• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

You are here: Home / Politics / #NotMyPresident: Liberal Protesters in the Age of Trump

#NotMyPresident: Liberal Protesters in the Age of Trump

November 17, 2016 //  by Kelly Livingston

Shares33FacebookTweet

Let me begin by saying that I love this country. I was raised to respect the office of the president and the peaceful transition of power. I believe in these things down to my very core. That is why this election has been so devastating. Our president-elect is not a man I can respect. His blatant disrespect for women, the LGBTQ community, people of color, immigrants, Muslims and disabled persons has left me and much of the country shaken. It is not just an issue of policy (though that is a major issue), it is an issue of hatred. It is an issue of human decency. It is an issue of human rights. Knowing this, the only course of action which remained was for me to join in the protests happening in my town.

I shook with nerves on Sunday as I realized I would be attending my very first political protest alone. After coming to the conclusion that I needed to do something about the results of the presidential election, I decided to go to a rally in downtown Gainesville on Sunday afternoon. (To be fair, it was not so much a protest as a peaceful organizing session for future protests.) I caught an Uber clad in my “Feminism is the radical notion that women are people” shirt with my recorder in hand, ready to report what I saw.

When I hopped into the car my driver complimented my shirt and offered me a safety pin, explaining that she was headed to the same place. It could just be that the world is smaller than I thought, but the animated conversation we had on the way to the venue struck me more as a sign that I was doing the right thing. This woman understood my grief, she understood my outrage, she understood my pain. She shared my desire to do something productive.

Upon arriving I signed in, giving my email so I could keep up to date on future events. The level of organization struck me immediately. After signing in, we shuffled inside. The crowd of several hundred listened to the organizers lay down some ground rules:

  1. Assume good intentions.
  2. Call people in, not out.
  3. Step up, not back.
  4. Own your intent and impact.
  5. Limit your time to two minutes.
  6. Respect the process.

As they explained the rules, I realized my fears were unfounded. These people, like me, came here because they felt committed to creating positive change. They wanted a peaceful and productive discussion and planning session in order to get organized. “When I saw the results of the election, I sobbed,” said Gainesville resident Sam Miller. “I sobbed for about an hour and a half. I called my mom and cried to her. She was supportive of course, but she said as well, we can’t, I can’t, just be silent anymore.”

Over the course of the meeting we heard each other’s stories, learned each other’s concerns and discussed ways to keep the hateful rhetoric that has been bolstered in this last year from poisoning our country. The Electoral College may have made Donald Trump our president, but millions of people across this country, a majority of voters in fact, do not believe he represents our values. In a week of grief, pain and fear, I have tried to keep this in mind.

Many do not understand the point of protesting. If I had a dollar for every time I heard some flippant comment about the “participation trophy generation” whining because we didn’t get our way, I could pay off my student loans. The people making those comments are missing the point though.

Most protesters don’t believe we will overturn the election. We simply do not wish to be party or fall victim to the potentially harmful agenda that has been touted by our president elect for the last year. We fear what all of this will mean for our daily lives. “I can’t stand the thought of someone that I love or myself going through some type of abuse because someone doesn’t agree with who I love,” said Miller. “Because of the fact that [Trump and Pence] work with so many people who are completely against LGBT rights, I’m not willing—I can’t accept that. I don’t feel safe. I’ve already felt so unsafe since he’s been elected.”

Correct me if I’m wrong here, but if we live in a nation by the people and for the people…the people should feel safe. That is why we organize. That is why we protest. And if trying to make our country feel safe for everyone makes me un-American, then I guess we really are lost.

Shares33FacebookTweet

Filed Under: Life Politics

About Kelly Livingston

Kelly is a senior at the University of Florida majoring in English and Anthropology. She is highly prone to feminist rants and has an unhealthy obsession with books.

You May Also Like

RBG

10 Things the Notorious RBG Did to Help You—Yes, You!

election

From History Hater to Political Junkie: How Election Night Changed My Life

Girl Power: The Ultimate Guide to Ignite, the National Nonprofit

Election Day 2020: How to Read the Florida Ballot

UMass President

An Interview With UMass’ Undergraduate President

yara shahidi posing in front of a butterfly with an equal rights shirt

You Go Girl! 10 Fictional Women Who Really Want You to Vote

voting

Get to the Polls: Why the College Student Vote Matters

voting

2020 General Election: What to Expect as a California Voter

How to Vote Smart in the 2020 Election: Everything You Need to Consider

how to vote in texas

2020 General Election: What to Expect as a Texas Voter

woman holding an American flag and a sign that says keep calm and vote

2020 General Election: What to Expect as a NYC Voter

Why You Should Not Unfollow Trump Supporters

save the usps

The USPS Crisis: How You Can Help

CM’s Top 10 Most Politically Active Colleges for 2020

women studying

10 Ways to Jumpstart Your Political Career

powerful woman leader

Powerful Woman Leader: Nicole Galloway

feminism

Speak Your Mind: 5 Ways to Practice Feminism in College

A Master Guide to Debunking the Political Communication Major

ICE

What if ICE Regulations Against F-1 Students Went Through?

10 Ways to Get Politically Active at the University of Florida

Andrea Jenkins

Powerful Woman Leader: Andrea Jenkins

minorities

Being Asian American: The Model Minority Myth and Anti-Blackness

black lives matter protest

Black Lives Matter: The First 14 Days After George Floyd

voting

CM’s Guide to Voting: What to Know Before Entering the Booth

Previous Post: « 10 Signs You’re Breaking Up With Your Best Friend
Next Post: 10 Ways To Avoid Getting Kicked Out of Your Dorm »

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

101

10 St. John’s University Finals Activities to Help You De-Stress

mental health
85

Pandemic and Academic Blues: Being Aware of Your Mental Health

23

A Gator’s Bucket-List: 21 Things to Do Before Graduating From UF

songs to belt out
14

21 Songs to Belt Out in the Shower

4

Top 10 Things To Keep in Mind When Asking for a Reference Letter

Featured Chapter: St. John’s University

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

Copyright © 2021 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.