Donald Trump’s election came as a surprise to many. As one of the most unconventional candidates ever, it is no surprise that there have been numerous protests staged around the country, and locally, since Election Day. People are standing up and taking exception for numerous reasons. Under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, this is their right and one that should be fiercely defended.
President-elect Trump’s use of racial slurs, demeaning comments about immigrants, a war hero, a reporter with a disability and almost everyone who is not a heterosexual, white man, top the list of why people are protesting. Then came the Access Hollywood video and Trump’s extremely lewd comments about women and subsequent numerous allegations of unwanted sexual advances.
This is most unbecoming behavior of any man and most definitely the now president-elect of the United States of America, a grand experiment in uniting all people regardless of differences. Trump was never the right person for the job and, with his continued 3 a.m. Twitter attacks on his media critics and protesters, is not off to a great start.
Protester critics who claim “he won fair and square” miss the point. The First Amendment says that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” This right is fundamental to our democracy. A president who based his campaign on racial rhetoric, resentment and rage and who resists any criticism, especially by the press, sets off alarms to those who cherish this right – and that should be every one of us.
One of President Obama’s actions at a Clinton rally earlier this month demonstrates defense of this fundamental principle. A Trump supporter interrupted the president’s speech by holding up a sign. It was the crowd, though, that earned the president’s wrath as they shouted at the man. Obama told folks to calm down and said, “Now, first of all, we live in a country that respects free speech. Second of all, it looks like maybe he might have served in our military and we oughta respect that. Third of all, he was elderly and we gotta respect our elders.”
That is exactly what he should have done. The reason people are protesting Trump’s election is because they very much doubt he is capable of defending the First Amendment rights of all Americans.
His presidency is being protested because he is not believable. With Politifact, a Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking website, reporting that 70 percent of all things Trump said during the campaign scored mostly false or worse, why should people believe him when he said during his victory speech, “Now it’s time for America to bind its wounds of division ... it is time for us to come together as one united people. ... I will be president for all Americans.” His recent controversial Cabinet nominations show us that he is the same man that ran such a divisive campaign and that his rhetoric is just that.
Time will tell us more. In the meantime, peaceful protests of all kinds guaranteed by the First Amendment should be staunchly defended by all Americans.