava died. Dignity Power, GoDDsville and Florida Prisoner Solidarity organized the Justice for Heaven and Ava protest to bring awareness of what happened. Protestors blocked Northeast 39th Avenue right by the entrance to the jail. Many different chants were started throughout the protest, including "It is our duty to stand up and protect our people!" and "We have nothing to lose but our chains!"

Masking for a Friend Rally

United Faculty of Florida and UF Graduate Assistants United members gathered at Tigert Hall on Friday, August 20, 2021 to protest the lack of COVID-19 precautions in place for the upcoming fall semester at UF . UFF and UF-GAU brought a list of four demands to the protest:  Three weeks of online classes as soon as possible to allow time for students to get vaccinated Vaccines required and twice weekly testing for those with exemptions Mask mandate for all indoor activities and large outdoor activities Honest and detailed COVID-19 statistics, including daily updates Several speakers talked during the protest, including Gainesville City Commissioner David Arreola, Alachua County Education Association President Carmen Ward, UF professors and graduate assistants.

Gainesville shows solidarity with Palestine

On Wednesday, May 19, 2021, more than 200 UF students and Gainesville residents gathered on the corner of West University Avenue and Northwest 13th Street to show solidarity with Palestinians during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Solidarity with Palestine protest was organized by UF Students for Justice in Palestine. Protestors chanted "Free, Free, Palestine," listened to poetry and speeches, sang liberation songs and hoisted signs like "occupation is a crime" and "defund Israeli apartheid." After about an hour, a small group of counter-protestors gathered across the street. One of their signs read "Israel is not the oppressor." The pro-Palestine protest continued even after the sun went down and lasted for over two hours.  (Photos by Mingmei Li)

Spring 2021 Protests

The Spring 2021 semester brought changes to campus and the Gainesville community. Amid the ongoing pandemic, relaxed mandates and the ongoing adjustment to life with COVID, UF students and community members continued to organize and raise awareness for social issues in Gainesville.  (Photos by Chasity Maynard and Julia Cooper)

GAINESVILLE REMEMBERS PARKLAND SHOOTING VICTIMS

Three years after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., UF students and Gainesville residents gather at the Plaza of the Americas to remember and honor victims on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021.

The Corner of Support

THE CORNER OF SUPPORT - For panhandlers like Mike and Sheldon, their days of standing on Gainesville’s medians may be coming to an end. City officials concerned about pedestrian safety have proposed rules banning people from standing that close to traffic while soliciting donations. Mike and Sheldon share the intersection at SW 13th Street and SW 16th Avenue to make ends meet. Despite the hard times, they count on each other for friendship and support. Photos by Kasamba Kokayi, 21, a former UF journalism major who graduated in December 2020.

SPRING 2021

A collection of photos from the beginning of Spring 2021 to today

Election Week In Gainesville, Florida

Election 2020

Bookmark this series to stay up to date on The Alligator's election coverage.

Thousands gather in Ocala for a Donald Trump campaign rally

The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Canvassing Board sorts and review mail ballots

UF parties on during pandemic, first home game

Magic the Gatorling members adapt their gaming to social distancing limitations

UF's Magic the Gatorling club meets every Wednesday in the Reitz Student Union to play "Magic: The Gathering" while following social distancing regulations.

Fire Rescue workers honor 9/11 victims

Fire Rescue workers from Alachua and surrounding counties, and their families climbed the steps at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Sept. 11, 2020.

Victims of the 9/11 attacks remembered at Plaza of The Americas

2,977 flags, a flag for each victim of the 9/11 attacks, were placed at Plaza of the Americas on September 11, 2020. The UF organization, Young Americans For Freedom placed them on Thursday night.

First Day of Classes

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Photos: Hundreds march against racial inequality

On Friday, August 28, 2020, protesters gathered at Heavener Hall in remembrance of the people who lost their lives due to racial injustices. The protesters marched down W. University Avenue, where members from the men’s and women’s UF basketball teams, football players and Dan Mullen, the head football coach joined in support. Everyone marched to Bo Diddley Plaza where they sat in silence for eight minutes, the same amount of time George Floyd laid with a knee to the back of his neck. The protest stayed peaceful and police officers drove alongside marchers.

Live tweet thread: Hundreds march against racial inequality

More than 200 masked people gathered Friday evening at the intersection of University Avenue and 13th Street and marched downtown to Bo Diddley Community Plaza to protest the shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake, a Black man shot by police while entering his car after he was tased. Follow the tweets posted by The Alligator's staff live from the protest.