I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than voicing my opinion about the presidential candidate Donald Trump. Trump was in my neck of the woods and brought his misogyny and racism with him. Although the main reason we gathered was to protest Trump, I got much more out of this experience than just an increased disrespect for Trump. This protest brought so many people together, who instead of just tearing down Trump, proclaimed their commitment to peace and love.
“Ohio is for lovers” was written on our sign. My friend and I used this lyric from a Hawthorne Heights song to communicate our belief that the people of Ohio would choose love and compassion for others over Trump’s blatant hate for several groups of people. We chose to emphasize love to respond to all of Trump’s negativity, whether it be his plan to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants, or his suggestion to ban all Muslim travel to the United States.
When marching, we chanted, “United we stand, divided we fall,” in both Spanish and English. This may have pointed most significantly to the proposed wall that would separate Mexico and the United States, but it was a much broader claim. We acknowledged that marginalizing any group of people would increase tensions in the United States would break down the unity that is so important to our “melting pot” of a country.
There were two women who were leading many of the chants and being role models for the protestors. At one point while my friend and I were walking back to our car, we walked behind the two women past a long line of Trump supporters. We were the only protesters in the area at that point, so the four of us were the objects of attention for the supporters. Many people were yelling at us or looking us derisively or with disgust. Even though they directed such disgust towards us, the two women did not let the supporters drag them down. They held their heads high, proclaiming messages of love. They were two women who were incredibly proud to be black and were brave enough to proclaim, “Black lives matter,” in front of a crowd that was very likely to disagree. These women were role models for my friend and I who were nervous upon coming to our first protest. They encouraged us to take a stand for what we believe in, even if it isn’t the popular opinion. Not only were they brave, but they also were very tactful. When people yelled back, “All lives matter,” they agreed and did not egg on the debate by explaining the meaning of the Black Lives Matter movement.
I was incredibly disappointed when passing a few boys who were Trump supporters. When they realized that my friend and I were protesters they yelled, “Trump.” I responded by holding up my sign and saying, “Love.” They answered by repeating “Trump.” What upset me most about this is that they acknowledged that Trump and love are opposites, yet they continued to support Trump. It is hard for me to understand that people are selfish enough to disregard compassion for others if it boosts them up.
Leaving the protest, I felt alive and hopeful. Even though I saw plenty of Trump supporters, I felt more emotion and passion from the protestors. I know that we left the protest having made our point to promote peace. Even in the midst of such negativity, people took time to take a stand against hate, which will make a huge difference as the presidential race continues to unfold. Rather than separating me from the Trump supporters, this protest connected me to so many people who value peace and love.
