(Viewer advisory: story contains graphic language which some might find offensive.)
Salt Lake City, Utah, Nov. 13, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — For the fourth day in a row, throngs of angry protesters took to the streets of Salt Lake City to voice their frustration over the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency.
The demonstration started around 1 p.m. Saturday on the steps of the City-County Building where a half-dozen local organizers addressed an estimated crowd of 600 people. An hour later they marched to the state Capitol where their crowd and their message grew louder.
While the speakers’ voices were still tinged with anger, their demeanor and that of the crowd seemed tempered compared to protests that took place here immediately after the election. Instead, they rallied those in attendance to do more than just protest, but rather to act, working on grass root movements designed to squelch the political aims of a Trump administration.
Organizers had gone so far as to tell followers on social media to use polite language and to protest peacefully despite the depth of emotions induced by Trump’s upset win on election night.
Despite the urging, many in the crowd, like Courtney McDonald, of Bountiful, said she was still reeling from Trump’s upset victory.
“The election, when I watched it happen I was just sick to my stomach,” she told Gephardt Daily. “I just can’t believe how disappointed I am that we live in a country that has an archaic system like the electoral college, electing our next president who is clearly unqualified.”
McDonald said Americans can only judge Trump on what they’ve seen so far.
“If, going forward, he does something to benefit the greater good, I think most liberals will certainly give him a chance, but so far he hasn’t done that, so I’m not convinced and I don’t feel safe.”
Protester Carey Valentine wasn’t quite as generous in her appraisal of Mr. Trump or the odds of any reconciliation.
“There’s nothing about him that has any redeeming qualities,” Valentine said of Trump. “I’m shocked that Utah gave all six votes to him. That’s more than anything, when the shock wore off, why I had to use my voice.”
Valentine said earlier on Saturday she had read Trump’s 20-point plan for changes, and found she felt positive about only one point: term limitation.
“I’m glad he’s talking about that, but for the rhetoric he spewed during the electoral process, he certainly seems to be back pedaling already, 48 hours into it, and saying he’s going to get rid of big government, and the cronies there are part of his new administration, and three of his kids are part of his new administration, I heard. I think that there’s a rat. I smell a rat.”
Then came a few tense moments as a lone Trump demonstrator taunted the protesters. Within moments, he was set upon by demonstrators who ripped a Trump campaign sign from his grip. Others in the crowd were quick to intercede, forming a protective circle around the Trump supporter.
McDonald believes Trump was helped by people who did not vote.
“It’s our our civic responsibility,” she said. “I think a lot of people just gave up on it this year because it wasn’t who we wanted. I wanted Bernie, too. I think a lot of people did, and maybe we would have had a better shot, if we had Bernie in the first place, but you still gotta vote, I mean, look what happened.
Utah Senator Jim Dabakis, a Democrat who represents the 2nd District and is chairman of the Utah Democratic Party, was on hand to add his voice to the discussion.
“I’m seeing that the minorities in the state, who are increasingly becoming a non-minority, are recognizing that they’re not getting a fair end of the stick,” Dabakis said, citing minority members’ lower graduation rate and lesser job opportunities in state government.
“I’m seeing a state where a large and growing number of people feel as they’re not included and not wanted,” Dabakis said. “And that is a very bad thing for all Utahns.”
Trump has been widely criticized during his campaign for saying he would build a wall to keep Mexicans out and would bar Muslims from entering the country until a stricter vetting process can be put in place.
Trump also has made comments many view as anti-LGBT, and has criticized women because he found them unattractive. Trump also was caught on a 2005 recording talking about his ability to kiss and grope women without their permission due to his celebrity status.
And Trump has stated his intention to deport people, including those from Mexico, who are living in America without citizenship papers, a move that would split families apart.
Asked what could be said to deeply worried Hispanic children and families, Dabakis paused.
“You want to be honest? We don’t know,” Dabakis said. “I don’t think Donald Trump knows.”
“To downplay something that could become reality would be unfair,” he said.
“We should be careful that we’re not reassuring people on things we just don’t understand…We just don’t know what is going to happen. I think families need to be really careful, really vigilant, and keep an eye on things.”
Valentine said she and her friends have taken to wearing a safety pin, an increasingly popular way to show support for people who feel threatened, including minorities, members of religions that are under attack, people in the LGBTQ community, and anyone who feels scared or threatened.
The safety pin also signals that people who feel threatened can feel safe with the pin’s wearer.
“You can see that we are advocating for minorities and those that are being suppressed or oppressed,” Valentine said. ” I feel that there’s people marginalized, definitely, and I don’t think that’s right. I am all for equality — peace, love and equality.”
