Nationally organized civil rights, community and gender-based organization have already put the 45th president of the United States on notice that they intend to protest his inauguration next year.
Al Sharpton, president of National Action Network issued a direct message to President-elect Donald J. Trump saying “We’re Ready…We will not be moved.”
The activist preacher and television commentator told his national membership headquartered in Harlem that on Jan. 14, 2017 he will lead thousands to Washington, D.C. for a protest rally to demonstrate the election of the presumed racist and sexist New York real estate magnate.
Six days before Donald Trump swears allegiance to representing all Americans by placing his hand on the Bible, Sharpton and busloads of NAN supporters from all across the nation will converge on the nation’s capitol to exercise opposition to his toxic campaign rhetoric and perceived divisive, presidential decisions.
“We will rally and put him (and the nation) on notice that there are some things that will not be changed no matter who is president and what party dominates the House and Senate.”
This is not the first time, Sharpton has spearheaded a protest rally in the District, along with thousands he has led numerous marches to the attorney general’s office and other significant federal buildings to chorus Dr. King’s trademark Civil Rights hymn “We Shall Overcome.”
This time, the theme will be “We Shall Not Be Moved,” coined by a song of resistance often recanted with defiance to injustice and popularly echoed by Mavis Staples, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul & Mary and progressive, folk artists devoted to change.
“Protecting the civil rights of citizens and the voting rights of people that have been excluded, providing health care for all Americans and equal opportunity should supersede any of the beltway partisan fights that we are inevitably headed into.”
The protest will coincide with the commemoration of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
“Some have given their lives and others dedicated their lives to try to make Dr. King’s dream a reality, and now they have added to that mission by preserving the legacy of President Obama. Groups come and go, elections come and go, but some things must remain constant and non-negotiable.”
“We are prepared to fight because we have spent most of our lives fighting this before and won,” Sharpton added.
He cited decades-old feuds dating back to the ‘80s when Trump’s public opinions clashed with members of the Black community.
One of the most significant he explained “while we were working to ensure the presumption of innocence of five Black and Latino men falsely accused of the rape of a white female jogger in Central Park, Trump was busy buying full-page ads in several major newspapers calling for their execution.”
All the accused — who were convicted while teenaged youths — were acquitted and compensated for the wrongful prosecutions.
Despite a confession from an assailant who detailed his criminal behavior, as of this date, Trump has neither apologized nor reversed his erroneous position on the controversial case.
“Over the years, I’ve seen him try to befriend us, but we never forget and never will let him forget that we saw his core beliefs and his capacity to play to the worst elements in his home borough, in his home city,” Sharpton said.
“This isn’t about partisan politics; we are simply telling President-elect Trump that we won’t compromise on certain basic values that Dr. King and others gave their lives for just because we were not successful during this election. We may have lost, but we have not lost the ethics and commitment America has to the principles of civil and human rights for all.”
Sharpton did not publicly endorse either of the two candidates. He remained uncommitted to either candidate. However, prior to the New York primary, he met with democratic candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, former first lady and former secretary of state.
“I don’t know what Trump really believes, but I do know his record. I’ve said to my fellow activists — from millennials to NAN members to the elders in Black ministry — that we are uniquely positioned to deal with this urban / business / entertainment New York persona who will now be President of the United States because we’ve had to deal with him and that persona our entire lives.”
“I hope he grows, and I hope he can emerge differently but we will not wait and we will set an atmosphere that will aid that growth by our mass action and constant vigilance. Dr. King once said that there are two types of leaders: thermometers that judge the temperature in the room, and thermostats that change the temperature in the room.”
“As one that has faced Trump for three decades, I know that the only way to make him grow or sweat is to change the climate. We’re ready.”
One week after Sharpton’s demonstration, a protest first announced as the Million Women’s March will coalesce gender-concerned females for the renamed “Women’s March On Washington.”
On Jan. 21, the day after Trump inauguration, defiant females plan to demonstrate their disgust with the “election of a man who has been repeatedly accused of sexual harassment and assault.”
Two days after the announcement of the march on social media, more than 41,000 people signed up to attend.
According to posts on Facebook, more than 115,000 are listed as interested in attending the rally.
“We need to make clear that women will not allow this president-elect to deny or belittle hard-won rights,” Luanna Meyer, a committed attendee wrote.
“Peaceful demonstration and free speech are two of those rights, so please join us if you believe in democracy for a nation that seems to be filled with far too many who wish to replace it with hate, racism, sexism, demagoguery and bigotry against those who have been victimized far too many times and for far too many years.”
While Trump’s alleged treatment of women became a vocal aspect of his campaign, the twice-divorced New York City magnate is also being redressed for insulting women based on their looks and the fact he was caught on tape bragging about how stardom allows him to “do anything” he wants to women. During the contentious campaign against the first potential female president, multiple women came forward with allegations of harassment and assault.
With Trump’s victorious feat, many fear that he will likely appoint several Supreme Court justices throughout his four-year term that might imperil Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to choose.
Reportedly, “the rhetoric and vitriol helped produce the largest gender gap in history when looking at Hillary Clinton’s base of support. A difference of 13 percentage points separated her male and female supporters, while Trump ended up with the support of 53 percent of male voters.”
“We need to be working together in a coherent, supportive way over the next four years, to activate more women into leadership positions, to be more politically active,” Bob Bland, one of the organizers of the women’s march said.
“We cannot allow ourselves to give up, put our heads down and not hold this administration accountable for any violation of human rights or women’s rights.”
While the group’s Facebook page stresses that “everyone who supports women’s rights” are urged to attend, organizers claim it will be an “inclusive” march that invites all marginalized groups and individuals.
Meanwhile, protests continue throughout the country with a recurring promise to stage a massive demonstration on inauguration day.
Catch You On The Inside!
