Photography and Text by Anni Liu, Copyright 2016
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VOICES
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Unlike any other elections in U.S history, November 8th, 2016, was a day never to be forgotten. The night when Donald Trump won his victory against Hillary Clinton, the streets of Philadelphia became awfully silent, as if the only signs of life were the winds blowing across the cement floors. It was the calm before the storm. In the days following the election, people of Philadelphia rose up together to rally against the new president-elect. Probably the most historic U.S city, Philadelphia became a place of outcry, anger, and protest. On November 13th, a rally was held at city hall, Philadelphia. People gathered on a big open area next to city hall with signs that made their voices heard.
By their looks, they really just seem to be ordinary people whom you might walk by on the streets, a friend or a neighbor maybe. With the signs of all different shapes and sizes, it is as if they helped bring out the hidden voices of the crowd: the true voices of ordinary American who believed in something. After a while, the rally started chanting together, following a leader with a loud microphone. A man with tuba started playing, and the people started marching down the streets of Philadelphia with onlookers standing and observing from the sides of the streets. This year’s election was probably one of the most divisive elections in history. No matter which party won, half of the country would be in great sorrow and anger. How did we get here? It is hard not to ponder how the country became so divided. Why was Trump’s victory so surprising? Or why did every pre-election newspaper predicted Hillary’s win against Trump? Maybe it is time to push away the assumptions and pause and listen to the true voices of the American people.
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About The Author: Anni Liu is a Junior majoring in the Biological Basis of Behavior, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2018. To access additional articles by Anni Liu, go here:https://tonywardstudio.com/blog/anni-liu-fresh-new-home/