This follows the election of Donald Trump as President last Tues.
Frederick, Md (KM) A large number of citizens gathered at the Baker Park Band Shell in Frederick on Sunday afternoon for a “Love Trumps Hate” rally. It was organized by Andrew Duck following the victory of Republican Donald Trump in last Tuesday’s Presidential election.
Duck said Trump ran a campaign based on divisiveness and fear, but he told the audience that the nation will get beyond that. “I truly believe that love will triumph over hate. I believe that if we stand together, that we can limit the amount of damage that will be done, and we can protect each other,” he said.
During the campaign, Trump called for building a wall at the border with Mexico, banning Muslims from entering the US, and doing surveillance of mosques in the country. He also referred to some undocumented immigrants from Mexico as “rapists” and “murderers.” Even though he tapped into an anger that a number of Americans feel about the economy, such as stagnant wages and manufacturing jobs being shipped overseas, critics say Trump offered no solutions. Instead, they say, he blamed other people who look or sound different, or pray to a different God.
Despite that, Duck told that we all have rights as American citizens. “Donald Trump has won the White House. They {the Republicans} have control of the House. They have control of the Senate. But they don’t own the Constitution and they don’t control us,” he said to the applause of the crowd.
He urged the citizens in the audience to make sure everyone’s rights are respected under the Constitution.
Also speaking was Kris Fair, the chairman of the board of the Frederick Center, which fights for LGBTQ rights. He said since Trump’s election as President, the Southern Poverty Law Center has recorded 200 hate crimes in the US. “The Frederick Center has been inundated with messages like ‘my child is afraid to go to school;’ and ‘are they going to take away my marriage license,’” he said.
But Fair says Americans need to support each other. “Stand up for a person being bullied. Call out racism, sexism or homophobia when you see it, whether it be by an individual or an institution,” he said. “Talk to your neighbors about the importance of equality, regardless for their ideology.”
Board of Education Vice President Liz Barrett told the audience that their children will be safe when they come to Frederick County Public Schools.
Duck said this rally was organized at the last minute, and one speaker who was expected to appear didn’t show. But he said other similar rallies and events will be held in the future.
By Kevin McManus