Protests erupted in Washington, D.C., following Donald Trump’s presidential victory Tuesday, and Democrats in the city are still in a state of disbelief.
Supporters of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and those vehemently opposed to a Trump presidency gathered outside the White House Tuesday, preparing for what they thought would be a massive electoral victory for Clinton. As the night wore on and Trump’s victory became clear, protesters were left stunned, many unable to wrap their heads around America’s decision, reports NBC Washington.
“I thought America was better than this, if I’m being honest,” Austin Daily, a Clinton supporter, told NBC4.
Trump called on Americans to “come together as one united people” following the election results, but many Democrats in the area lamented his victory as a sign of widespread racism and hatred.
“It’s scary being a minority right now,” Kaylin Young, a sophomore at Howard University, told The Washington Post. “The things that he said about minorities, the things that he said about people of different colors, of different nationalities, has been incredibly hurtful.”
Trump supporters gathered at Trump International Hotel, near the White House, to celebrate the unlikely victory. With nearly every major poll predicting a clear Clinton victory, many Trump voters were left just as stunned. At the White House, Trump protesters carried signs reading “We are better than bigotry,” reports The Washington Post.
“There has been a rise of hate-filled right wing politics all over the world,” Andrew Nazdin, a progressive organizer, told The Post.
Others at the protest said they felt as if their votes for Clinton were meaningless and expressed extreme fear over the future of the country.
“I’m starting to question everything,” Naja Nelson, a George Washington University student, told The Post. “I’m afraid things will go back to the way it was years ago. Racism has never gone away, but now those racists feel like they can step it up.”
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.