This event began at 6 p.m. at the U.S Post Office and Court Building on Franklin Street. Activists marched along the sidewalks of Franklin Street shouting, “This is what democracy looks like,” “No Trump, No Hate, No KKK, No Fascist USA” and more.
One of the organizers for this event included Northwood’s Nikolai Mather who worked with Sol Madar.
“[Madar and I] were discussing how we could go about navigating the aftermath of Trump’s election,” Mather said. “[Mader and I] wanted to do something that would be positive because lately in this election everything has just been so negative and so hateful towards other people.”
A senior this year, Mather’s motivation to organize this event stem from his family.
“My little sister is the child of an illegal immigrant and it’s a very hard position for her to be in at this time,” Mather said. “The goal of the rally is to make people feel loved because I would want to be a role model for her to act.”
Some students, like senior Audi Ryan, question the protests that have spread across the country after Trump’s victory, Nov. 8.
“I feel like it’s unnecessary,” Ryan said. “I don’t think the protests have any legitimacy because of the fact that they’re so violent with it.”
The protest in Chapel Hill displayed no acts of physical violence and no arrests were made.
Nicholas Johnson, 35, took part in the event with his daughter.
“I’m here protesting the electoral college and everything that has resulted from it,” Johnson said. “The electoral college has failed to elect the rightful president two elections in the last five and it’s got to go.”
The crowd walked down along the sidewalks of North Columbia Street on its way to the Old Well located on East Cameron Avenue. There, speeches were made by people in the crowd.
All statements carried similar tones, speaking against Trump’s campaign rhetoric about minorities and women.
After the speeches, protesters made their way through campus continuing with anti-Trump chants. They stopped when they reached North Columbia Street and Franklin Street and formed a circle to block the entire intersection.
Maxine Portier-Young, 16, was in the street locking arms with fellow activists.
“I’m here to protest the current events happening regarding Donald Trump,” Portier-Young said. “The hate, the violence and the general bigotry that is being perpetuated by him and his followers has now been given a greater political platform to emerge with wider acceptance.”
Protestors then walked down West Franklin Street continuing with anti-Trump chants. The protesters stopped at the intersection of South Graham Street and West Franklin Street and formed a circle to block the entire intersection.
Willow Monk, 21, was in the street locking arms with fellow activists.
“I wanted to make a statement. I wanted to stand against what Trump has said,” Monk said. “I stand for trans rights, women’s rights, gay rights and people of color.”
The crowd then continued marching down West Franklin Street with anti-Trump chants. The event had lost a lot of participants. An estimated 100 protesters charged onward towards East Main Street.
Activists formed another circle blocking off several points of access. Traffic coming from East Weaver Street and Robertson Street was unable to pass.
Spectators of this event were in their cars either supporting the actions of the activists or trying to carry on their own plans for the night.
Lawrence Straylock was a driver halted by the demonstration taking place.
“I think it’s awesome. I’ve been to these protests before and honestly I would’ve gone but I didn’t know there was going to be one today,” Straylock said. “I think this does a lot more to bring attention to issues, blocking traffic, making life difficult, than any voting. I think voting is meaningless. I think it’s completely worthless.”
Gabriel Alonna was pulling out of a parking lot when he saw the crowd.
“I mean I get it, but it’s an inconvenience,” Alonna said. “[My date and I] were going to go get dinner and a movie but it looks like we’re going to have to figure out a way to get dinner and figure out a way to get to the movies.”
Local bar worker Mike Waltrof also saw the crowd of people blocking traffic.
“People are trying to go to work,” Waltrof said. “People are trying to go to dinner. Don’t stand out here in the street and screw up everybody else’s night because you don’t have anything better to do with your time. My bar that I work at is going to be slow tonight because people are blocking the streets and people can’t get into town.”
The location of the protest itself was differed among those involved in the protest and those spectating.
“I am bearing in mind that this is Chapel Hill,” Mather said. “It’s a very liberal college town and there are a lot of people who do support the message that we are trying to convey which is support these groups of people.”
Some people disagree with the location of the protest, like Waltrof.
“It’s a waste of time because there’s no point in protesting right here,” Waltrof said. “Everybody in this town agrees with them. If they want to do this, go to Mebane. Go somewhere where people don’t agree with this stuff.”
The event ended at 10 p.m. when protesters walked all the way back to the intersection of North Columbia Street and Franklin Street. Participants started dispersing leaving 20 people.
“Everybody has the right to do what they want to do and express their opinion in whatever way they want to,” Alonna said. “That’s the beautiful thing about this country.”
– By Chantal Shine
