Protest signs were scattered around Downtown Portland after hundreds of people rallied against the inauguration of the new President of the United States Donald J. Trump on Friday. Meanwhile, many University of Portland students and staff were anxiously awaiting for the Women’s March on Saturday.
Marching out of fear, worry and anger towards the incoming president, students are not only participating to fight for women’s rights, but to demonstrate the many other factors that they feel are at stake under a Trump administration, including the environment and LGBTQ rights.
Trisha Elizarde-Miller, Program Assistant at UP’s International Student Services, co-founded a Filipino women’s rights organization in Portland called Gabriela. She and her organization will be marching peacefully with their Gabriela flags - one that says “Gabriela Portland,” a rainbow “Gabriela Portland” flag to signify solidarity with the LGBTQ community and a flag that says “Gabriela advance the militant movement”.
“There’s a lot of division that’s happening because of what this upcoming presidency has been doing and accusing, the media is being used to divide a lot of groups that should be really united,” Miller said. “I’m just worried that there’s going to be a lot of gender and racial tension.”
Juniors Mara Midiere and Mia Davis are excited to be a part of the rally. They believe it will be a way of voicing their concerns about the Trump administration.
“Women’s rights are really important for a lot of people in this country and especially the issue of reproductive rights with Planned Parenthood and just general, health and well-being as a woman,” Midiere said. “I just don’t want to feel ignored for the next four years.”
Davis says she plans to bring her camera to the march in hopes of documenting the feelings, hopes and concerns of participants.
“Most of all I hope it’s peaceful. I hope we can accomplish a big show of support in a peaceful way,” Davis said. “I can’t just sit at home and Tweet about it anymore, there really needs to be something done.”
