Post-Election 'Wall Of Empathy' Goes Up At BART Stations
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – San Franciscans will have the opportunity Monday morning to write supportive notes to each other in the wake of Donald Trump's election as U.S. president.
The so-called Wall of Empathy will be available above ground at the 16th Street Mission, 24th Street Mission and Montgomery Street BART stations from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
"In the wake of Tuesday's election results, many of us have been experiencing grief and shock in various forms," event organizers Muriel MacDonald, Tamilla Mir and Melissa Goldman said in a statement.
"The racist, sexist, xenophobic rhetoric that was a hallmark of Donald Trump's campaign makes the results difficult for many of us to process, and have left many feeling alone, afraid or bereft," MacDonald, Mir and Goldman said.
Even in the middle of a bustling Monday morning, people still found time to stop, reflect, and write a message of hope.
"With all the war and all the hatred and all the prejudices going around the world, we do need to come down to earth a little bit and stick together as people," wrote Maria Constancio.
"People need an outlet and people need to see in visible, public spaces that they're not alone," explained Goldman.
At City Hall in San Francisco Monday, Mayor Ed Lee offered a message of resiliency. He stood with elected city officials to reaffirm that no one can change San Francisco's values, despite president-elect Donald Trump's threats of pulling federal funding for sanctuary cities.
"We will always be San Francisco. We have been, and always have been, a city of refuge, a city of sanctuary, a city of love," said Lee. "That's what made us strong."
Artist Matthew Chavez installed a similar Therapy Wall in New York City on Wednesday morning, hours after the election results were announced.
On Sunday afternoon, protesters joined hands around Oakland's 3.4-mile Lake Merritt as a symbol of solidarity after the election.
"In this time when so many members of our community feel threatened, we hope our Wall of Empathy will communicate support and love, as well as help those who participate to process their feelings," MacDonald, Mir and Goldman said. "Hate crimes and hateful rhetoric have no place in our city. We are stronger together."
© Copyright 2016 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
