Community members march through Birmingham at the first rally on Thursday, Nov. 10 to promote unity between marginalized groups following the results of the Nov. 8 presidential election. Photo courtesy of Mateo Montoya, from fourteen76.comMark Linn - Copy Editorcopy@insideuab.com
Hundreds of people gathered at Kelly Ingram Park to voice their opposition to president- elect Donald Trump and solidarity among minority groups for two unity rallies that marched around downtown Birmingham.
“The overall goal and message of both rallies was to create a safe and open environment for people who feel threatened or demeaned by the rhetoric used by President Trump in the election to express their frustration,” two of the rally’s organizers, Alecha Irby and Jordan Giddens, a UAB student, said in a joint statement.
The first rally took place on Thursday, Nov. 10. Shortly after the organizers created the Facebook group and event, they reportedly began receiving hateful messages and threats, several of which called for the organizers to be set upon by dogs and fire hoses, evoking infamous moments during the Birmingham civil rights movement.
“The fact that the Kelly Ingram Park has statues immortalizing the very same historic act of releasing the dogs, was very indicative of why these rallies are so incredibly important,” the organizers said. “Although some of the threats were frightening and shocking, we refused to give into fear tactics. We also had incredible protection from the amazing Birmingham Police Department, who helped make sure every participant was safe.”
The organizers reported that the first rally saw over 500 people, while the second rally, which occurred on Saturday, Nov. 12, was attended by almost 400 people.
Participants voiced their opposition to some of Trump’s proposed policies and campaign rhetoric, and some called for the end of the Electoral College, which delivered the presidency to Trump despite losing the popular vote. Many carried signs with slogans like “Love Trumps Hate,” “Black Lives Matter” and “No Trump, no KKK, no fascism in the USA.”
The rallies featured a diverse range of speakers sharing their personal experiences and fears about some of the campaign rhetoric made during the presidential election. Issues that came up included LGBT and women’s rights, racism and Islamophobia.
“I came out here tonight to show that we are not alone, that my trans brothers and sisters and non-binary folks are not alone,” said Fallon Little, a freshman social work major at UAB, who spoke at the first rally. “All of our oppressed minorities, we are here to show that we rebuke the presidential election, and [that] we in numbers are so much stronger, our love is so much stronger, than any hate [from] he, or Mike Pence, or anyone that elected him.”
Several of the speakers stressed the need for the rallies to remain peaceful and promote discourse.
“We cannot denounce hatred and violence with hatred and violence. It undermines our platform and stoops us down to the level of the very actions we’re denouncing,” said Nick Scarantino, an author and Biblical scholar who spoke at the second rally. “We cannot yell F*** Trump and then try to stay that we’re rallying of unity and love.”
Irby and Giddens plan to form a new organization with De’Marcus Pruitt, a master’s student from the University of Alabama. The organizers say that they are planning to host a town hall-style community discussion to address issues on a national and local level.
“We are also looking to place an emphasis on local issues, and are looking forward to working with Conservatives and Liberals alike in order to continue empowering change in this nation,” the organizers said. “We look forward to finding ways to move forward as a united front while enacting positive change in all communities.”
