Over 50 students and community members gathered on the Rotunda steps Friday to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States.
The group faced the Lawn and chanted slogans such as “The people united will never be defeated.” They also held signs with messages like “Stop Trump” and “Hoos against hate.”
Third-year College student Wes Gobar started the event by speaking to the group about the importance of social activism, a theme of the rally.
“I would like to remind everyone that our experiment in multiracial democracy is a relatively new one, so over time, we the people on the ground, the grassroots, have perfected our union,” Gobar said. “You have expanded our democracy to include those without property, people of all colors, all genders, all faiths.”
Gobar also spoke of the possible challenges facing students in the future.
“These next four years will require a great deal of commitment, energy and attention from every single one of us,” he said.
The symbolism of holding the rally on Central Grounds was not lost on third-year College student Joseph Wright who was in attendance.
“I feel like it was very significant to have people from all walks of life, especially those of ethnic minorities, come out to something that used to be a slave project turned into a higher standard of learning,” Wright said.
Student protesters outside the Rotunda earlier chanting, "Love trumps hate" pic.twitter.com/h8VUNrmYzR
— The Cavalier Daily (@cavalierdaily) January 20, 2017
Donald Trump’s journey from candidate to president has prompted continuing dialogue among students even after the election season.
“I’m glad that people are able to be disgusted, and I’m gratified that people are able to argue about it,” Wright said. “I think that it’s a good thing, and I’m happier when there is argument other than chanting because that means everyone feels that they are welcome to speak.”
The feeling on Grounds towards the election is starting to change as well, Wright said.
“You can feel it, the way that students talk about it and the way that students are acting, it’s become more real,” Wright said. “This is really happening. It’s historic, for better or for worse.”
Following the rally at the Rotunda, the group marched down the Lawn to Robertson Hall, where organizations such as the Climate Action Society, Queer Student Union, Black Student Alliance and DREAMers on Grounds held “teach-ins” meant to educate students on social and political activism.
“The most important part is really the teaching things here so that we can mobilize students and make them more politically effective,” Gobar said.
Becoming involved in local government was a dominant theme for the first class, with both University and local government officials giving advice about reaching out to representatives.
“There’s kind of like a wall between the University and community in Charlottesville,” Walter Heinecke, associate professor in the Curry School, said. “That wall needs to come down.”
Students were encouraged to engage the community, get involved in organizations and even run for office themselves.
Charlottesville Vice Mayor Wes Bellamy shared inspiration for activism from Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
“[King] was a very firm believer in creating healthy tension, and I believe that that is important,” Bellamy said. “Ask yourself if you are willing to fight that fight because it requires you to be consistent.”
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