Fort Lewis College students left their classes to participate in an organized walk out in protest of Donald Trump’s inauguration at 10:15 a.m. on Friday.
Students gathered in front of Reed Library and began their protest, there were about 40 students in attendance.
The FLC Sociology department played a large part in organizing the event, Enrique Maestas, a history major and organizer of the protest, said.
Maestas was pleasantly surprised by the number of people that showed, considering the stormy weather, he said.
“Stand up, fight back, the earth is under attack,” the group chanted.
The students marched past the Student Union Building at 10:20 a.m., heading towards downtown Durango.
“We must love and respect each other,” they chanted.
The protestors marched down E. Eighth Avenue, and onto E. College Drive.
The student protesters met with the We the People of Durango protest, which started at Buckley Park.
“This is a call to action for all people who are opposed to the Trump administration and everything that it represents, to join us in a public demonstration of our dissent,” the We the People event flyer said.
Protesters from both groups, totally roughly 100 people, came together and blocked traffic at the intersection of E. College Drive and Main Avenue.
The Durango Police Department directed traffic and did not interfere with the peaceful-protest.
Police were there to ensure everyone’s safety, Police Sgt. Dave Peterson said.
“We try to protect them,” he said. “We don't want them dead.”
Protesters marched on Camino Del Rio, Main Avenue, and E. Second Avenue into the afternoon.
“The peaceful transfer of power is worth celebrating,” Tse Chi “Chad” Yen, a protester of Trump’s inauguration, said. Yen works with ATAYAL, a non-profit organization that strives to protect and promote indigenous cultures around the world.
“Ordinary citizens in this country, of American origin or not, coming together for a peaceful demonstration to voice our dissent, is equally as important,” Yen said.
The march ended in front of the Durango Herald building where many people gave speeches to the crowd.
“Right now we've come to a point in history where we have to do more than vote,” Hayden Collard, protester and FLC alumnus said. “Our representative democracy has backfired, our representatives don't represent us.”