Last Tuesday, America yelled their voice and Trump was elected, even though he did not win the popular vote. But, many Americans: women, people of color, immigrants, LBGTQ people, Muslims, Latinos/as and allies sat and wept for the steps this nation took backward. This election highlights the immense fear, racism, and bigotry this country has always said didn't exist. We took steps in the wrong direction last week. We renounced the voices of rape and sexual assault victims by electing a man who has been accused and faces trial for these exact things. We took away the voices of our daughters, who may never see equal pay and have access to birth control or planned parenthood. We muted the voices of immigrants who are trying to better their lives, work hard every day, and want the 'American Dream'. We quieted the voices of the LGBTQ community, by electing a man and V.P. who openly oppose gay and trans rights. We did not make the right choice. We did not help 'Make this country great again' - we set it back.
Many Trump supporters are confused or find it funny that Hillary supporters are so upset. Well, I fell asleep crying Tuesday night and woke up crying Wednesday morning. We are more than upset. We are disheartened, we are sad, but we won't stop fighting. We won't let this man destroy all the work and progress that has been made in the last 8 years. We refuse to sit and watch this man destroy lives single-handedly. My heart aches for anyone who fears they will be kicked out, anyone who will be discriminated against even more. My heart aches for those who can't tell their children what has happened because they fear the outcome. We really did it this time, America. We allowed this man to not only run for President but succeed.
As for the DNC, this is greatly your fault too. You thought that money and status were all that mattered. You ignored the popular vote in the primaries and allowed Hillary to win. You thought that you knew best, that she would win, but she didn't because she wasn't our first choice. This wouldn't be an issue if you had listed to the voices of Americans, it would have been President Bernie Sanders. He would have won by a landslide.
Not everyone who voted for Trump hates gays, people of color, the LGBTQ community, immigrants, Latinos/as and Muslims but everyone who does hate them, voted for Trump. This election has only intensified the divide between people because he did so with fear. He used the fear of terrorism, the fear of immigrants to make you think he was right. He conned America into believing that we weren't great already. That we needed him to make this all better. He's not going to make this better, he going to make us worse.
My heart cries for every single person in this country afraid to leave their homes, afraid they may not have one. It cries for the men who fought for this country who may have to go into battle again. It cries for women and children. It's sobbing.
As for me, I will continue to fight for those who don't have a voice. I will continue the revolution Bernie Sanders started and I won't stop until every human being in this country has a voice, and is heard loud and clear. I am saddened by last week's results, but I haven't given up hope that OUR voices as allies and friends will not let this man take back what we've worked so hard to gain. Donald, you've lit a fire underneath us with the shit you've spewed, and we will not be forgotten or unheard. Every voice matters, no matter what color, race, religion, ethnicity, and we won't be silenced by fear and hate.
