Not everyone in St. Cloud was happy about former President Trump’s rally in Granite City. As he spoke less than two miles away at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on the campus of St. Cloud State University, protesters gathered at the Great River Regional Library.
“His coming here does not reflect the values of our community at large. We don’t know why he chose to come to St. Cloud, and it certainly wasn’t our choice,” said Alastriona Kroll, a member of the St. Cloud Women’s March group. “I think it’s really important that we show this community and Minnesota in general that not everyone is for Trump.”
The protest was organized by members of the Benton/Stearns County Progressives community and the St.
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A longtime member of the Benton/Stearns County Progressives, Chantal Oechsle, said in a press release Thursday, “The hateful rhetoric that Donald Trump and the Republican Party in general encourage is harmful to our vibrant community. The ‘others’ that they insist on marginalizing are our neighbors, our community. Minnesota and St. Cloud rejected Trumpian division in 2020 and will do so again.”
Community members gathered to make signs at the DFL city office before the protest.
More than 100 protesters began gathering just before 6pm on Division Street, in front of the library. Many held signs and flags. Others had horns and bells. Organizers distributed water and snacks.
Cars passing by the protest honked and shouted.
“We want to look to the future and not the past. It’s about freedom – all our freedoms – reproductive rights, women’s rights, gun control,” said Indivisible member Rita Buntje, who drove up from Wilmar. “That’s why we’re here. To show that there are like-minded people in this state who feel the same. We want to keep it blue.”
Protesters traveled from the Twin Cities as well as neighboring cities.
“I’m a little worried about Donald Trump and the possibility of him becoming our president again,” said Greg Spofford of Little Falls. “I think we have a wonderful candidate in Kamala Harris.”
Protesters dressed in blue in support of Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive presidential candidate.
The group began marching to the nearby Stearns County Courthouse at approximately 6:45 p.m. Participants gathered on the courthouse steps and shouted slogans such as “Keep Minnesota Blue,” “Yes, she will,” and “We will not go back.”
A brief program began at 7 p.m., with local elected officials, candidates and organizers speaking until 7:45 p.m. Speakers included Charlie Hobbs, Sarah Starling, Omar Abdullahi Podi, Abdi Daisane, Minnesota Representative Dan Wolgamott, DFL, Dusty Bolstad, Minnesota Sen. Aric Putnam, DFL, Shannon Haws, Phillip Qualy, Zachary Dorholt, Jeanne Hendricks, and Chantal Oechsle.
Group members have vowed to continue campaigning for Harris.
“On a day that will go down in our community’s history as a day of division, we stand united in our acceptance of everyone in our community,” Wolgamott said.
This article originally appeared in the St. Cloud Times: Anti-Trump protesters gather in downtown St. Cloud during rally
