Brownsville resident Victoria Borrego (left) and Harlingen resident April Gomez lead a march today down University Drive as Zak Borja (right), a Pace High School student, rallies the crowd with chants during the “Rally Against Trump.” The march began in Alice Wilson Hope Park and proceeded to the UTRGV campus and circled back to the park. OSCAR CASTILLO/THE RIDER PHOTOS
More than 40 protesters marched along the border fence and downtown Brownsville this afternoon during the “Rally Against Trump” to express their displeasure with President-elect Donald Trump’s victory.
“What we hope to accomplish is to show that we are extremely, extremely angry about the results of this election,” Brownsville resident Zak Borja said. “We’re not going to be like Trump supporters and we’re not gonna riot and rout.”
On Election Day, Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in the presidential race. Although Clinton won the popular vote, Trump won the electoral vote.
The march began at Alice Wilson Hope Park, next to the Gateway International Bridge, then made its way through the streets of downtown Brownsville and circled back to the park.
A Trump supporter, who asked to remain anonymous, attended the “Rally Against Trump” and said she was there to defend Trump’s victory.
“I think it’s ridiculous; I think it’s BS,” the Trump supporter said. “These are little spoiled brats who don’t know politics at all. I mean, no offense, they’re young, they need to learn something, but you know what, they’re coddling them.”
Maritza Hernandez, a UTRGV student and DREAMer, also attended the rally.
“DREAMers” are individuals who meet the general requirements of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, according to americanimmigrationcouncil.org.
“I’m here to represent all those people that have been discriminated by Trump, because he’s not a suitable person for the presidential seat,” Hernandez said. “This person has discriminated [against] a lot of people, especially Mexicans. … I can’t believe some Hispanics voted for him. That’s a disgrace.”
During the march, protesters held up signs with such messages as, “Not my President” and “Fight ignorance, not immigrants.”
Local residents cheered on the marchers while drivers honked and gave a thumbs up. No law enforcement official came near the protest.
For part of the march down Elizabeth Street, protesters chanted, “Tear down the wall,” and “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go!”
In cities across the nation, protests against Trump continued today. Protesters marched in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Boston.
Stephanie Luna, an Edinburg resident, said she hopes to see all the attendees at a similar event Nov. 19 in Edinburg for the “South Texans Against Trump-Edinburg!”
The event will start at 2:30 p.m. outside the Hidalgo County Courthouse.
