More Than 1,000 Gather in Center City to Protest Trump

Shouts of "Not my president!" rang out in Center City last night from a group of mostly young adults who eventually made their way to Temple University.

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On a night of nationwide protests, more than 1,000 people gathered near City Hall last night to oppose the election of Donald Trump.

Shouts of “Not my president!” rang out across a sea of mostly young adults, who held signs that read “We are NOT Trump’s America,” “Donald Trump is a Racist” and “Trump, Build Bridges, Not Walls – Fund Our Roads.” 

Around 8 p.m., the group led a march from City Hall north along Broad Street, eventually making its way to Temple University at the intersection of Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue.

The protest was one of many across the country last night, organized by those frustrated with Trump and disturbed by his campaign rhetoric. Protests were also held in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and other cities.

Organizers largely brought people together through a Facebook event titled “Protest Trump in Philly!” The page called for protestors to “fight racism, sexism, and Islamophobia.”

Many protestors didn’t necessarily express support for Trump’s opponent, Hillary Clinton, either – or her party.

“The Democratic Party has proven they are incapable of stopping Trump,” the event page reads. “The Democratic Party has failed. This is the result of the Democratic Party leadership backing Hillary Clinton instead of Bernie Sanders. It is time to build a new party of the 99%.”

Police officers on bike and foot followed protestors during their march. There were no altercations apart from a protestor spitting on a Trump fan, captured below by an Inquirer reporter.

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Follow @ClaireSasko on Twitter.