Screen capture from 10News
Students From 3 Campuses Converge at Federal Building
On Wednesday, November 16th, upwards of 500 San Diego high school and college students staged walk-outs at their campuses in protests against the election of Donald Trump. They marched and blocked intersections, and then converged from their different schools in downtown San Diego.
Around 10 am, the first demonstration began near San Diego City College, and by 11:15 the crowd – mostly from San Diego High School and the College had swelled to 300 to 500 people, according to police and participant estimates, and they marched onto Park Avenue and other streets. Reportedly, the march was planned by students at City College with spreading including Wednesday morning via social media.
After taking over a few intersections, the demonstrators marched to the area of Horton Plaza and the federal building in downtown San Diego. The mixed crowd chanted and held signs, such as, “Students Against Bigotry,” “We’re Not Trump’s Nation,” “Make Racists Afraid Again”. Representatives of the ACLU and the American Friends Service Committee were involved.
As the demonstrators crowded at the federal building, several speakers addressed the crowd from a bullhorn. One of the speakers was Kelly Mayhew, a San Diego City College English professor, who stated:
“You are all our future. You deserved so much more than this election gave you. It’s up to you to change things.”
Meanwhile, over at Lincoln High School things were also happening. At around the same time as the march from City College, an estimated 50 to 60 students left the high school on Imperial Avenue and marched into the streets – as part of the nation-wide student-led protests against Trump.
The protest moved west on Imperial, with chants, “The people united will never be divided,”and signs and two Mexican flags. Lincoln High Principal Shirley Peterson had attempted to keep the students on campus by opening up the school theater as a free-speech space. She told the press:
“We support students having free speech. A lot of teachers took an opportunity to talk to students about the protest and what it would accomplish. But we are also concerned about student safety.”
Absent students will be marked absent, according to district officials.
Eventually – after a distance of around 5 miles – the Lincoln High students merged with the on-going protest near the federal building. Now united, the groups marched east on Broadway, and ended up back at City College.
About 1 p.m., the two groups, now united, proceeded eastward along Broadway, headed back toward San Diego. The rally continued until sometime between 1:30 and 3pm.
Overall, the protests were militant and peaceful. One man was detained and arrested for assault on a police officer and resisting arrest after a small crowd had gathered around police as they cited another man, chanting to let him go. The suspect reported hit an officer and ran away, but was apprehended.
Another ruckus occurred over at City College when 2 Trump supporters got into yelling matches with protesters. Also, a participant was cited for spitting on someone.
Yet 500 students had joined the nation-wide campaign against Trump’s policies.
Ciera Coronado, a 21-year-old student at San Diego City College, told the U-T:
“We have to protest this election. Too many people voted for racism and bigotry, and now they are supporting a man who is full of empty promises. It is up to us to do this. Otherwise, we will lose a lot of our future.”
Nearby, 15-year-old Theresa Rodriguez from San Diego High said:
“I’m here to support the LGBTQ community. I don’t support Trump’s policies, and I’m here to show love.”
News sources:
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
President Obama said while in Germany, referring to anti-Trump protests –
“So, I would not advise people who feel strongly or who are concerned about some of the issues that have been raised during the course of the campaign, I wouldn’t advise them to be silent.”
Obama’s secretive surveillance state & unchecked drone strike program top my list as issues I’m concerned about. If Obama had an (R) next to his name Democrats would have been outraged beyond belief at the civil liberties violations and the Presidential powers expansion. Not a mention in the campaigns!
OB John – Let’s take 1 issue, for instance: Gitmo – Bush created it – and Obama tried to close it for his entire 8 years – but Congressional Republicans stymied his every move. Some of what you note is part of this growing non-partisan military-industrial-techno machine. Many of us protested against Obama and other Democrats in efforts to derail some of the more odorous laws.
But there is nothing like the threats and challenges to our democracy that Trump has thrown at us. Now that we have a one-party state, you ought to be really outraged. Let’s hear it.
During Obama’s reign several prisoners HAVE been transferred out with a stroke of his pen proving he has the power to release any prisoner he chooses at any time. Why Obama hasnt fullfilled this 2008 campaign promise is actually quite troublesome, Frank. For more on this I would point you to Glenn Greenwald’s many columns on subject in both The Intercept.com and The Guardian.com
So, Obama lost this political football game even though he has held key to win it. Right here is a perfect example of the fakeness of it ALL. Meanwhile Guantanamo prisoners sit in cells 11 years no habeaus corpus.
Obama could have sent prisoners to Yemen and wherever else, effectively closing this national disgrace. Perfect example of weak kneed politics of Democratic Party and why we desparately need a strong populist third party Glad you brought up Obama & Guantanamo Bay, Frank.
Okay, yes, Obama deserved criticism from the left. But have not seen your comments about your new pres-select.
There are ongoing investigations in many areas of Trump’s financial dealings and personal affairs such as statuatory rape. It is quite possible that Trump is inaugrated on Jan 20 and independant investigator/prosecutor appointed on Jan 21. Trump obviously appointing an extreme right cabinet some who likely wear white sheets which of course on face looks scary.
But the blame for Trump winning rests squarely on the shoulders of Democratic keadersbip who pushed a flawed Hillary through primary to run against a less unpopular man.
Democrats learned nothing from election: Appointing Wall Street lapdog Chuck Schumer minority whip is proof. Irony how fast both parties imploding now. Just a few monrhs ago Dems were celebrating Republican demise by Trump.
Ya’ll don’t really talk like that unless you’re really pumped up, right?
It was unsettling seeing all the Mexican flags being flown by the children.
What’s up with that?
Do they really want to live under the Mexican justice system?
You know that ‘s not why they are waving the Mexican flag. I really don’t believe you don’t know “What’s up with that?”. Read what rick callejon said below.
Rufus – what if – just saying – that Trump was threatening recent immigrants from Ireland, and there were solidarity demonstrations with people waving Irish flags?
Flags are displayed in support of the Mexicans who Trump blames for crime and drugs. Trump infamously kicked off his campaign by calling Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals.
Sadly, part of the Obama record has included warfare accomplished by drone-strikes and deportation of 500,000 people over the last eight years. Plus, there have been many “executive actions” that can be construed as unilateral and high-handed. Time to move on.
We live in a profoundly imperfect country and world. That Trump’s campaign broke the mold on grossness didn’t make Hillary Clinton a desirable candidate. Now let’s work for improvements in public education; in the treatment of the homeless, the poor, women and minorities; for ending fossil fuel consumption; for improved health care delivery; for a national jobs program to rebuild our roads, bridges and parks — and let’s see this moment as part of the American continuum, rather than Armageddon. Enough already with the
rabble-rousing and high dudgeon. We’ve just been through two years of it. We can be vigilant, but it’s time to move on.
Not speaking up about Trump’s darkness is much worse than quietly moving on.
Good luck with all that, Frances. Time to move on? I think so, but we’re moving against the new American fascism, sounds like you’re ready to collaborate.