<u+201c>my grandparents marched in the civil rights movement so that hopefully their grandkids wouldn<u+2019>t have to march,<u+201d> said matteo bertoni, 16. he was walking down 5th ave. in the rain on tuesday afternoon with hundreds of other high school students who had left their classes to send a message to president-elect donald trump. <u+201c>now i<u+2019>m marching, hoping my grandkids won<u+2019>t have to march for their civil rights,<u+201d> mr. bertoni said. the students, from at least 10 schools, chanted, <u+201c>this is what democracy looks like,<u+201d> and <u+201c>whose streets? our streets.<u+201d> while some wanted mr. trump to step down or the electoral college to give the presidency to hillary clinton, most just wanted mr. trump and his supporters to listen and to understand them. <u+201c>he<u+2019>s going to become president,<u+201d> said dominique campbell, 17, <u+201c>we can<u+2019>t do anything about that. but we can do things about how people see us and how they respect us.<u+201d> her goal was to show the respect and acceptance she wanted to see from others: <u+201c>no matter how much they say they hate us and they want us to die, we love you.<u+201d> some of the marchers were immigrants. some were muslim. some were there to speak for themselves, and others had come to support their friends. when girls chanted, <u+201c>my body, my choice,<u+201d> boys responded, <u+201c>her body, her choice.<u+201d> when the students, most of whom were too young to vote in the election, reached washington square park, their clothes drenched and voices hoarse, they poured into the drained fountain and, after some final chants <u+2014> <u+201c>we<u+2019>re voting next<u+201d> was one <u+2014> listened quietly as the organizers of the protest spoke. <u+201c>we are so proud of what just happened,<u+201d> cate whitman, 15, told the crowd. <u+201c>if our president cannot be kind, empathetic and intelligent, we can.<u+201d> on tuesday night, there was a protest against islamophobia in the same spot in the park. asma amadou, 22, held a sign reading, <u+201c>be the change you want to see in the world.<u+201d> an immigrant from togo, she was concerned about the way mr. trump<u+2019>s proposals would affect her and her family. <u+201c>you grow up and your parents tell you, treat people as you like to be treated,<u+201d> she said. <u+201c>to have a president that<u+2019>s not implementing that in the world is very hurtful.<u+201d> like the students, many at the nighttime protest called on mr. trump and his supporters to hear their concerns. <u+201c>i understand that there are trump supporters that are not as violent and racist and hateful as some people assume they are,<u+201d> said kawthar abdullah, 20. <u+201c>listen to us and put your foot in our shoes and then we<u+2019>ll listen to you guys.<u+201d> walid shaibani, 33, held a sign that said, <u+201c>i<u+2019>m a muslim, not a terrorist.<u+201d> in fact, he said, muslims around the world are often the first victims of terrorism. <u+201c>this is why i had to leave my country,<u+201d> he said. his message for donald trump: <u+201c>we have the same dreams, same ambitions, we want to have a good life, we want to start a family,<u+201d> he said. since mr. trump<u+2019>s victory, many fear that his america doesn<u+2019>t include them. but the protesters on tuesday seemed confident and determined to speak up for their rights. <u+201c>i believe that<u+2019>s how america works,<u+201d> mr. bertoni said. <u+201c>we protest and we make a difference.<u+201d> anna north is a member of the editorial board.
young, confident and protesting trump
anna north