Two weeks after millions of Hillary Clinton supporters hoped they’d be celebrating her election as the first female US President – smashing the ultimate glass ceiling – it’s protests against the result that are now centre stage.
Donald Trump’s campaign has been called the most divisive in US political history. Many thousands of those dejected by his win – based on banning Muslims and building walls, and despite brags about sexually assaulting women – took their anger on to the streets last week, around the country. But most notably, women have been channelling their anger into an effective response to the remarks he has made about marginalised groups.
A rally called Women’s March on Washington is already scheduled for 21 January, the day after Trump’s inauguration, with splinter marches happening in cities around the world.
Fontaine Pearson, 54, from Memphis, who co-organised the march with female New Yorker Bob Bland, says the aim is to ‘break down the barriers which led to Trump’s win’ by reaching out to those who feel ‘demonised and hopeless’. The event’s Facebook page has over 182,000 interested in attending and has been shared more than 440,000 times since it was set up last week. ‘It’s in response to the misogynistic and xenophobic rhetoric used throughout Trump’s campaign, which has created a climate of fear,’ she told Grazia. ‘The march is to let them know we’re here for them and to bring people together. A divided nation is how Trump got into power in the first place.’
Shishi Rose, a black writer and activist, has organised and spoken at many anti-Trump events in the past week to mobilise people to support those Trump targeted, and has been lauded by Girls
producer Jenni Konner. ‘The burden of responsibility needs to change, so all of this isn’t solely on the shoulders of the oppressed,’ Shishi told Grazia. ‘Everyone needs to stand up for marginalised groups.’
The 27-year-old from New York has called for the country to come together: ‘When Trump won I feared for my life because he based his entire campaign on racism. But I have hope in human power and we need to come together.’
As the wave of dissent has swelled, donations to causes opposed by the President-elect have gone through the roof. Groups such as Planned Parenthood, Anti-Defamation League and others that champion immigration rights, women’s health and civil liberties have seen record contributions and volunteer applications following Trump’s victory. In the UK, Laura Croudace and Lizzi Hollis have set up Just Giving page Donate Not Hate to allow Brits to support the causes that could be under threat in the new administration.
Yaritza Mendez, 23, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic living in New York, belongs to Make The Road, a group that supports working class communities. Last week, she was master of ceremonies at their anti-Trump rally, which mobilised 15,000 in Manhattan.
Speaking to Grazia, she said, ‘We are saying it loud and clear that he better run this country in the most efficient way possible without hurting those who are struggling. If he doesn’t we are going to unite and fight whatever decision they make which puts us in danger.’
Fontaine is hopeful these movements will effect change. ‘I hope the movements change the divisive dynamic that has led to Trump coming into power. Change needs to happen and this is where it starts. Trump can never happen again.’
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