MSU Students United Against Fascism protest 2024 president-elect Donald Trump at the Demonstration Hall Field and in front of the Spartan Statue on Nov. 8, 2024. SUAF is a coalition of progressive groups at MSU that organize against fascism.
MSU students protested president-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House Friday in what they described as a stand against fascism and his administration’s plans.
The walk-out was organized by MSU Students United Against Fascism, in collaboration with the Hurriya Coalition and the Young Communist League of MSU, and held in the Demonstration Hall field.
Students and attendees gathered in the field holding signs, one of which read "we won’t let our futures burn," as they chanted statements such as "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA."
Games and interactive media sophomore Vivek Kilari, who attended the protest, said though he expected Trump would be reelected, he's still sad about it.
"It really is such a shame to actually see it happen, to know that there’s tens of millions of people in this country who support an open fascist, and it’s disastrous," Kilari said. "It not only harms all other people who didn’t vote for him, it harms the people who voted for Trump (themselves)."
While describing fascism, Kilari said it varies from "instance to instance."
"Fascism is a dictatorship, a violent oppression by the state, by ultranationalist individuals and parties who want to suppress minorities and those that they do not want in their groups," Kilari said.
Kilari is a member of the Young Communist League, Hurriya Coalition and Sunrise Movement at MSU. He said though the election is over, "voting is not the final step of action."
Shortly after gathering, attendees moved toward Spartan Statue, where they placed a Palestinian keffiyeh and a sign that read "protect our futures."
Many cars drove through the intersection next to the statue, honking their horns in support of the walk-out as they passed by. At the same time, many students who were supporters of Trump passed by, some making derogatory remarks and gestures toward attendees.
Mathematics and physics junior Owen Connolly said he thinks the walk-out was overwhelmingly successful.
"Just seeing the fact that we’re out here and engaging in this and being a community, I think that is what we need right now and going forward," Connolly said. "We are a family."
Giving his thoughts on Trump’s return to Washington D.C., Connolly said he was most disappointed that Trump won both the electoral vote and the popular vote.
He thinks Trump's win was "embarrassing" for the Democratic National Committee, who he said "abandoned a lot of their voters."
"On the other side, the U.S., it’s got a history of racism and fascism, and I think Trump being president, he’s going to put things in place that (are) going to discourage us," Connolly said.
Connolly said Trump employs a "far-right, oppressive" fascism that aims to keep the working class and students down.
"Trump’s fascism is creating a world (that) the top .001% people can truly be alive in," Connolly said. "There are things that Trump has said he wants to do. He’s going to cut taxes for the rich, he’s going to make things more difficult for trans people. Abortion is at risk, women’s rights are at risk."
Connolly said he will continue to "fight against apathy" in his advocacy work.
"The point of this is to show that the activism front on campus is alive and well, and it’s going to grow," Connolly said. "It’s going to get bigger, and we’re going to fight and keep fighting. I will keep showing up. I will keep turning out, and I’ll keep advocating for student movements everywhere."
Social relations and policy senior Ateeyah Abdul-Wasi, a member of the Hurriya Coalition, said they were proud of those who showed up and made their voices heard.
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"I think this is exactly what people needed," Abdul-Wasi said. "Just knowing that people are here fighting the good fight and that we have the power and amount of people to organize something larger. We did before and we still do now."
Abdul-Wasi said they’re "extremely upset and frustrated" that Trump will be president again.
"It’s unfortunately not unexpected," Abdul-Wasi said. "It happened before but I think once again, being sort of surrounded in community is what kind of keeps me going and gives me hope."
With the election over, Abdul-Wasi said they’ll continue to advocate for people, community and love.
"The first thing that comes to my mind is Indigenous sovereignty, whether it be here on campus, whether it be in Palestine or any other community that’s affected by the settler colonial project," Abdul-Wasi said. "With that, it’s intersectional. That’s where you can get into queer rights, Black rights, trans rights, workers’ rights — and advocating for our own Earth and humanity."
