Edina, MN – 50 protesters converged on the Minnesota Republican Party headquarters, November 10, to stand against U.S. President Donald Trump.

The event took place one month after President Trump held a rally in Minneapolis. According to a press release from the Anti-War Committee, “Trump’s lies led to a rise in hate crimes in every county where he held a campaign rally in 2016. Statistics show that hate crimes doubled compared to other counties, and it's because his blatantly hateful rhetoric is designed to incite violence and further racist and xenophobic views. The Minnesota Republican Party not only hosted him but has been silent as he attacked the immigrant and refugee communities that are a part of Minnesota.”

The afternoon began with the crowd holding signs and banners that read “Reject Trump and GOP bigotry!” and “Black lives matter!” Chants such as “Indict! Convict! Send his racist ass to jail! His whole damn system is guilty as hell!” rang loudly, to the dismay of the five Trump-supporters who had arrived to counter-protest the event.

Erica Zurowski from the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) spoke out against the injustice facing immigrants in the U.S., stating, “This didn't begin with Trump. We were out here when Obama was in office orchestrating mass deportations, and we'll be here long after we kick Trump out of office!”

“[Trump supporters] claim to support equality and justice for all” exclaimed Haji Youseff, a member of the local Somali community in the Twin Cities. “But you do not look at me as an equal! You look down on me because of my color! Because of where I'm from! Because of my faith! Because of my sexuality!”

Autumn Lake, a member of the Anti-War Committee, closed out the program, saying, “When Trump rallied here, he took aim at our immigrant and refugee communities, themselves victims of U.S. foreign policy seeking refuge in the United States.” She continued, “We stand here today outraged that this call to racist violence was hosted and enabled by the Minnesota Republican Party. We are here to say that racist violence is not welcome in the state of Minnesota.”

The November 10 event was organized by the Anti-War Committee.

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