After months of back-and-forth arguments and allegations associated with the presidential election, Donald Trump (R) was elected the 45th President of the United States. Immediately following the announcement of his victory, protests broke out across the country. Democrats
who hoped to witness history with Hillary Clinton as the first woman president took to the streets to voice their opinions about the president-elect.

On the night following the election, major cities and universities across the country became inhabited with masses of protesters. The streets flooded with people carrying signs with messages as they chanted phrases like “not my president” and “love trumps hate.” Clinton

supporters say they are fearful of the future Trump might bring.

“I’ve seen people oppressed. And this is like a heartbreak of the American dream for me. So I’m fighting to keep what America has stood for alive,” said Evelyne Werzola, an immigrant from South Africa who attended a protest in New York (Huffington Post).

From Boston to Portland and many cities in between, people made their voices heard. The largest protest so far took place in Los Angeles on November 12, with over 8,000 people in attendance. Even thousands of high school students from various schools in California staged walk-outs during the school day to speak and march for their beliefs.

While the majority of the protests have remained peaceful, demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, and Oakland, California, turned into riots. Starting as powerful, peaceful displays, these protests ended in chaos as businesses were vandalized, dumpsters set aflame and car windows
broken, forcing the police to step in.

In response to these anti-Trump displays, supporters of the president-elect took matters into their own hands. Several cities have experienced pro-Trump graffiti and in one extreme case  at the University of Central Missouri, a man drove his truck into a group of peaceful protesters. He has since been arrested.

As the days progress, the increasing protests show no signs of stopping. Let’s all remember that, despite our differences, we are all United States citizens who have undeniable rights. As our country continues to grow, we must unite together to face our coming future.