Activists continue to protest Trump election, seeking to create ‘movement’
More than a week after Donald Trump’s upset election, protesters continue to take to the streets in the US and elsewhere to condemn the billionaire’s racist and xenophobic rhetoric.
In Chicago, about 200 people marched from Federal Plaza to the Trump Tower on Saturday, vowing to create a “movement” against the president-elect’s policy proposals targeting immigrants, Muslims and other minorities.
They carried signs and chanted slogans like, “No Trump! No KKK! No racist USA.”
The demonstrators said protests will persist in the city unless Trump abandons his “war” on immigrants and other minorities.
“An openly racist, sexist man … is about to occupy the White House,” said John Beacham, an activist with ANSWER Chicago, the group that organized the rally. “This isn’t a moment. It’s a movement. We need to do this ourselves.”
As protesters marched from Federal Plaza to State Street, shoppers and tourists lined the streets and in some cases chanted along.
“We’re coming for you Trump,” the demonstrators chanted as they approached Trump Tower in downtown Chicago.
Organizers said Trump’s presidency and recent cabinet appointments would be met by resistance and daily protest rallies.
“Our voices are stronger than Trump’s hate,” said local activist Andy Thayer, who was one of the speakers at Federal Plaza. “I deserve a president who leads by example.”
In Toronto, Canada, at least a thousand people took to the streets to rally against Trump Saturday afternoon.
Protesters gathered at Nathan Phillips Square before marching down Bay Street toward Trump International Hotel and Tower, where they clashed with a smaller group of Trump supporters.
Police intervened as tensions mounted between the two groups, separating them by barricades. At least one person was arrested at the rally.
Anti-Trump protesters shouted, “No way, KKK!” at Trump supporters who carried signs reading, “Make Canada Great Again.”
A protester said she participated in the rally to do her part to protect Canada from the spread of xenophobic sentiment.
“Sometimes we think, ‘Oh, they’re just our crazy neighbors next-door. We don’t have to worry about that here,'” Jennifer Mitchell, 29, told CBC Toronto.
“But we had a justice in Hamilton who wore a ‘Make America Great Again’ [hat] in his courthouse. We have a woman who’s trying to become the leader of the Conservative Party, who wants people to prove their Canadian values,” she said.
“That’s disgusting and that’s not what I stand for,” Mitchell said.
Trump’s campaign had been hit with many controversies since its inception in early 2015. But the real estate tycoon still managed to stun the world by defeating the heavily-favored Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, in the November 8 election.
