Thousands of protesters dissatisfied by Donald Trump’s shocking victory took to the streets on Wednesday in several cities across the U.S.
In Texas, hundreds of students from the University of Texas blocked a highway in Austin, burned a flag on the campus of American University in Washington and walked out of class in high schools and colleges across the country after the victory of President-elect Donald Trump.
In downtown Los Angeles, high school students crowded the steps of City Hall on Wednesday afternoon. Protester Brooklyn White was holding a sign that said “Hate won’t win.”
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“We can’t let it stop us. If he’s the president then fine, but if Donald Trump is gonna be it then he has to listen,” she said.
In Manhattan, thousands converged on Union Square in a light rain and prepared to march uptown to the president-elect’s home at Trump Tower. Protesters hoisted signs like “Bad Hombre” and “Not My President,” and anti-Trump chants echoed through the crowd.
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Daisy Skelton, 22, of Manhattan, tried to grapple with Trump’s victory.
“This election is unacceptable,” said Skelton. “I’ve been crying, and my friend said to me, ‘Optimism is the only way.’”
Socialist Alternative, NYC, the group that organized the anti-Trump march, heaped criticism on the Democratic Party.
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“The Democratic Party has proven they are incapable of stopping Trump,” Socialist Alternative, NYC, said in a Facebook message announcing the protest. “The Democratic Party has failed. This is the result of the Democratic Party leadership backing Hillary Clinton instead of Bernie Sanders. It is time to build a new party of the 99%.”
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Jackie Smith, 53, of Staten Island, said she was blindsided by the election outcome.
“There’s a lot of blame to go around, but I blame myself,” said Smith. “Instead of laughing at Trump, I should have been out protesting.”
Trump’s derogatory comments and allegations that he has sexually assaulted women loomed large for Emily Rems, managing editor of Bust magazine. She carried a sign that read “Don’t Grab My Pus*y,” referencing vulgar comments Trump made in a 2005 video published by The Washington Post in October.
“We’re pissed as hell that Donald Trump won this election,” Rems said. “Women should have equal rights in this society, and we don’t want Roe v Wade overturned.”
Similar protests erupted in Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., shortly after Hillary Clinton conceded defeat early Wednesday.
In California, Berkeley and Oakland authorities reported several protests as well. Small fires were set in city streets as marchers reached downtown Oakland.
Protests and prayer vigils were held at other locations around the country.
