By Victoria Mejicanos, Elijah Qualls and Ali Halloum
AFRO Interns
Americans rallied together on June 14 to speak out against ruthless immigrant deportations, the 47th president’s attacks on equity, diversity and inclusion, the firing of millions of federal workers and more.
The movement, organized by activists and community members, was diverse and took place in roughly 2,000 cities across the nation. Though they came from different walks of life, those present spoke unanimously in defense of the nation they love.
Virginia State Senator Aaron Rouse (D-Va.-22) made an appearance at a protest in Arlington to condemn the actions of the current president and his administration, saying he “doesn’t care about anyone.”
“[The] reality is the majority of Americans and Virginians are struggling to keep a roof over their head, put food on their table and have health care,” Rouse said.
One of the president’s most controversial moves at the start of his second term was the mass firing of federal workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 59,000 federal government jobs have been lost since January, straining current staff and causing confusion among those remaining.
Bryan Coleman, a federal government contractor, said that although his job is not guaranteed, seeing people from all backgrounds at the demonstrations gave him hope.
“People are under attack,” Coleman said. “People treat it kind of like a game, but these are people’s livelihoods. To know that there are folks who do understand how important the work is and are gonna stand by you, it makes you feel like things will be alright.”
Coleman may have been present to protest, but he also touched on the importance of joy while fighting for a better future. With a bubble wand in hand, he shared why he attempted to lighten the mood at the protest throughout the day.
“We want good energy, we want good vibes, we want people to celebrate, this is a celebration of democracy,” Coleman said.
In addition to Rouse and Coleman, the AFRO also spoke with a pair of young protestors at the Arlington rally, Janiyah Anderson and Malik Cameron. In an interview, Anderson called Trump’s actions “cartoonishly evil.” She shared her motivations for attending the “No Kings Day” protest, as the president prepared for his grand military parade in the nation’s capital.
“I’m personally here because something has to give,” Anderson said. “It’s getting to a point where innocent lives are being torn apart for no reason at all.”
Cameron encouraged young voters to get out and voice their concerns more. He noted that it takes a united front to produce genuine change, and no group of people can afford to sit on the sidelines amidst what many are calling a constitutional crisis.
Sen. Rouse called people to action, saying that the most effective way to fight back in a democracy is for people to make their voices heard in the upcoming midterm elections.
“All power lies in the ballot box,” said Rouse.
