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Anti-Trump Protest Provides An Outlet For People To Share, Come Together

Lisa Rodriguez
/
KCUR 89.3
Hundreds gathered in front of Kansas City, Missouri City Hall in protest of president elect Donald Trump.

Hundreds of people gathered Saturday afternoon in front of City Hall in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, to condemn president-elect Donald Trump.

The protest, which lasted several hours and remained peaceful throughout, differed from anti-Trump rallies in the city earlier in the week — there was little chanting, and no marching.

Instead, people lined up to speak through a megaphone, sharing their personal stories, expressing their feelings, and calling for people to mobilize for change. 

For Kip Mathis, who is white, it was an opportunity to stand in solidarity with those who felt targeted during Trump's campaign, including minorities, immigrants, and LGBT people. 

"I hope the ones that are scared, feel like they're not alone, that they have people here. There are people that do love them and care about them and feel they're just as equal as we are...I hope that it shows them that we're not going to stand silently and let this happen," Mathis said.

She wore a safety pin on her shirt to indicate that she was there to protect anyone who felt unsafe in the days following the election. 

Credit Lisa Rodriguez / KCUR 89.3
/
KCUR 89.3
Rebecca Keaton attended the rally with her daughters Mya, left, and Allie.

Rebecca Keaton came with her two daughters, Mya and Allie. She said she's had to have some difficult conversations with her daughters this week. 

"With my youngest daughter, who was adopted, that he (Trump) can't send her back home to China, which is not her home, America is her home, she is a citizen and she has every right to be here," Keaton said. 

Several women shared with the crowd their stories of being sexually assaulted. Latino and Muslim people expressed fear for themselves and their families, because of the anti-immigrant rhetoric throughout Trump's campaign. 

"For all the people who are not cisgender, who are not white, who are not straight, do not let Trump's Presidency be normalized," Casey Williams, a young activist, told the group.

Even Kansas City's "Running Superman" took the megaphone, to tell people that he's runs for peace and is praying for America.

At one point, two protesters were apparently detained for questioning by Kansas City police. Several tense minutes followed, as protesters squared off against police and the crowed began to chant "Not O.K." and "Let Them Go."

Eventually, the situation was diffused, police backed away and the crowd continued the open-forum. 

Police gave no indication as to why the protesters were detained. 

Lisa Rodriguez is a reporter at KCUR 89.3 Connect with her on Twitter @larodrig

Slow news days are a thing of the past. As KCUR’s news director, I want to cut through the noise, provide context to the headlines, and give you news you can use in your daily life – information that will empower you to make informed decisions about your neighborhood, your city and the region. Email me at lisa@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @larodrig.
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