CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A group that staged a rally in support of Syrian refugees last year following the Paris terror attacks is now focused on the election of Donald Trump.
West Virginia Welcomes returned to Charleston for rally Tuesday night — one week after the election.
The rally was held over concerns that “fear may run the White House,” according to the group’s Facebook page.
Protesters held signs in front of Haddad Riverfront Park. Many expressed concern over President-Elect Donald Trump’s victory and what that could mean for refugees once he makes it into the White House.
Noorda Shan, a senior at George Washington High School, was at last year’s really. She said this time, it’s different.
“I think this year there’s more fear, but at the same time we’ve gotten a lot of love from the community,” Shan said.
Shan said Trump’s promise to “build a wall” goes against American values.
“That’s not what America is all about,” she said. “America is about freedom and diversity.”
Wama Shaalon, whose parents were born in Syria, joined Shan Tuesday night.
“I think standing up for our refugees that are in a war-torn country is a very important thing because I would like to think that if we were in the same place that they would accept us like we are accepting them,” said Shaalon, a junior at GW.
Shaalon was holding a sign that read “#WVWelcomes REFUGEES with open arms.” Shan’s sign read, “Stop war not people.”
Other signs, like at many protests across the country this week, read “Love Trumps Hate.”
Shan and Shaalon are encouraging people to get out and vote and to “spread more love.”
The U.S. Department of State is currently reviewing the possibility of bringing an additional 100 refugees to Charleston in the first year.