Trump’s Inauguration: Protests Appear Across Kansas, And Beyond

Photo by: Ryan Ellis 

In November 2016, Donald Trump’s victory was met with controversy across the United States, causing millions of angry citizens to express their disappointment through many outlets.

Trump’s campaign surpassed the 270 required Electoral College votes but lost the popular vote by more than 3 million votes. This is one of the many reasons why the American people took a stand during Trump’s inauguration this past weekend, Jan. 21-22.

While some people shared their thoughts on the popular Facebook page “Pantsuit Nation,” others decided to turn their frustration into a movement. Throughout the United States, protests were organized and executed in order to openly express an opposition to the new president.

Protests were split into two separate movements during inauguration weekend: Friday’s inauguration protest, and Saturday’s women’s march to D.C.

The protests did not end at America’s borders: Millions of individuals from across the globe organized and announced their solidarity with those who oppose Trump.

On Jan. 20, more than a thousand Kansas City residents marched to city hall to have their voices heard.

“This protest is anti-Trump, but it is more than just that. It is about sending a clear message on the day of his inauguration that we do not support his presidency. It is sending the message that we all stand in solidarity against the hate he has spewed, and we will continue to do so,” the hosts of the Facebook event wrote on their page.

When these Kansas City residents reached city hall, representatives from several minority groups spoke about their opposition to Trump’s presidency. Leaders from Kansas City’s Green Party, Progressive Youth Organization, Black Youth Committee, Proletarian Feminist Committee and many more appeared to address the large group of protesters.

They were surrounded by police officers mounted on horses, on top of being observed by several drones and a helicopter suspended above city hall.

Once a majority of participants left city hall, several remained in order to fully express their opinion. One young woman sat in front of Lincoln’s memorial statue with a sign that read “Dump Trump.”

The following day, a protest group vastly outnumbered Trump’s inauguration crowd. The originally estimate of 200,000 protesters grew to over half a million by 11 a.m., all the way to more than 1 million by the end of the day in D.C.

In addition to the marches in D.C., thousands of residents marched to the capitol in Topeka. There were also marches in numerous other capitols across the country and the world. Countless countries expressed their solidarity by dropping banners over bridges that read “Build bridges, not walls.”

In the large crowds of protesters were several public figures who wanted to express their opposition, including Madonna, Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Nick Offerman and Amy Schumer.

The ending note of the protests were messages of hope and messages to persevere through the next four years. Protesters vowed to support and defend their families, friends and peers who did not fall into categories deemed worthy by Trump’s campaign.

Their voices were heard by President Trump.

“Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn’t these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly,” Trump tweeted the day after protesters marched to D.C.

If the intended message was to attract Trump’s attention, clearly the marches worked. In the end, Trump has to witness the millions of Americans who are standing against him and his cabinet.