The Freedom from Fear march started at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center at 4 p.m. then stretched nearly a mile along University Avenue with protesters chanting slogans attacking some of Donald Trump’s proposed policies.

More than 1,500 people crammed into Bo Diddley Plaza Saturday, singing, chanting and waving signs in what the Gainesville Police Department is calling the largest moving protest in years.

The Freedom from Fear march started at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center at 4 p.m. then stretched nearly a mile along University Avenue chanting “education not deportation,” “no Trump, no KKK, no fascist U.S.A.,” and various other slogans attacking some of Donald Trump’s proposed policies. They ended the march nearly two miles away at the Bo Diddley Plaza, where speakers then took to bullhorns to rally the crowd. Despite the huge showing of people, including about 10 counter-protesters, police say the march was basically without incident.

“There was one slight skirmish on 18th, but that was handled within five minutes,” said Lt. Tscharna Senn, shift commander for the GPD. “This was a very peaceful protest. They organized it with us in advance and kept people on the sidewalks. Kudos to the organizers and protesters; they are a testament to our city.”

For many, it was their first time ever participating in any kind of grassroots movement.

“We’re all scared and trying to unify,” said march organizer Julie Matheney. “This is something a lot of people can get behind.”

Katharina Scholl, a first-time activist and Gainesville resident, took her toddler to the event and pushed a stroller during the march.

“Because of my German heritage, I’m particularly sensitive to fascism,” she said. “I’m doing everything I can to stop history from repeating itself. As someone who chose the U.S. to be her home, I’m just one little person, but, in unity, we can make a difference.”

Activists and organizers don’t plan on stopping at this one event. A group that formed just after the election out of several separate activist organizations, Gainesville City of Resistance, is organizing and planning several events to express their concerns to local, state and national government officials in various ways.

“Sometimes there are moments in this country where people do come together, and people react quickly and feel like they’ve taken a stand,” said Candi Churchill, an organizer with National Women’s Liberation. “But it’s going to be a long process to shape this country in the way we want.”

Su Mendez, who owns several downtown venues, including the Top, said she’s willing to go the distance. “I’m on my feet for the next four years. I’m going to bother every senator and legislator who will talk to me, not just today, but every day.”

One of the main goals of the march was to put Gainesville on the map as a safe space for those who might be persecuted, said organizer Shirley Rodriguez. “Surrounding areas like Lake City and Ocala don’t have protections in place for many people, and we want them to know they can come here,” she said.

The group attracted the attention of hundreds of bystanders leaving UF after watching the LSU game. Most were supportive, but there were some who honked or yelled back at the protesters. A few pro-Trump Santa Fe students walked with the anti-Trump protesters to represent their side. They were surprised at the size of the gathering as well.

Gainesville native Justen Baker, 23, held a pro-Trump sign and said the march was the biggest one he’d seen in the city in his lifetime.

“There’s a lot of emotion here; it’s almost palpable,” Baker said. “I’m here to show that there are people who believe that Donald Trump is our President and that’s OK. If someone wants to have a debate with me, that’s fine, but I’m mostly here to piss people off.”

An event of this magnitude takes a lot of preparation, and four police officers were stationed at different points along the route, along with a team of volunteer marshals to help keep everything on track. March marshal Ed Gonzalez-Tennant said their role was simply to remind people not to engage in nastiness and to de-escalate any volatile situations.

“I think people were worried, in large part, because of the violence that has erupted at an individual level all over the country, but this is a peaceful exercise of everybody’s Constitutional rights,” Gonzalez-Tennant said. “Gainesville is a great town with a lot of good people, and even people who disagree learn how to get along.”

The march lasted until after 6 p.m., with organizers handing out sign-up sheets and talking to protesters about how to become further involved in the political landscape in the coming weeks. In addition to other public speak-out events, Gainesville City of Resistance is planning on petitioning local and state leaders and working to make Gainesville an official sanctuary city. The main goal is to promote the voices of people of color, immigrants, LGBT, the disabled and women, according to Rodriguez.

“At first those populations expressed a lot of fear,” she said, “but as time goes on, they’ve become more empowered. More groups need to come together and unite, particularly those led by minorities. That is the only way forward.”