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ANTI-TRUMP PROTEST

SUNY-O STUDENTS

TAKE TO RAMPARTS

The protest, with SUNY Oneonta student Sara Kugelman and Oneonta High School students Massimo Avanzato and Meghana Naraparaju in the lead, marches through the SUNY Oneonta quad to the Hunt Union. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
The protest, with SUNY Oneonta student Sara Kugelman and Oneonta High School students Massimo Avanzato and Meghana Naraparaju in the lead, marches through the SUNY Oneonta quad to the Hunt Union. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)

By JASON BIRKELBACH • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

Emily Houton’s sign says it all.
Emily Houton’s sign says it all.

ONEONTA – The election results did not surprise SUNY Oneonta student Kevin Torres. That’s not to say he was happy about them. That night on Facebook, Torres made a “private event”: a protest of Donald Trump’s victory held on campus today, Veterans Day.

“In the beginning there were only 10 people,” Torres said. “Until I was pushed to make the event public, which I did, and received a lot of participation. It’s incredible to see the response.”

That original 10 grew into the hundreds of Oneonta students who, angered and frustrated with Trump’s platform, marched, hoisted signs, and chanted in protest of the election results this afternoon on the quad between the Netzer Administration Building and Schumaker Hall.

The rally reflects the 18-29 demographics that nationally voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton.

The protest featured multiple moments of silence for those whose lives were lost because of racial, gender, sexual and religious prejudice. The group first observed a moment of silence for the veterans who Torres said “fought for this right, for our freedom of speech.”

Event organizer Ryan Phiota, center, speaks to the crowd on love, support and not allowing violence or hate to divide us.
Event organizer Kevin Torres, center, speaks to the crowd on love, support and not allowing violence or hate to divide us.

The protest started at noon with a small crowd that grew quickly as Torres gave his opening speech. Citizens of Oneonta and Hartwick students joined as well. Among those gathered was SUNY Oneonta president Nancy Kleniewski.

“A lot of people are unsure about what it means for them. Some of them have undocumented relatives,” she said. “Some of them are gay or lesbian or transgender and don’t know what’s going to happen in terms of policy.”

Not everyone agreed with the public demonstration. One observer Josh, who requested his last name be withheld, is a Trump supporter. He watched from outside the maelstrom of millennial dissent and felt differently about the display.

“He’s their president whether they like it or not,” he said. “They’re doing a fine job; they’re being peaceful, but I don’t like the fact they’re doing it today. It’s Veterans Day. Millions of veterans have died…have fought for our rights and our constitution. And by the constitution, he’s our president. It’s just disrespectful to every veteran.”

That the event was held on Veterans Day drew some ire and criticism on the event’s Facebook page as well.

During a moment of silence for those killed by hate crimes, Stefan Segelken holds his sign "Terrorism Has No Religion."
During a moment of silence for those killed by hate crimes, Stefan Segelken holds his sign “Terrorism Has No Religion.”

“Why are you protesting on Veterans Day?!” one poster wrote. “Have some respect!”

Another wrote: “Not that there’s anything wrong with peaceful protesting, but how many of you are choosing to go to this instead of a veterans day service today? The ones who protect your right to protest?”

The protest proceeded peacefully, though, save one incident.

As the protesters chanted and marched in a circle around the quad, one young man jumped on a nearby bench, gesturing and shouting profanity over the crowd.  “Get over yourselves,” he said.

When he jumped down, several protesters were waiting to confront him. One had sprinted from the back of the crowd to face the man. The two exchanged words before several others intervened, one of whom was Rilwan Ameen.

“I’m not going to stand by when I can do something,” Ameen said.

Ameen tried to speak with the man. According to him, the young man continued to provoke the protesters, until University Police appeared at which time the offender and his friends left. Ameen was among the student speakers who shared sentiments after the moments of silence.

Following the first hour of demonstration, the gathering moved from the quad to Hunt Union, where the group observed a moment of silence for members of the LGBTQ community. Students Johnny Brown and Gwyn Quagliana read poetry to the group.

“It’s extremely important,” Quagliana said. “I’m queer and it’s just terrifying what could happen to us and it’s so important that our voices be heard, that we’re still proud. We’re still here. We’re still out. We’re not backing down.”

The crowd then moved back to the quad, singing “This Little Light of Mine,” more softly than its other chants. They observed another moment of silence for those lost to racial injustice and police violence.

And after another hour of demonstration, the protest concluded with a final two minutes for victims of religious persecution and those with disabilities who have passed.

“We can’t change the results of the election,” Torres said. “I think what’s most important is to spread awareness of the fact that ideologies that are towards oppression are going to be fought against. Whether it be by signs or voices or Facebook posts or tweets, people have something to say.”

 

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3 Comments

  1. so, the LGBT are all upset because Hillary didn’t win. The same Hillary that wants to bring in millions of unvented Muslims that believe it is there duty to kill gays and throw them off roof tops, refuse to allow education of the females, do not recognize marital rape and claim a woman need 5 witnesses to file a rape claim and if they can’t, they are stoned to death. Wonder where they get their ideas and when do they get their Soros paychecks

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