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Politics and Activism

Marching Against Trump

#NotMyPresident

Ashley Ann Bigard

Dec 06, 2016

North Carolina Millennials

Ashley Bigard

Last Saturday, I had the honor of peacefully marching against the hate filled President-elect Donald Trump. Some have supported me. Others have told me I'm wasting my time and destroying my friendships. I'd like to tell my side of the story.

As a woman, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and someone with siblings of mixed races, I am afraid. I am afraid of the policies that President-elect Donald Trump has said he will implement during his time in office. I am afraid that his words will normalize sexual and physical assault.

In the 22 days that Donald Trump has been named President-elect, there has been a massive spike in hate crimes. People are being beaten all because of the words of one man. That in itself is scary.

Donald Trump's words have opened the floodgates of racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and all around hate. In a mere three weeks, America has turned upside down with the election of this man.

When I was marching in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina with my homemade sign, I was proud. I was proud that my voice was being heard. Every time someone honked and waved their hand in support, I was proud to be in the crowd. Every time a news camera got in my face, I stared into it with the utmost confidence.

As an American citizen, I am graced to have the right to peacefully voice my opinion. Since I have the ability to exercise that right, I'm going to. I will march as long as it takes for the message to get across that I and over half of voting Americans refuse to support hate in the White House.

On Saturday, December 3rd, the KKK held a victory parade in Raleigh, North Carolina in honor of the election of Donald Trump. This Saturday, December 3rd, I and a large group of citizens in Charlotte, North Carolina marched against hate. We marched for love, peace, and safety of ALL Americans. America is the land of the free, not the land of the free if you're a white male with money.

I am a proud protester of Donald Trump. I know that my marching will not change what has happened, but it makes it known to my city and my country that I will not allow hate to reign over my life.

I cannot wait to continue marching with the wonderful group of people I have met who believe the same thing I do -- America will not be a safe and open place when Donald Trump gets into the Oval Office. We want to do everything we can to make sure that we keep all of our citizens safe and protected from the hatred of Donald Trump.

I will proudly continue using the hashtag #NotMyPresident. Because I refuse to call anybody who lives with that much hatred in his heart my President.

Marching against Trump is something I'm proud to do. I was featured on local news stations because of how passionate I am about this cause. I will not stop.

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Marching Against Trump

#NotMyPresident

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No one best represents the struggle like our favorite 90s squad.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

2. When there is only one section of a popular course.

3. Receiving the 18,000 emails reminding you to register ASAP.

4. When you need to see an advisor, but they are too busy/unresponsive.

5. Trying not to dress like a bum for your appointments with your advisors/department heads.

6. When you have a perfectly planned out schedule, and one class ruins it.

7. Carefully moving things around to accommodate a different class/section.

8. Waking up at 6:00 a.m. for your enrollment time.

9. Concocting a new schedule at your enrollment time after your original plan gets changed.

10. Getting into a class and filling the last available seat.

11. When all of your classes finally go through.

12. Realizing that you forgot a class that was a pre-requisite for everything else.

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

"Nobody living in one of the most influential nations in the world should be worried about making ends meet."

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What are the benefits of raising the minimum wage?

What are the states that have set a $15/hour minimum wage?

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Because who understands your bitterness better than April?

1. When you have to provide an "interesting fact" for your first day ice-breaker.

2. When your professor is babbling on and on in his lecture.

3. When you edit your friend's paper and they get an A.

4. When it's 2 AM and you remember you have a test tomorrow.

5. When you finish taking the test and you're pretty sure you failed...

6. ...but then you get the test back and somehow passed.

7. When you've been up for 12 hours straight writing a paper.

8. And then you manage to stay awake in class the next day.

9. When you have to butter up your professor for an extra credit opportunity.

10. When you're assigned a group project.

11. And your group-mates are trying to chat about life instead of the assignment.

12. When it's your last class of the day and you're about to go home.

13. But then you remember rent is due tonight and the anger comes back.

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