@NCCapitol

Durham group joins in protests against Donald Trump

People gathered at the Farmers Market to join thousands across the country who say Trump is not their president.

Posted Updated

DURHAM, N.C. — Protests against President-elect Donald Trump continued Sunday, including one called the Durham in Defiance rally.

People gathered at the Farmers Market to join thousands across the country who say Trump is not their president and refuse to accept the outcome of the election.

"I think over the past few days, people have been pushed into a place of despair and hopelessness," said protester Aaron Bryant.

The protesters join others in places like New York, Portland and Dallas have taken to the streets since Wednesday morning to reject the idea of Trump as their next president.

"Donald Trump represents white supremacy, I think, to put it quite bluntly. He has been openly and shockingly racist in ways that are almost comical; like it felt like a joke," said protestor Saba Taj

Durham in Defiance said it does not accept what they believe were hate and fear driven politics. They said stand in solidarity with immigrants, Muslims, women and members of the LGBT community; all groups they believe were targeted during Trump’s campaign for the presidency.

“Legitimately, it was just painful to see that this is where we’re at,” said Taj. “Even though I’m surrounded by a lot of folks who love and affirm me in my identity as a Muslim woman, in my right to be here, the fact that Trump won really indicates something about how power is operating in this country.”

Organizers said the defiance rally is more about policy than ideology. Campaign talk of building walls, a temporary ban on Muslims and repealing Obamacare have them worried about many aspects of life.

"My partner is on Obamacare and suddenly thinking about what's going to happen to health care," said protester Bennett Carpenter.

Trump has responded to similar protests happening in many states. On Twitter, he claimed the protesters were incited by the media and that it was “very unfair.” He later changed his tune, and said he loved the fact that the protesters have a passion for the country.

While the group in Durham rallied, the state's NAACP president Rev. William barber spoke in Charlotte.

"This right now, America, is where we must be honest about the depth of racism and the psychic sickness of our country," he said.

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.