People protesting President Donald Trump on Inauguration Day at the Arizona Capitol. (Photo by Ethan Millman/Cronkite News)
PHOENIX – As President Donald Trump was being sworn into office in Washington D.C. Friday morning, dozens of people gathered at the Arizona Capitol to protest the new president and his policies.
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Some protesters carried signs: “Unfit to Lead, Impeach,” and “Not my President”. Joe Axton, a 67-year-old artist, pounded a bass drum strapped to his chest to the rhythm of the chants on the Capitol lawn.
The anti-Trump crowd ranged from the Redneck Revolt, a self-described anti-fascist coalition armed with assault rifles, to the Brown Berets, a Hispanic advocacy group that wielded signs, not weapons.
Nancy Salinas, a 35-year-old clinician, said she fears Trump’s presidency will bring nepotism and policies based on profits rather than principles.
“I’m here for the issues,” Salinas said. “I’m very scared about the things he’s talked about and the things he’s done…I think with this administration, a lot will be about profit because it’ll be about the bottom line.”
A few Trump supporters were at the protest but they were followed by the Redneck Revolt group. They shouted expletives as one man, wearing a ski mask and toting a pistol to showcase his support for gun rights, was being interviewed by a television news reporter. The Trump supporter said he was only trying to exercise his First Amendment rights.
An anti-Trump protester (left) and a Trump supporter face off at the Arizona Capitol. (Photo by Ethan Millman/Cronkite News)
“I don’t want to come out here to have a fist fight with somebody,” the man said. “I came out here to voice my opinion and see what other people have to say, and that’s it.” He said he didn’t like Barack Obama but accepted him as the president; the protesters should do the same for Trump.
Jana Selig, who coordinated the protest, said the protest shows that many people are dissatisfied with the results of the election and are willing to fight on issues they believe in.
“I think a lot of people have that inner feeling of responsibility to make sure this doesn’t happen,” Selig said. “To make sure things like a Muslim registry don’t actually become a reality.”
Selig said Friday’s protest should be the beginning of Arizona residents’ activism.
“I think the biggest and best thing that can come out of this protest is that we connect people to networks so they can stay involved,” Selig said. “Us standing out here isn’t going to change the fact that Donald Trump was just inaugurated as president.”
Jana Selig coordinated an anti-Trump protest at the Arizona Capitol. (Photo by Ethan Millman/Cronkite News)