WS Chronicle

Photo by Tevin Stinson

BY TEVIN STINSON 

THE CHRONICLE

More than 100 people marched in the blazing heat Monday evening in protest of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who made a campaign stop in the city.

The peaceful protest that was scheduled to be held in the 2800 block of Shorefair Drive started out slow, with only a handful of protesters. But that quickly changed when protesters decided the parking lot of the Senior Services Building wasn’t a prime location for the anti-Trump rally, and decided to take to the streets surrounding the Fairground Annex, Trumps first official stop following the Republican National Convention.

As they marched on University Parkway, the line of protesters and number of signs discrediting Trump seemed to grow by the minute. The group finally settled at the corner of University and Deacon Boulevard, where they stood for more than two hours. While shouting “Dump Trump,” “Stop The Hate,” and “Build Bridges Not Walls,” protesters received support, as well as criticism, from those who drove by. Many of the hecklers were going inside to hear Trump speak.

While holding a sign that read, “Hate does not make great,” Greg Alberto said, he decided to attend the rally to prove there are voters in the area who don’t support Trump. He noted that although under the current administration North Carolina is a red state, and many are sup-porting Trump, i’ts important that other voices are heard.

“I know he probably sees North Carolina as a win, but if we rally together, I think we can change that,” said Alberto. “Some people may not know there is a voice of dissent. That’s why I am here today. To be that voice.”

The Rev. Carlton A.G. Eversley, senior pastor of Dellabrook Presbyterian Church and a community activist, said Trump is a dangerous character who promotes hatred and racism.

“We must all come together and fight against Trump and all forms of hatred in this country,” he continued. “The people united will never be defeated.”

Army Veteran Steve Hewett, who was one of the first protesters to arrive, said, “As a veteran, I am insulted by some of the things Donald Trump says.

“When he says things like he knows more about foreign policy than our Army generals, I have a real issue with that,” he said. “He has to be stopped.”

Hewett also discussed his distrust for the Republican Party nominee for vice president, Mike Pence, who made his first appearance alongside Trump on Monday. He mentioned that neither Trump nor Pence are capable of running this country.

City native Tim Ferguson said, as an African-American he is disgusted with some of the things Trump says. He said Trump is someone American voters can’t let into the White House.

“We have to have someone better,” he said. “He doesn’t even know how to talk to people on live television. He is bringing racism back, and we can’t have that in the White House.”

After a brief interview with The Chronicle, Ferguson got into a shout-ing match with someone who made a racial comment directed at the protesters. Ferguson said it’s obvious what kinds of people are causing the problems here.

While tempers did flare when supporters and pro-testers came face to face, officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department and other agencies in the area made sure the protest and rally stayed peaceful. According to sources, one protester had to be removed from inside the annex by police.

Outside the event, more than 50 officers made a barrier between protesters and supporters leaving designated parking areas following the event.

Greensboro native Jacob Townsend said he was impressed with how law enforcement officers handled the situation. He said, “They made sure everyone kept their freedom of speech rights, but they also made sure no one got out of hand.

“There were moments when I thought things were getting pretty heated between both sides, but the police handled it well.”