On Friday, a demonstration of solidarity took place on campus at Wolf Plaza from 4 to 6 p.m. Prompted by the recent results of the U.S. presidential election, the demonstration was organized for NC State students to “come together and heal together as a loving community.”

Lauren Frey, a senior studying environmental sciences, was one of the leaders of the event.

“I was devastated when I heard the results of the election and I still am,” said Frey. “I am scared that the racism, sexism, Islamophobia, xenophobia and other forms of bigotry that Donald Trump promoted during his campaign are about to become even worse of a reality for this country in the next four years. I hope that solidarity allows us to be organized against the forms of oppression that are only getting worse since the election results.”

The event kicked off with testimonies from those that feel threatened by Trump becoming president-elect.

One such speaker was Achaia Dent, a sophomore studying animal science. Dent spoke about being empathetic towards others, especially at a time where many students might feel scared or isolated.

“Empathy, for me, is putting yourself in someone else’s shoes for just a moment,” Dent said. “I’m asking you to be human… I believe that humans are wired to feel something for other people and I believe that empathy is the basis of humanity.” 

Shakira Shipman*, a senior studying sociology, spoke about being a woman of color facing hateful rhetoric.

“If you voted for him [Trump], you are cosigning what happens,” Shipman said. “If you say that you don’t care about what Donald Trump has done, then what happens next? That’s on you, because you let him get in there, you let that hatred spill out.”

Megan Jones, a graduate student in environmental engineering, spoke about the impact the recent president-elect will have on environmental issues. Jones also noted the influence a lack of environmental awareness will have on future generations.

“I’m a member of the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina, and as a Native American people, we believe in the seven generations,” said Jones. “We need to look out for the generations that will inhabit the earth after us and protect what past generations have left us with.”

Stefani Castro, a senior studying art studies, expressed her concerns for those that live in the United States as illegal immigrants and what a Trump presidency means for them. 

“I’m the rapist lurking in the corner. I am the one stealing your jobs and ruining your economy. I came here with all my bad “hombres” and taco trucks in order to ruin your precious culture. Or, at least, that’s what I’m told.”

Castro went on to describe the experience of living in America as a Latinx immigrant and the struggle of being faced with the imminent threat of deportation.

Crystal Lu, a senior studying international studies, expressed feelings of hesitation regarding speaking at the event, since she is a minority and “their stories often get overlooked.”

“I am here and I want to be heard,” Lu said. “When I was younger, I was afraid that people would ridicule them [her parents] for their accent, that everything they had accomplished would be overlooked, that all of their hard work would be condensed into a box because they were foreigners. To that extent, that’s also why I don’t usually tell people that I’m gay, out of fear that they will won’t accept me. I don’t want that to be the case anymore. 

The audience was then asked to talk to people around them, preferably people they didn’t know, about their answers to two questions: what brought you here today and where on campus do you feel safe and included.

The floor was then given to those that were wishing to raise awareness for various initiatives and resources, both on and off-campus. These included the student group SAGE (Students Advocating Gender Equality), the Lighthouse Project and upcoming protests and rallies taking place around Raleigh. 

Soumya Nadabar, a senior studying economics and organizer of the demonstration, concluded the event by thanking everyone who spoke and those that came out to show their support. Nadabar then asked those who felt comfortable doing so to hug the person next to them. 

“I hope that something has come out of this, I hope that we are able to see each other more clearly, I hope that we are able to build new relationships and to put ourselves in others’ shoes. Seeing all of you out here today has given me hope for the next four years.”

*Editor’s Note: This article originally referred to Shakira Shipman with an incorrect last name.