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NEWS
SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don / eldonnews . org • MONDAY , NOVEMBER 21 , 2016
PEACEFUL / More than 300 marchers rallied in Downtown Santa Ana Sunday , Nov . 12 in protest of President-elect Donald Trump . / R . Nicanor Santana / el Don
In the Streets
Activists organize protests in the wake of election results
STORY BY R . NICANOR SANTANA AND LAURA O . GARCIA / el Don
Protestors rallied in the streets of Downtown Santa Ana on Nov . 13 in opposition to Presidentelect Donald Trump ’ s negative campaign messages and policies targeting women , African- Americans , Muslims , people with disabilities and the indigenous and LGBTQIA communities .
The protest , United Against Hate : A Call For Unity , extended for several blocks with marchers ending at the Old Orange County Courthouse and the Plaza Calle Cuatro , chanting phrases like “ We reject the president-elect ,” “ My body , my choice ” and “ Say it loud , say it clear , immigrants are welcome here .”
Niusha Hajikhodaverdikhan was among about 300 demonstrating against Trump . As a Muslim and community activist , she was there to promote peace among those targeted by his campaign .
“ I ’ m not pro Hillary , I ’ m not pro Obama even , I ’ m just pro people ,” she said . “ With Trump winning the election , people are finally realizing that this country is so racist and oppressing … and people are coming together .”
The gathering was peaceful , and Cpl . Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department said the department received no complaints about the demonstration .
The downtown rally was preceded by two anti-Trump protests on Bristol Street earlier in the week .
On the night of Nov . 11 , about 50 anti-Trump protestors , carrying Mexican flags and posters emblazoned with slogans like “ Not My President ,” gathered at Bristol Street and McFadden Avenue . About a dozen police officers on horses monitored the protest , which drew a small crowd of spectators .
Jayleen , a teenager who refused to give her last name , was among those who participated .
“ The reason that I am here today is because my parents can ’ t come out here , they ’ re scared that they ’ re going to get deported ; and to show we care about immigrants ,” she said , with the lower half of her face covered by a blue bandana . On Nov . 9 , a protest stretched from about 7:30 p . m . to 2:30 a . m . on Bristol Street , from McFadden Avenue to Edinger Avenue .
Carrying signs that read “ Dump Trump ” and “ Stop White Supremacy ,” demonstrators made their way down both sides of Bristol Street , and congregated on medians and in store parking lots . At one point , a small group knelt in the intersection of Bristol Street and Edinger Avenue , chanting “ United we stand , united we fall .”
Things turned violent when some activists threw rocks and bottles at police . Marchers were asked several times to disperse , Bertagna said . When they refused , police shot rubber bullets to break up the crowds .
Six law-enforcement vehicles were damaged during the event and two businesses were vandalized with anti-Trump messages , Bertagna said .
Ten people , including seven adults and three minors , were arrested , Bertagna said .