By John Zippert, Co-Publisher

On Thursday, May 1,2025, President Donald Trump invited himself to be a speaker at the University of Alabama’s graduation in Tuscaloosa. The University administrators hurried put together a special ticket only program for the President of the United States to speak. The regular formal graduation took place on May 2-4, as previous planned.
There were three public demonstrations against President Trump, the largest of which at Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa, included more than 800 students, faculty, staff and community members. The demonstration, entitled ‘Tide vs. Trump’, was sponsored by the University Young Democrats with support from the State Democratic Party. Most of the speakers, with the exception of Beto O’Rouke of Texas and Doug Jones, former Alabama U. S. Senator, were students, faculty or persons connected with the university.
Braden Vick, student leader from the University of Alabama said the demonstration was held, “To protest President Trump coming to the UA not for the graduates but for his own glorification and to identify with the school’s winning sports teams. He has cut research grants for our faculty and students; he has imposed tariffs which will raise our grocery, clothing and other prices; he has curtailed academic freedom at UA and other universities, which will hurt our ability to learn. Vick also thanked the Black community in Tuscaloosa for supporting the demonstration and opposing Trump’s reckless policies.
Adan Meyers a graduate student at UA said that he had earned a summer internship with the CDC to research and study Alzheimer’s and Parkinson disease. “ In early February, I and other students I know, received letters abruptly cancelling our internships without giving any reason. WE have a tyrant in office, in Donald Trump, he does not care about the students and faculty at this university, or the research work they are doing. He is cutting benefits for the poor and the middle class to give tax cuts to the richest people in our country.”
Jacoby Bennett, a Black graduate student lamented the influence of Trump’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies and the state’s legislation (SB -129) to limit DEI in Alabama’s education system from K-12, colleges and community programs. “This is not a rebranding, this is an erasure of Black, LBTGQ, and other marginalized groups on our campus. The Black Student Union and other similar groups helped students to end their isolation and relate positively to other groups on campus. DEI policies have ended these benefits, but apathy is not an option. We must fight for our rights and to bring back DEI policies and recognition,” said Bennett.
Maggie Justice of the UA Planned Parenthood said the President’s policies on reproductive freedom, cutbacks in birth control, and general disrespect for women’s rights brought her to the demonstration.
Dr. Cathy Simon, UA Social Work Professor and lead plaintiff on the lawsuit against the provisions of SB-129, which limits the curriculum, books and learning for young people and college students in Alabama. The limits are in compliance with the President Trump’s Executive Orders on DEI. Dr. Simon said, “The provisions of SB-129 and Trump’s DEI policies are detrimental to our students lives and to our educational institution. We face disciplinary actions if we teach what we believe. We are not able to teach the truth. We are limited in our encouragement of critical thinking. We cannot use some books written by our own faculty because they have been found to violate these new DEI dictates. We must fight for full equality and academic freedom. If you have any privilege because of the color of your skin, your position, your income – then use your privilege for the good of all.”
The demonstration then heard from two national leaders, Beto O’Rouke of Texas and former Alabama U. S. Senator, Doug Jones on the national impacts of Trump’s policies. Both speakers reminded the audience of the work of the civil rights movement that changed conditions in Alabama, the South and the nation from the 1960’s forward. Although Trump is trying to belittle these accomplishments and trying to change history it will not work if the people are organized and resist these challenges.
Jones said, “Every change in America came from the work and actions of a movement. What we are experiencing now, under Trump is not justice. We must work on a movement to restore justice and include all the people in our nation.”