Dear Editor,

Since Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential elections there have been numerous protests across the USA — at airports, town halls, in major cities — and across the globe. I was fortunate to attend one and was amazed by the energy, camaraderie, and solidarity. It was raw, it was real, it was powerful. The slogans, posters, placards were colourful and on point. And, being in the company of thousands standing up for the same cause was empowering and humbling.

“Your hands are too small, you can’t build a wall,” crowds chanted. And “pay your taxes…pay your taxes!” — a dig at the Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns. The message was loud and clear; people will not sit back idly and watch their human rights trampled upon.

Protesters strongly denounced racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and other hateful rhetoric. The recent ban against seven Muslim countries to travel to USA, and closing the door on refugees, was just as offensive. People also protested women’s rights, abortion rights and planned parenthood support.

Now that the courts have ruled three times against Trump’s travel ban, no one can deny that the voice of the people was heard in all this. News now is that protests have also erupted on reports on immigration enforcement raids in several states.

Since the hashtag #grabyourwallet started trending last year, the campaign has been mounting to urge people to use their wallets to protest Trump’s Administration and policies by boycotting companies associated directly with the Trump brand. The president’s daughter, Ivanka, has seen a sharp decline in sales for her fashion line in recent months as more high-profile outlets drop the line, citing declining sales. The boycott is having an impact.

There was also the women’s march in Washington, DC, days after Trump’s inauguration, which drew crowds bigger in numbers than the inauguration ceremony, according to reports. Marches were held in major cities around the globe on the same day, in solidarity.

Thanks to the media, there is always another outlet to protest and vent as we debate topical issues. The satirical reviews on

Saturday Night Live, which poke fun at the Administration, will rub some the wrong way and, like cartoons, they don’t go unnoticed and often they reflect perception and what people are really thinking.

Government is so much bigger than the ego or self-interests of any one person. Despotism is repulsive and counterproductive. Fear can make us feel vulnerable and ashamed, but one should never allow an Administration to make anyone feel any less than. Reality is, voters will accept the results of an election in a healthy democracy, but that will not give an Administration a free pass. In democracies we have a vote, but we also have a voice, and can find many ways to express it.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com