Maplewood voters lined up outside Town Hall on November 8, 2016 at 6 a.m. Photo by Claire Sinclair
Reaction by residents of South Orange and Maplewood was swift on social media on Tuesday evening into early Wednesday morning as the outcome of the Presidential election became apparent.
“Is this actually happening? Is American Horror Story on CNN now?” wrote South Orange resident Helena Holgersson as Donald J. Trump looked to become President-Elect of the United States.
By 7:30 a.m., full-on grief had set in for many. “I can’t believe he won. I am so distraught. I don’t want to get out of bed. What will become of us?” wrote a Maplewood resident.
For many in the diverse community, the result was very personal and very scary. One resident said a friend at work told her, “I have never woken up scared. I am a first generation immigrant and a black woman. It scares me that I don’t know who hates me – it could be the guy living next door or the person sitting next to me on the bus.”
By afternoon, Maplewood and South Orange were taking action.
One local educator was contacting local Republican leaders — not an easy task in deep blue Essex County.
Another created an activity to talk to her kindergartners about the election.
“I told the kids that regardless of who they wanted to win, Donald Trump would be our president and we must respect that and respect him,” said Tuscan School teacher Claire Sinclair. “Their response was that maybe if we do that, he’ll be respectful right back. We can only hope.”
The children then created Kindness Superheroes. “These kids are so filled with love, hope and innocence. Hope we can continue to nurture those qualities for as long as possible,” wrote Sinclair.
And then there were the minority of local residents who were happy about the outcome. “I’m thinking how pathetic these protesters are,” wrote Maplewood resident Darryl Haley on Village Green’s Facebook group last night in response to protests against Trump’s election that sprung up in major cities across the country. “It was a fair election and someone had to lose. It’s time to get over it and move on. Nothing they do will change the outcome.”
Others organized meetings:
Tonight, November 10, at 8 p.m., there is a Unity Gathering at Congregation Beth El (222 Irvington Avenue, South Orange) co-sponsored sponsored by North Jersey Pride and South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race. The event is open to the public.
On Friday, November 11, from 6-9 p.m., there is a community gathering at the Woodland (60 Woodland Road, Maplewood) that is “free and open to the public, bring snacks, drinks. Kids are welcome.”
The meetings are not just meant for kvetching about the results, according to organizers, but about creating a plan of action.
“MOVING FORWARD depends on sharing sadness and gathering courage,” wrote Marcy Thompson about the Woodland gathering. “We can only do this TOGETHER.”
