Mi Gente's Reflection: Presidential Election 2016

Presidential Election 2016
A Reflection from Mi Gente Executive Council
Wednesday, November 9th, 2016
Duke University
Durham, NC

Donald Trump was elected as the next president of the United States of America. Throughout his campaign, Trump has utilized hate speech, validated violence against marginalized people, excluded people of color, objectified women and targeted different religions. The results of this election, after everything he has said and done, have impacted everyone in different ways. As a part of Mi Gente, we are pained. We feel like we don’t belong in the United States of America, the country of freedom, and we fear for our loved ones.

We were let down by America. However, as Neil deGrasse Tyson said, “This is the end of nothing. This is the beginning of something new and solemn and so important. You must be part of what comes next.” Yes, Trump was elected, but we must not give up. We must unite and spread love and equality throughout the political system that is denying us our basic human rights. We will hold onto this country like immigrants before us, who built up this nation to what it is today. We stand in solidarity with the millions of people that were denigrated by Donald Trump.

You do not have to fight alone. You have the support of Mi Gente. We will accept you with open hearts and arms and provide support. We do not have all the answers, but we are here. There are other resources you can access: the Muslim Student Association, the Black Student Alliance, Imams, Counseling and Psychological Services, Center for Multicultural Affairs, and the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity. We encourage the use of any of these resources in addition to self-care and social support. We will move forward in solidarity.

You are not alone. You have a community. We have hope. We have strength.