The rain may have put a damper on the depth of the throng taking part in Nora Fadel’s anti-Trump protest march in Downtown Vancouver.
But, as far as the 17-year-old Cambie secondary student is concerned, it was still very much worthwhile and something she wouldn’t hesitate to organize again in the future.
Although, according to Fadel, about 700 turned out for the pre-march event on Tuesday at Jack Poole Plaza, only 200 or so stuck around and braved the cold rain for the march itself to the U.S. Consulate.
“It was still fantastic and I felt so good about what was achieved,” said the Grade 12 student, adding that her extended family in Iraq read about her exploits online.
“I’m going to get involved with a few other local organizations now and get even more connected.”
A few Donald Trump supporters, in their red hats, were shouting at people attending the pre-march gathering, said Fadel.
“But someone from our section went to talk to them and, after finding some common ground, they left quietly.”
Fadel and her friend, fellow Cambie student Yasmin Ahmed, created the Resist 4 Peace event on Facebook to protest the visit of the U.S. president’s sons to Vancouver on Tuesday to open Trump Tower hotel.
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When she set up the event page on Facebook, Nora Fadel didn’t expect much of a reaction from the community.
So when she woke up the next morning to find hundreds of replies and messages of support had flooded in overnight, 17-year-old Fadel started to get excited about organizing a peaceful march to protest the visit of U.S. president Donald Trump’s sons to Vancouver on Tuesday.
Fadel and her friend, fellow Cambie secondary Grade 12 student Yasmin Ahmed, created the Resist 4 Peace event, which was set to march from Jack Poole Plaza in Downtown Vancouver on Tuesday at 4 p.m. to coincide with Trump’s sons — Eric and Donald Jr. — opening the Trump Tower hotel the same day.
By Tuesday afternoon, more than 700 people were expected to turn out for the march, from the plaza to the U.S. Consulate, with more than 2,500 expressing an interest in attending.
“It went crazy overnight,” said Fadel, who organized the online event page two weeks ago.
“People were so supportive, but were then telling me that I needed generators, megaphones and all sorts of equipment. It was a little overwhelming and I had to tell people I was just a high school student.
“People backed off a little and were a little more patient…I was worried about everything I needed to organize, but the community really responded in a big way.
“I was offered tents, megaphones, generators, speakers, sponsors; it’s been amazing.”
When initially learning of the Trump family visit, Fadel contacted Facebook group Women of Colour, asking if it was organizing anything with regard to the opening.
“They said ‘no,’ but (they) suggested I organize something. So I said ‘OK’ and set up an event page on Facebook, but didn’t really expect anything to come of it,” said Fadel, a Muslim, who was born and raised in Canada, after her parents emigrated from Iraq in 1996.
“My family (in Iraq) are suffering so much because of the irritant policies of Trump.”
Fadel, who lives in north Richmond, said she felt compelled to “do something.”
“We’re going to have this man, with all his negativity towards so many communities, coming to town with his brand. He can put his name on the building, but we’re going to show him that we’re united.”
On Tuesday, as well as the march — which wasn’t due to pass Trump Tower on West Georgia Street — the Trump brothers were expected to be greeted by a protest organized by Occupy Vancouver, which hosted an all-day rally outside the hotel.
*Check back later for photos from the march
