What rally attendees had to say

Anonymous

I am just absolutely heartbroken. I am just reminded of the quote from 1984 to disregard what you can see with your own eyes. And I think that this is an absolutely terrifying moment for the country that I love so much.

I absolutely feel more and more exhausted every week, and I think the only way we can handle this is by supporting each other directly, person to person in our communities, to hold together and support each other with our mutual love and mutual aid.  We try so hard to stay strong, and I am just feeling more emotional than I have felt thus far.

Chris

I think ice is provoking this. They shouldn't have been invading that neighborhood in the first place. They're just doing lots of stuff to provoke reaction. You know, they’ve had nine shootings in the last few months. Yeah, unfortunately, there's going to be more now, because everybody's a lot more riled up. 

I was amazed at what out-and-out lies Krist Noem put out there. Just absolute lies, with no information, just slandering people, slandering a victim. I guess we're getting used to Trump lying, but Kristi Noem was just look you in the face and straight lie to you.

Maggie

I’m mostly just incredibly sad for our country. This isn't who we are. We're a country that welcomes people and gives people chances and loves people. That's how we were founded, to give people chances and to live better. This is not what we stand for. And I'm just very sad and just deeply concerned about the direction of things going.

The sadness is the main thing. Because I think of like, there's multiple people that have been murdered by ICE. It's not just her, and these are people with lives and families. No one deserves to be treated that way, but especially someone who's trying to stand up for the rights of others. So I'm mostly deeply sad. The outrage is there, but it's mostly sad.

Unfortunately, I'm not surprised (by the administration’s response) because lying is kind of what they do, and so I'm not surprised by the way they've tried to pivot and make it about their narrative. So that's unfortunate. But again, that sadness permeates it all. This isn't who we're supposed to be as human beings or as Americans.

Keith

Disgust doesn't begin to cover what I felt. I'm just I'm beyond angry.

We shouldn't be surprised by their lies. But at the same time, it's just so Orwellian. We all saw what happened, yeah? And what we hear from them is she was a terrorist. That's their line. That is beyond disturbing. It’s really bad. 

I've seen with my own family who are supporters. They're so out of touch with reality, with what's going around, they just, yeah, they believe what they're told instead of what they see.

I’m so exhausted. But, I mean, you've got to keep fighting. Otherwise, what are we going to do? Give up, just roll over and let it happen? No, I was in the military to fight this sort of thing. This isn't America. This is not America.

Spencer

I don't know that it's a new low. I feel like we've been on the cusp of it for a while, but it is extremely disheartening that we can forget that we're neighbors with each other, no matter our color, our sexuality or gender, right? And that coming together for something like this tonight is a way of remembering that we are each other's neighbor and we need to be here for each other.

(The administration’s response is) reprehensible; it's not forgivable. It is unbelievable that we've reached this point When is somebody going to put the nail in the coffin and end this administration's reign of terror? But wanting to do it peacefully means there's steps to it. It just feels like there's always another step, and everybody's waiting for somebody else to do something. Yeah, and there is that fear that if I'm the one that does that, will I become the next Renee? And that's why coming again tonight is making sure that we can be together. 

It's definitely wearing. But what I find is if I get a day or two where I take myself off of social media and don't overload on it, I can come back. Being somebody who does have a lot of other responsibilities to young children, you do have to weigh what you are willing and capable of doing, and when is it not enough? When is it too much? It’s definitely challenging.

Cheryl

There are just so many issues, yeah, so many issues. There’s more every day. But I'm emboldened. I am involved. This is the first rally I've been able to attend. And I am emboldened by all the people. And I thought it was being cold, but my heart is warm just by seeing so many people here and to know that there's other people other than myself that are concerned and angry.

I have this feeling that there will be some reckoning. I just have that feeling. I guess that's hope, if you want to call it that.  I am heartened to see clergy stand up and push back. 

Nate

So I do have a degree in criminal justice. I have a background in knowing the law and knowing private procedures and rules of engagement, and what we witnessed in Minneapolis was murder. That officer clearly was not in harm's way when he pulled the trigger and when he unholstered his weapon, you could see that the car had passed him as well as backed up before, so he would have known that that car was in movement well before he pulled that trigger. It was clear that his intent was to murder her, considering he shot her at blank point range three times.