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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

Gator Care Kits

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.

In memory of Troyanna Hamm

Antwuan Hamm organized a balloon release at the Alachua County Schools bus yard on August 7 in honor of his mother, Troyanna Hamm. Troyanna was a driver for Alachua County Public Schools for 27 years and passed away from COVID-19 in 2020. Click here to read more about Troyanna's life and the impact she had on the community.

Candlelight vigil for Beirut

Gainesville residents held a candlelight vigil for Beirut on Aug. 7 on the steps of City Hall. There, they honored the more than 130 people who died in a massive explosion in Beirut on Aug. 4 and sought to bring attention to the political plight of Lebanese people. "They destroyed our country," one attendee said. "Those politicians have to go. They’ve destroyed our country for a long time.”  

Rally for safe reopening

Teachers, parents and students attended the Rally for Safe Reopening of Schools on July 21. The rally comes as the rate of positive COVID-19 cases surges in Florida. Attendees expressed concerns over the safety of themselves and their families upon returning to school in August.  “We either go digital, or go home,” one attendee said. 

Black Trans Lives Matter Candlelight Vigil

Anatomy of a photo: food drive

The Lubavitch-Chabad Jewish Student & Community Center hosted a free food distribution event July 16. The food drive was held as COVID-19 numbers spike in the county and state as a way to support homebound individuals and families during the pandemic.

Gainesville food distribution

The Lubavitch-Chabad Jewish Student & Community Center hosted a free food distribution event July 16. The food drive was held as COVID-19 numbers spike in the county and state as a way to support homebound individuals and families during the pandemic. 

Rally to Defund Gainesville Police Department

UF reopened: your questions answered

After months of rumors and uncertainty, UF finally released its updated Fall plan on Friday. Read more here. 

COVID-19 grant relief

The Alachua County Commission voted unanimously to launch a relief grant program for local businesses and individuals impacted by COVID-19 in a Tuesday meeting. The funding for the program comes from the $46.9 million the county received from the federal government through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The county must spend the CARES Act money by Dec. 30, or it will no longer be able to spend the money, said County Manager Michele Lieberman. Click here to learn more.