On Tuesday, President Donald Trump made a campaign stop at Winston-Salem's Smith Reynolds Airport where he was greeted by thousands of supporters. Meanwhile, protesters nearby shared their opinions of the president's arrival.
Six miles away, at a small anti-Trump demonstration sponsored by Building Winston-Salem, a few dozen masked residents weighed in on the president.
Co-organizer Annalise Sattler has been active in the protest movement heavily since the police killing of George Floyd. She says Building Winston-Salem combines several local activist organizations.
“One of the things that we found difficult was communication throughout all the organizations,” says Sattler. “There are so many mutual aid resources, different organizations, and people doing so many fantastic things with community education, demonstrations, and outreach initiatives. We wanted a place where people could easily find things that they were passionate about and be involved in here.”
Barbara McLean stumbled across this event while out on a walk. She says she grew up here and plans on going home nearby to get her mask and return.
“I've got no support for Trump most definitely,” she says. “We just don't need him. That's all. We just don't need him. He's no good for us. He's had his opportunity to do something. He's done nothing.”
Across the street, senior citizen David Freeman stands beside his pickup truck adorned with large handmade signs that read, “Traitor Trump Ignored Putin's Bounty On US Troops,” “Black Lives Matter,” and “End Cash Bail.” He says he'd like to join the crowd in the street demonstrating, but he has health concerns that put him in at heightened risk for COVID-19.
“This monster Trump, we've just got to get rid of him,” says Freeman. “We can't make progress until we get him out.”
Lia Moniz and her friend Lasabra Bryant arrive wearing matching Biden-Harris facemasks.
“He's like caused so much chaos and divisiveness,” says Moniz. “He's so racist, misogynistic, he's awful."
“Terrible,” says Bryant, echoing her friend's sentiments. “And I for one feel like he is responsible for part of this corona [coronavirus]. I feel like he could have done other things and taken it way more seriously than he has. 190,000 people are dead, and no one seems to care in his administration.”
Trea Grier attends Regan High School. “Get out,” says Grier. “That's all I got to say is just, get out. Get out. Nobody wants you here.”