Since Donald Trump was elected president Nov. 8, protests have been taking place all across the country. In Chicago, one Facebook group held a “mass meeting” to discuss what the next plan of action entails.

Nearly 60 individuals gathered at the Mexico-U.S. Solidarity Network’s building, 3460 W. Lawrence Ave., at an event Nov.15 called “United States of Trump? The fight back begins!”

Throughout the two-hour meeting, attendees chanted similar lines from past Trump protests such as “No Trump, no KKK, no racist U.S.A.” and “People power.”

 Ali Hasan, one of the speakers  and  member of the People United Against Oppression organization, a group dedicated to educating people worldwide about human rights issues, said people cannot expect instant gratification. While it would be the easier route, Hasan said they must be organized in their efforts and understand that it will take some time to see change throughout the  government system. 

He said standing up for what is right and speaking out against injustice is what will make a difference in the future.

While he understands Trump was elected president, Hasan said that is not stopping him from speaking out.

“This is going to be a hard struggle, and it’s going to take years, but we need to start from day one—that would be today,” he said. “This movement needs to grow, and this is what I believe is the hope for the future.”

A handful of speakers, organization leaders and students from different schools such as Morton College and Loyola University  Chicago expressed their feelings about the results of the presidential election at the meeting.

Lorena Buni, chair of Anakbayan Chicago and national solidarity officer for Anakbayan USA, a national democratic mass organization of Filipino youth and students, said she thinks the government is oppressing the American people, and that there needs to be change in how elections are conducted.

“We need to come together and stand together and fight for each other and defend each other,” Buni said. “We need to build a different system where we can have a voice and the representation is genuinely for the people.”

Kassandra Suarez, a 21-year-old Morton College student, who gave an emotional speech, discussed what she has witnessed in her community since Trump’s election. Because she, her family and friends are Hispanic, she said she is genuinely afraid to see what the future of this country holds for them.

“Whether they’re African American, Muslim, women, men, LGBT people, it doesn’t matter who you are,” she said. “We’re not going to let Trump put people down. We can’t. And if he does become president, there will be many more protests because this is not going to stop here.”