MOORHEAD—Peace and love were on parade in downtown Moorhead Saturday afternoon as more than 150 people participated in the March Against Hate.
The event was organized by the new group Fargo Moorhead Humans in Action, which intends to bring the community together against hate groups and hate crimes.
Marchers met at Townsite Park around 3 p.m. and started a sidewalk procession north on Eighth Street, then west on Main Avenue to the middle of Veterans Memorial Bridge.
As opposed to a protest of United States President-elect Donald Trump that took place on the bridge Nov. 10, organizers of Saturday’s event stressed theirs wasn’t political or a protest.
“As soon as politics comes into play, it divides people. Love is not a partisan issue. There’s nothing political about hate,” said Xavior Jimenez, one of the organizers.
“Regardless of people’s differences, standing up against hate is something we can all work toward together,” said Lexi Byler, another organizer.
Those who attended didn’t speak of political parties or any individuals other than the occasional “Love trumps hate” saying.
The closest anyone got to speaking of politics was Hukun Abdullahi, executive director of the Afro American Students Association, who addressed the crowd before the march.
“We had to come out and show our support to the people who are feeling afraid and insecure in the aftermath of an election full of hateful and divisive rhetoric,” Abdullahi said. “I am an immigrant and I can tell you that a cloud of fear, uncertainty and insecurity is hanging over our heads. Overnight the atmosphere has changed and people are anxious.”
“I’m here to show we are united and to remind people of the American values, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Hate is not an American value,” said Fauzia Haider. “Immigrants are fearful, American citizens are fearful. This is not how it is supposed to be. America is a sanctuary.”
She said when she was growing up in Pakistan and there was unrest there, her father would point to America as a democratic ideal.
But on Saturday she said some people did not attend because they were afraid for their safety.
“Since when is a peaceful gathering a scary thing. It is your democratic right,” Haider said.
There were no counter-protesters, though some passers-by gave a thumbs-down gesture of disapproval. Many more honked and waved enthusiastically in support.
Newly elected Moorhead City Council member Sara Watson Curry said she was there with open arms.
“We need to make sure this is a welcoming community,” she said, holding a sign that read simply, “love rules.”
