PORTLAND, Maine — Hundreds of Portlanders gathered Wednesday night in the heart of downtown to show their distaste, discomfort and despair at the reality of a Trump White House.
The peaceful vigil came less than 24 hours after Trump won the presidency, as protests popped up around the country aimed at the president-elect. Portland’s event stood in contrast to that night’s more violent protests in California.
Seventy-six percent of Portland voters cast ballots for Clinton in an election that was widely predicted to go in her favor.
“I’m still trying to process everything that happened,” Meg Lemay said, standing on the monument with a votive in one hand and a handmade sign that read: “We will fight for black, brown, Muslim, indigenous, LGBTQ, refugee, disabled, women’s lives, survivors of rape.”
Organizer Ariel Bernstein, 31, planned the “Gathering for Unity Vigil” that morning via Facebook and said she was surprised by the turnout.
“I thought it was just going to be me and some of my friends,” Bernstein said, holding her child in the middle of the crowd. “I feel like I am fighting for my children’s future. I can’t stand silent. I want girls to grow up as women and think they can be all the can be.” With Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton swept aside for Trump, “it sends a message that as women we have more work to do to crack the glass ceiling,” she said.
Pastors from the Universalist Unitarian First Parish Portland, a retired rabbi, an Episcopal priest and Muslim leader from University of Southern Maine addressed the crowd under the monument of female power.
The Rev. Ben Shambaugh read the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis, which begins, “Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith.” Cheers erupted.
When remarks ended, “All You Need is Love” by the Beatles blared from speakers as people hoisted up candles, glow sticks and illuminated cellphones in the darkness. Soon after, chants of “Love Trumps Hate” broke out. Groups gathered to hug, commiserate and meet neighbors for the first time.
“Too many of my friends are in vulnerable places,” Rachel Preville said, holding a sign that simply said “Love” with gender symbols. “I am afraid for their safety.”
An hour later, a parade took off up Congress Street toward Munjoy Hill leaving a trail of light, song and hope in its wake.
