Representing organizations including the Tampa and St. Pete legs of Women's March Florida, Moms Demand Action, FL Safe and Sound and the Restorative Justice Coalition, they gathered in opposition to a viral ad the NRA released in late June that critics say capitalizes on the nation's polarized political climate.
Many people saw the video as a call to arms against critics of President Donald Trump and his agenda. The commercial paints a dystopian view of modern times and firmly points the blame at those who criticize Trump.
Sunday's protesters hoped to counter that.
“We are on the front lines against the extremist agenda of the NRA,” said Michelle Gadja, the Chapter Leader of Moms Demand Action Florida. “Their latest series of ads where they call themselves defenders of truth, defenders of justice, we know what it is that they're doing. They're dog-whistling, dog-whistling to white supremacists. They are asking people to come out after peaceful protesters. What they had for the last eight years was a black body in the White House, and they could scare everybody into believing that Obama was coming for their guns. They don't have that anymore. What they have now is trying to start a culture war, and make no mistake about it, this isn't about the second amendment, this isn't about defending any rights. We're here to say, 'We're not playing along. You don't get to do this.' This is our country too and they don't get to run the table.”
It should be noted that none of those gathered set foot on the federal property of the courthouse and followed all crosswalk signs despite the temptation to jaywalk in a deserted downtown. The tense atmosphere of a nation on the brink, this was not; it was the antithesis of the NRA's portrayal of the left.
There was also criticism of the NRA's silence over the Philando Castile case after a police officer was acquitted despite killing a registered gun owner who happened to be African American.
Marcia Mejia, an aide to U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa), attended and read a letter of support on Castor's behalf.
“We need common sense solutions in our communities to prevent gun violence,” said Castor's statement. “The safety of our neighbors is paramount and I will continue to press for action on legislation that is worthy of the lives that have been lost to gun violence. We will not give up."
This article appears in Jul 13-20, 2017.