For the past couple of weeks, millions of people across the nation have taken to the streets to protest the controversial president-elect Donald Trump. These very protestors are the diverse America—the America that is scared that their future president won’t stand up for them.

These gatherings are not meant to be disruptive, but allow for a space for people to express the way that they are feeling about our future president. The fear they feel does not stem from nowhere, it comes from the disgusting, horrific rhetoric that Trump has offered throughout not only his campaign, but also his entire career.

They are protesting so that all Americans are reminded that this is not normal. A man  who is endorsed by the KKK and is so blatantly racist and sexist should not have been the Republican nominee.           

Many media outlets have tried so hard to normalize the supremacist thoughts of Trump. Leaders of Neo-Nazi groups are even being given their own spotlights in the Los Angeles Times. We cannot allow our focus to be centered on groups of people that only believe in hate. These protestors believe they must fight to move forward in history instead of moving backward.

Many Trump supporters who were upset about this outbreak of protests. Do these rejecters forget that the very reason we no longer read “no coloreds allowed” over restrooms and restaurants is due to protest? We see change by fighting for change. Change is not given, it is earned.

When a future president promises to build a wall to keep away the Mexicans (you know, the raping, murdering, drug-dealing hombres), there has to be a call for change. Trump supporters say that he “isn’t serious” about these claims, but if so, why would they have voted for a candidate who doesn’t follow through on his promises?

The protests are filled with groups of people that have been oppressed for generations. They are protesting so that the rights their ancestors fought so hard for are not abruptly taken away. Instead of sitting around accepting their fate, they are fighting for a different, better future.  

Being a woman, African-American and Mexican-American, I fully support every individual’s right to stand up for the things they believe in. So yes, I stand behind all the nasty women and bad hombres that are protesting the bigot that is Donald Trump.

Since Donald Trump’s surprising victory on Election Day, protests have plagued urban cities all over the country. Flags have been burned. Freeways have been blocked.

But now is not the time to be engaging such extreme demonstrations. Rather, we, as U.S. citizens, should acknowledge the winner of the electoral college as part of our pride in our country and democratic system.

I have to say, I do not support Trump or the majority of his policies, yet these protests seem silly, foolish and impractical at best. This country is largely built upon democratic ideals and though not entirely a true democracy, we must come to terms, as citizens, with our country’s governing system.

Expressing disappointment and disapproval toward the election result is quite understandable. The actions of several groups of anti-Trump protesters are not. In Los Angeles alone, the 710, 10, and 101 freeways were blocked by aggressive protesters in the past month. Not only is this illegal, but it also paints protesters poorly in the already overwhelming post-election season. The outcome may be disappointing but it’s still something we must accept.

Yes, Trump won, fair and square, in fact, but he does not take office until January. What exactly are these anti-Trump protests rallying against? Such protests against the mere idea of a Trump presidency is absurd, especially after he’s already won the Oval Office.

We shouldn’t be protesting what’s to come, but what’s already in place. Give him a chance and protest when there are actual policies to protest. When legislation is passed that violates a group’s civil rights, then by all means protest.

More appropriate would have been for these protests to have occurred prior to Election Day, when they would have made a difference. Such large displays of activism surely would have influenced the outcome of the election, but protesting now won’t change anything as there isn’t anything to change.

It was best said by Hillary Clinton in her concession speech: “Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and a chance to lead.”

It may not have been the outcome some of us were looking for, but we must respect the system and its dependence on a peaceful transfer of power if we want to continue to preserve American ideals of equal rights and freedom.