Protesters Rally Against Trump's Charlottesville Visit

Indivisible Charlottesville organizes multiple demonstrations along the President's expected route to Trump Winery.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:04am

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A cinematic painting depicting a group of protesters gathered on a street corner in Charlottesville, with warm sunlight and deep shadows creating a contemplative, nostalgic mood.Protesters in Charlottesville voice their grievances with the President during his visit to the Trump Winery.Charlottesville Today

As President Donald Trump arrived in Charlottesville for a fundraising dinner at Trump Winery, Indivisible Charlottesville organized multiple protests around the city and Albemarle County. Three events were strategically located along the route Trump was expected to take, but the President opted to travel from the airport to the winery by helicopter instead. A group of protesters also gathered at Blenheim Vineyards, just two-and-a-half miles away from Trump Winery.

Why it matters

The protests in Charlottesville reflect the ongoing tensions and divisions in the community following Trump's controversial comments after the 2017 Unite the Right rally. The demonstrations allowed locals to voice their grievances with the current administration and connect with others who share their concerns.

The details

The three protests were located at the intersections of Route 29 and Proffit, Route 29 and Hydraulic, and Routes 20 and 53 near Monticello Trail. Organizer Barbara Ruddy said the events came together quickly, and she was proud of how the organization came together. While there was some light heckling between protesters and a few nearby Trump supporters, the mood remained peaceful.

  • On Friday, April 11, 2026, President Trump arrived in Charlottesville for a fundraising dinner at Trump Winery.
  • The protests were organized throughout the evening as Trump was expected to travel from the airport to the winery.

The players

Indivisible Charlottesville

A local activist group that organized the multiple protests against President Trump's visit to Charlottesville.

Barbara Ruddy

One of the organizers of the Indivisible Charlottesville protests, who said she was proud of how the organization came together for the events.

Ashleigh Crocker

A protester who attended the demonstration at Route 20 and 53, citing Trump's comments about 'very fine people on both sides' following the 2017 Unite the Right rally as a reason for protesting.

Erin Wise-Ackenbom

An Indivisible Charlottesville member who attended the protest off of Route 29 and Proffit, saying the event helped provide an outlet to voice her frustration with the current administration.

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What they’re saying

“Their energy is boundless. I don't know how they do what they do all the time. Many of them are working full time. I'm retired, so I have a lot of free time. They're working full time, and still being doing this sort of thing. So I really give them tons of credit. Very, very proud of them.”

— Barbara Ruddy, Protest Organizer

“Trump hasn't come to Charlottesville since before the 2017 Unite the Right rally, and Charlottesville remembers what he said about the very fine people on both sides, and we wanted to come tell him that we didn't like that.”

— Ashleigh Crocker, Protester

“On a daily basis, I'm depressed. And by doing this, I feel like I have some control in my life and we have some control of the world and just to let the world know that what he's doing, we do not agree with that.”

— Erin Wise-Ackenbom, Indivisible Charlottesville Member

What’s next

The protesters plan to continue organizing demonstrations and events to voice their opposition to the Trump administration's policies and actions.

The takeaway

The protests in Charlottesville highlight the ongoing divisions and tensions in the community following the 2017 Unite the Right rally, and demonstrate the importance of civic engagement and grassroots activism in holding elected officials accountable.