Jeniece Roman – General Assignment Reporter
President-elect Donald J. Trump is something many thought they would never happen, but on Nov. 8 it, rang true.
Since Trump was announced as the next president of the United States, anti-Trump protests broke out in multiple cities including Manhattan, Chicago, and New Haven, consisting of thousand of people nation-wide chanting, “Trump is not my president.” Some of these protest turned into riots that have resulted in damage of property and several arrests.
Many people who did not vote for Trump are devastated, confused, and outraged. Tensions are running high and the emotion and passion that many feel about the situation is palpable. At the moment there has not been any seriously dangerous situations from this tension but it does not seem like that will last for long.
It feels as though something is brewing, deep and guttural within the heart of this nation. A wave of emotion that stems from the very core of individuals and screams, “No.” A movement, a shift or change, whatever it is called is transforming the landscape of politics and how people interact with their government.
And yet, I question if it will stay.
It is not the end of the world. No matter what Democrats or left of center independents might think.
This is not to say that the reasons for these protests are not valid, because they are, or that the people that express such revulsion to Trump being elected do not have a legitimate reason to oppose it, because they do. I would never want to diminish the genuine emotions of people that have been hurt by a person who has repeatedly discredited their race, disrespected their sex or joked about their physical capability.
Will the emotions that members of the anti-Trump movement have bubble over and explode or spill out then fizzle into a faint memory? It will either be a story to reminisce about how the 2016 election was so “crazy” or a slap in the face that the ambivalent citizens of this country needed to realize that, “I’m just not that into politics,” will no longer be an excuse to be completely comatose to the things happening in the world.
Hopefully this change will not be a debilitating shock to the system that renders the American people numb and helpless, but rather a defibrillator that drives people to become more involved in their community. Not only to know and understand the issues and how they affect them but also to set up a plan, have discussions with leaders and be the catalyst for change.
If there is an issue you care deeply about, it should bring about a change in lifestyle, do not let it be another Facebook post or Twitter rant. If you truly care about an issue then protest and if you protest, live it. Care about the people who govern your country every year not just every two years.
Do not just act on what is happening nationally but within Connecticut and your local community. Know the people whose decisions directly affect your life. Do you know who is the mayor in your hometown? Senator? Representative?
I did not think so.