VIDEO: Michigan students occupy library to protest Trump victory
Early Wednesday morning, less than an hour after Donald Trump was elected president, University of Michigan students took to campus to voice their grievances.
Some students carried candles, while others protested less peacefully, as depicted in video footage obtained by The Michigan Review showing an unruly mob descending on the formerly subdued scene.
[RELATED: Pitt students take to streets after Trump victory]
Students on the Diag early Wednesday morning appeared visibly distressed, comforting one another with kind words or simply embracing each other in silence. The environment was generally supportive, at least until some students created a greater disturbance.
According to a school librarian, the students entered the library at around 3:40 a.m. yelling profanities and disturbing the students studying there, eventually departing the premises at the librarian’s request, but only after parading around the library swearing at the librarian and the other students.
Another student attending the vigil held on the Diag immediately after the election results were announced mentioned that other students at the vigil had been planning to rip down the American flag on the Diag and burn it in order to make their point.
“There are people who wanted to rip down flags and it’s really accomplishing nothing,” said sophomore Justin Korfhage. “You can state your opinion and you can protest, but at the end of the day, burning an American flag is nothing but inflammatory and almost any citizen should be able to acknowledge that.”
According to a police officer on duty, as the protesters were leaving the Diag, one of them jumped in front of his patrol car, and then proceeded to yell and swear at the officer upon being confronted about the incident.
Protests are expected to continue at Michigan and other college campuses throughout the country as students react to Trump’s unexpected win, many of whom have extra time on their hands due to a spate of class cancellations.
This article was originally published in The Michigan Review, a conservative student newspaper affiliated with the Leadership Institute's Campus Leadership Program. Its articles are republished on Campus Reform with permission.
Follow The Michigan Review on Twitter: @MichiganReview
