Like many of you who are at a lost for words, I stand with you. How did this happen? Seriously, how? How did an idea that sounded like one big joke, become our reality? We must have been under the impression that America has greatly changed since The Civil Rights Movement in the sixties but this election made it very clear as to where the rest of the country stands.
On November 10th, along with thousands of others, I decided to participate in the Anti-Trump protest in Downtown Los Angeles. It was something that I felt I needed to be a part of not only for myself but for my entire family. On election day as I saw how many states were turning red during the polls, I felt sick to my stomach but being alongside thousands of others who felt that same sickness allowed me to regain some hope.
The protest took place at Los Angeles City Hall. Thousands of Anti-Trump supporters from all different backgrounds filled the area from the top steps of City Hall to about a block away. Signs were being held with slogans saying things such as: "LOVE TRUMPS HATE", "BUILD BRIDGES NOT WALLS", "NOT MY PRESIDENT", "RESPECT EXISTENCE OR EXPECT RESISTANCE", "WELCOME BACK TO 1954", etc. It was an emotional experience for me because sadly, I have never felt more patriotic.
The protest started off peacefully although some protesters began to vandalize, burn Trump piñatas, and then eventually make their way down to the 101 freeway where they stopped traffic for a little over an hour. I'll be the first to say that you can't fight fire with fire. Protesting hate with more hate is useless. Silent protesting can make more of a difference than acting like complete fools in order to get your point across.
The most irritating thing about participating in a protest is the ignorant comments people feel the need to say after the fact. "So what, you guys think protesting will stop Trump from becoming president?" "Protesting won't change anything, what's done is done." "Protesting is a waste of time and isn't beneficial to anyone."
Let me break this down — our newly elected president expresses racist, sexist, and homophobic behavior, we live in a country where 63 percent of the population is made up of minorities, 50.8% are women and 23% identify as gay or lesbian and we aren't expected to show any signs of revolt? Amazing.
I wouldn't blame someone for not knowing what it's like to feel terrified living in a country where more than half of its citizens voted for a man who exemplifies pure hate. A man who has publicly stated racist remarks towards Hispanics, Blacks, Muslims, etc. A man who was caught on tape saying the horrific things he would do to women. A man whose beliefs are supported by the KKK and he doesn't condemn them. A man who will run America like a business when it's meant to be our home. This is the man I refuse to call my president.I'm aware that it is not in our power as the people to make sure that what Trump has promised won't actually follow through. Hell, it wasn't even in our power to choose our own president but they sure like to make it seem like we have that kind of power.
What I do know is that we all have rights. We have the right to peacefully protest against someone who we feel is unfit to lead our country.
We are protesting against the hate that having a president like Donald Trump would bring to this country.
We are protesting against the rights that Vice President Pence is determined to take away from women.
We are protesting because even though Hilary Clinton won the popular vote, she isn't going to be our president.
We are protesting to be heard.
We are protesting because we don't want to live in fear for the next four year.
We are protesting to let it be known that we will not tolerate being oppressed.
We are protesting to feel united instead of divided.
We are protesting because racism isn't dead.
