Some Islanders show their dislike of Trump
P.E.I. rally held in support of Women’s March on Washington
Although he may not be their president, a group of Islanders gathered Saturday to voice their opposition to Donald Trump while also advocating for women’s rights.
About 200 Islanders marched through downtown Charlottetown in support of the Women’s March on Washington, which was a response to Trump’s inauguration on Friday.
Organizer Susan Hartley said the P.E.I. event began when she posted an invitation on Facebook for anyone who wanted to discuss the Washington march to meet her at Receiver Coffee Co. on Richmond Street.
“Then this happened,” Hartley said during an interview with TC Media. “It evolved from a conversation and gathering into a march. I know there’s a lot of expressed concern and Islanders are usually pretty quiet so I’m pleased people are willing to speak up.”
Hartley said her message is that “everybody’s rights are important.”
“There is concern and fear people are professing that the rights of minority groups and marginalized groups under the new administration in the states is going to have global effects.”
Hundreds of thousands protested in Washington on Saturday, while many other major cities across the U.S., and around the world, held similar rallies.
The Charlottetown rally saw some marchers wearing pink hats, a symbol being used in the Washington marches, while others chanted “women take the power.”
Hartley said she hopes Trump listens to the criticism, although she feels that is unlikely.
“Right now the indication is he won’t because he’s already deleted anything in reference to climate change, women’s rights and gay rights,” said Hartley, referencing pages that were seemingly removed from the White House website on Friday. “I hope we send enough of a voice across the world to make, if not him, his administration stop excluding people.”
Although the majority of the Obama administration’s content was removed from whitehouse.gov as part of Trump’s transition into office, it is now available archived at obamawhitehouse.gov, concerns have been expressed over how Trump will treat those issues and immigration policies as president.