Protesters take a knee to stand up to injustice

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — President Trump’s visit to Morgantown may have been cancelled but that didn’t stop a rally from going on as scheduled.

Organized around the Mountainlair, more than two dozen citizens chose to speak out against racial inequality, amongst the many concerns that were addressed. Members of Mountaineers for Progress, the LGBTQ African-American and student communities all spoke during the protest along with two members of Morgantown City Council. Deputy Mayor Mark Brazaitis, speaking during the rally, said this stood for more than just racial inequality.

“We’re standing up for the rights of people of color, for the rights of women, for the rights of our LGBTQ community, fro the rights of people with disabilities, for the rights of immigrants and visitors to our country,” Brazaitis said.

After various protesters spoke out to their supporters and to onlookers passing by, a commemorative kneel down moment of silence took place, before making the march down High Street all the way to 123 Pleasant Street where a benefit was taking place. Brazaitis, addressing supporters and onlookers, that now is a time to speak out.

“We’re standing up for democracy, imagine that, in the United States of the 21st Century, we must stand up for democracy,” he said.

Slightly less than a dozen people also showed up to counter protest the rally, with a majority of them leaving before the rally officially started. A few University police officers were at the scene in the event of an incident. Brazaitis addressed those who may be in opposition of the rally, saying they’re standing up for them too.

“We’re standing up in recognition that yes, it’s easier to point a finger for one’s fears, fears of unemployment, of a bleak future for one’s family and one’s family, at someone who isn’t like you,” he said.

The protest was originally scheduled during President Trump’s planned visit to Morgantown, that was cancelled after the mass shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 killed and over 500 injured.