This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Salt Lake City rallies against Donald Trump on Saturday detoured from the crude chants and sometimes-obscene posters of other recent protests into more of an old-fashioned love-in.
In an afternoon march from the Salt Lake City Hall to the state Capitol, most protesters carried roses as a symbol of peace — especially for Muslims, Latinos, refugees, immigrants and other groups Trump had attacked during his campaign.
Marchers wore safety pins on their shirts as signs that they are people who anyone may call on for protection.
They usually followed organizers' pleas to avoid derogatory chants and crude language on signs. Some still surfaced, but nothing like those during a protest Thursday where F-bombs were used in some chants, some protesters blocked traffic, some spray-painted graffiti and others burned an American flag.
"Having a civil protest with no obscene chants will help others hear us and spread our message that 'Love Trumps Hate,'" the "SLC Trump Protest" group posted on its Facebook page before its rally.
Kyle Huynh, one of the organizers, told marchers, "We want to be an example for how other protests should be throughout the country," as they attempted to show love and vow protection for those who feel threatened by Trump's policies.
While protests earlier this week attracted mostly young people, the march on Saturday attracted about 1,000 people of all age groups — who stretched for about three blocks down State Street at one point.
Amid pleas for civility, a few counter-protesting Trump supporters standing in the group attracted no violent replies but only light banter — or were simply ignored.
While police shut off State Street for marchers, some cars still turned onto it from driveways and side streets that had not been blocked. Some angry protesters stood in front of those cars to block them, holding signs and yelling. Then other protesters persuaded them to stop and let the vehicles pass.
While plenty of protesters still are unhappy that Trump won and would like to find a way to remove him, many others said they were using rallies mostly to send a message that they will fight many of the policies he has proposed — especially those that terrify immigrant and refugee groups.
"I refuse to let hate and bigotry ruin my country," said Heather Wargo of Morgan, one of the protesters.
"I have a son who is gay. I don't want his rights taken away," she said. "We have Mexican grandkids who have family members who possibly could be deported. My husband has cancer, and could lose medical coverage. Trump could wreck this country."
Tammy Stearns, a white woman married to an African-American, said, "This is the first time in 30 years that I have been afraid for my life" because of bigoted comments people now make to her, saying they have been emboldened by Trump's statements.
"We never got that before. People may have thought it. But people would never dare say it out loud. Now people say things out loud that should just not be said."
Her mother, Judy Worthen, said her mixed-race grandchildren cry at night because they are worried now about harassment and threats.
Jordan Viraldo, of Murray, said he attended the march largely to show he stands "with people who are threatened in their peace and rights" — such as his fiancee's parents, who were refugees from Laos.
He held a sign saying "Refugees are welcome," and added, "They are people who are trying to better their lives. Saying they are terrorists, are taking American jobs or want to do you harm is ridiculous and nothing more than bigotry."
Victor Perri held a sign saying he loves his Muslim neighbor, and said his closest friend is Muslim "and the kindest person I know" — not a threat, as Trump has said.
"Trump is racist, he is xenophobic, he is misogynistic. A protest against Trump is a protest against all those things," he said.
Valerie Hall, a Latina, said, "We've never seen a president elected where there has been a mass increase of hate crimes and negativity like this." She added, "I'm here for unity and possibly changing the mind of haters."
Elizabeth Converse spoke at both the afternoon march and an earlier rally on Saturday.
"What scares me most is that I didn't know how to comfort my 6-year-old," who is scared. "I didn't know how to tell him that he would be OK, or that I as an LGBT woman would be able to protect him, because I can't. I can't even protect myself against this president."
A morning rally attracted about 100 people, also at City Hall, and was billed as an opportunity for activists to get organized and channel momentum into action, said organizer Cristobal Villegas with the Young Democrats.
"Don't lose your credibility," said the Rev. Cindy Solomon-Klebba from Wasatch Metropolitan Christian Community Church. "If you want to burn something, burn that fire inside yourself that says, 'We're not going to put up with this anymore.'"
She added, "Love does not mean that you're not mad. ... Love gets angry, and ... [when] it's angry, it gets organized."
Misty Snow, who ran as a Democrat against Sen. Mike Lee this year, also encouraged the early crowd to be more involved in politics. She managed to win the Democratic nomination this year with no prior experience, and working as a grocery store clerk who is transgender.
"You can do a lot more than you realize," Snow said.
Twitter: @LeeHDavidson,@mnoblenews