Donald Trump is back in power: how will Bristol students react?
By Anna Johnson, Fourth Year English and French
The results of the American presidential election were announced in the early hours of this morning. At the time of writing, Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, holds 223 votes, while Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, leads with 294, having secured swing-state victories.
Though Harris was ahead among Hispanic voters, support for Trump has risen since 2020 in this category, up 18 points among male Latino voters. This is one of the most ethnically diverse Republican coalitions seen in decades. This comes as a surprise considering his recent speech falsely claiming Haitian immigrants were eating American pets and his infamous campaign to build a wall, as well as his pledge for mass deportations in his new term.
Trump’s policies surrounding women have painted a daunting landscape in the realm of reproductive rights, which has already been cracked down on this year - as of August, 17 states have outlawed nearly all abortions. Project25 was a political blueprint laid out by Trump’s office with aims to ban abortion pills, and the Comstock Act, a law prohibiting the shipping of these pills, would then also eliminate access to one of the key treatments used for abortions in the United States.
'We’re calling students to gather to say loudly F*ck Trump, abortion rights now, refugees are welcome here, freedom for Palestine, system change not climate change, and no to war!’ – Student Socialist Workers
In the Bristol student community, the topics of recent political controversies have often been in paradox with the new president’s policies. In October, a pro-life protest group confronted students outside Beacon House stirring anger and frustration. Earlier, in August, during the far-right riots, a mass counter-protest saw thousands gather in the centre of Bristol against the threat of violence toward immigrants.
In this vein, shortly after the election results were confirmed, posters appeared outside Senate House proclaiming, ‘F*ck Trump: Why the democrats lost and how we can fight.’ The poster included details of a spontaneous meeting set by the Socialist Worker Student Socity.
The Student Socialist Party organised an emergency demo on the same day in the city centre, calling on students to gather in the city centre with an Instagram post: ‘We’re calling students to gather to say loudly F*ck Trump, abortion rights now, refugees are welcome here, freedom for Palestine, system change not climate change, and no to war!’
The Socialist Workers Party also encouraged protests, stating on social media: ‘Trump’s victory will mean a rise in the confidence of the far right, both in the US and the UK. We need to be on the streets to oppose this.’
As Trump’s return to presidency raises alarm bells for minority groups globally, students in Bristol and beyond are reminded of the urgency to keep informed and politically engaged.
What do you think of Donald Trump?