The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. Received June 30, 2021.
For starters, I’d like to say I am not one to ever discuss politics, but what happened Saturday, June 26 was infuriating and disgusting. Another thing I will say is I’m not here to argue about certain political members, or discuss people voting for Trump vs. Biden, or vise versa. Here is the experience that happened to me.
I attended my community’s first Pride event yesterday! On the way there, there were Trump supporters standing on the sidewalk area of the roundabout, less than a minute away from where the Pride event was being held. I was being driven by a friend of mine. He’s fully vaccinated, but wears a mask to have additional protection for me because I have a compromised immune system, and for his mom who also has a compromised immune system. I wore my mask as well, since I always wear one going out since the pandemic hit. And I will continue wearing one for my safety. This is my right and my choice. I don’t care if anyone has anything rude to say about it. Keep your negative thoughts to yourself. My friend told me that there were a bunch of Trump flags up ahead and people holding signs. He was describing what they said.
As we approached the roundabout, there were cars going around, so we couldn’t go through, and got stopped right next to the Trump supporters.
Let me preface this by saying: Everyone has the right to vote who you want to vote for. With that being said, you don’t have the right to be shouting and swearing, making disgusting remarks, and yelling at us.
The people that were there shouting at us with megaphones, raising their fists, swearing at us, etc. should be ashamed of themselves. It’s truly disgusting. It’s one thing to stand somewhere and peacefully hold signs and exercise your rights (SAFELY AND RESPECTFULLY). You had no right to yell at us, swear at us, and berate us about OUR choice of wearing our masks. You don’t know our situation. Some things that were said to us, and I have it on video: We got called “IDIOT LOSERS, SNOWFLAKES, BITCH, etc.” “LOOK AT THOSE IDIOT LOSERS WEARING MASKS IN THEIR CAR”, Asking “WHERE’S JOE BIDEN?” and “I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU: DO YOU LIKE LITTLE BOYS ON YOUR LAP?”
I mean, seriously? Grow up…do you not have anything better to do than stand on a sidewalk berating people when you have NO clue what their situation is or who they are?
Part of me had wondered what they would’ve done to me if I had to walk to the event from a certain area with my white cane and my mask on. It’s scary to think about honestly. What is this world coming to?
I was honestly scared going to this Pride event since there’s been so many mass shootings and threatening remarks made in many places. It didn’t help having these people right up the road from the event. Especially, having to sit in the car waiting for our turn to go around the roundabout as they stand next to the car shouting in a megaphone, swearing at us, and being vulgar. It was inappropriate and beyond disrespectful. It’s one thing to have personal opinions that differ from others and be respectful about it, but it’s another thing to act out inappropriately to people who have a different opinion than your own. It’s sad that we’re supposed to be the “United” States Of America, and it feels like it is more of the “Divided” States Of America. Regardless of who you voted for, there is hate on both sides.
It’s sad that many of us have to fear for our lives going out in public now because we are seen as outcasts. This can range from anyone who is a person of color, in the LGBTQ+ community, disabled individuals, elderly individuals, and more. It’s sickening that this all happened many years ago with genocides and picking off specific individuals, and it still happens today in different ways. The discrimination needs to end. At the end of the day, we are all human. Nobody is perfect, we all have flaws and make mistakes. We bleed the same blood. Respect other people’s opinions responsibly.
Korrine Herlth
