Anti-Trump protest held on SUNY Oneonta campus

Students at the State University of New York College at Oneonta gathered in the quad on Friday, in protest of President-elect Donald Trump. As protests have been sparking up throughout the nation on college campuses since the news of Trump’s win, many students across America have been making their voices heard through their words and actions.

What started as a Facebook event on the SUNY Oneonta campus quickly grew to a community-wide event, with students from neighboring Hartwick College and citizens of Oneonta joining in. The protest began at noon with a speech by student Kevin Torres on why they are choosing to take part in the movement.

“This is a man who won a spot at the Oval Office fair and square,” Torres said. “At the end of the day we can’t protest against that, but we can protest against the ideology and agenda he and some of his supporters have decided to accept and represent. This ideology of hate, anger, and fear, must be opposed. And that is why we have decided to protest.”

Concern was held by many in the community regarding the day of the protest, Veterans Day. Torres addressed veterans in his opening statement, followed by a moment of silence for them.

“This movement is in no way meant to disrespect the efforts and actions of the veterans, and current members of the military, but in fact an attempt to shed light at the idea that not every citizen is receiving the basic rights that our military is fighting for,” Torres said.

Many of the protesters held signs, flags and banners as they marched, chanting statements including “love trumps hate” and “not my president.” Crowds gathered around the protestors including students, faculty, and law enforcement, to ensure that peace would be held during the demonstration. However one student, opposed to the protest, stood atop a table next to the protestors, yelling expletives and making explicit gestures to the crowd.

The protest continued as marchers moved to the top of campus, where short speeches and words were shared amongst those who had gathered. As the protestors made their way back to the quad, they began to sing “This Little Light of Mine.”

Mark Ricky, protestor and student at SUNY Oneonta, expressed how people can help prevent hateful acts that may occur in response to the election.

“If you hear anyone say anything racist or sexist, don’t stay silent,” Ricky said. “If you stay silent, nothing will change, and the first step to any progress is admitting that there is something wrong and trying to help.”

Rebecca Sanchez, another protestor, believes that we have to work together to promote love rather than hate in our communities.

“This country is not made of hate, and we have to be better at loving people and loving our community, people should respect our differences,” Sanchez said.

The protest came to a close with another moment of silence after the three hours spent marching for their cause.