Richmond reacts to Trump victory

After a major upset, Donald Trump has won the Presidential election. Richmond residents and candidates at campaign headquarters and election-watching parties tonight said they were disturbed by Trump’s victory and the implications of his presidency for local issues.

“I voted for Hillary Clinton because we cannot have someone like Donald Trump in there who actively deals out hate and racism and have them represent us and the nation,” said Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA)-backed City Council candidate Melvin Willis at a gathering at RPA’s headquarters this evening.

“I think the fact that even close to a majority of voters would vote for Trump despite the fact that he’s a crude, racist, vulgar person is a sign of how alienated the population is,” founding RPA member Mike Parker said.

At Jerry’s Cocktail Lounge on San Pablo Avenue, people watched the unfolding results at a packed bar, where election coverage competed with screens showing highlights from the Golden State Warriors.

Medical professional and Richmond resident Gina Moore said she was perplexed by Trump’s success. “I’m about to have a panic attack,” she said. “I can’t fathom how he’s made it this far.”

Moore also said she was concerned over Trump’s disregard for “other people’s races, feelings and thoughts.” Throughout the campaign, Trump’s critics reacted to inflammatory remarks he made towards Muslims, Mexicans and African American communities.

At the last census, taken in 2010, Richmond was just over 25 percent African American and almost 40 percent Hispanic or Latino.

“I’m not angry, I’m worried, everyone is,” said Kimberly Stewart, a twenty-year Richmond resident, gesturing to the crowd at the bar.

Before the final result for Trump was called, bar patron Farah Green said, “It’ll be hell on earth. He’s not what we need.”

When asked if she could ever come around to supporting a Trump presidency, Green said, “he’d definitely have to give us a 360 from what he’s been giving us.”