Along with the dozens of post-election anti-Trump protests across the Bay Area, some peaceful, some not so much, a “wall” went up at BART stations in San Francisco Monday morning.
Along with the dozens of post-election anti-Trump protests across the Bay Area – some peaceful, some not so much – a “wall” went up at BART stations in San Francisco Monday morning.
But this was a “Wall of Empathy,” created out of post-it notes passersby were writing, reading and sharing to support minorities and offer post-election relief, albeit in an unusual place. The group behind the art project is using the hashtag #WallofEmpathy on social media to spread their message.
“Hate crimes and hateful rhetoric have no place in our city. We are stronger together,” Muriel MacDonald, one of the eevent organizers, said in a statement. “We will be inviting passersby to share their feelings on sticky notes and build a ‘Wall of Empathy.’”
The messages? "I love you," "If not now, when? If not me, who?" "Make America Great Again," "Trump values do not live in California," and in a typical Bay Area style attempt at humor: "I love Rosie O'Donnell."
The group behind the San Francisco wall said they were inspired by a similar event in New York:
“Borrowing the idea from New Yorkers, we will be leaving Post-Election stickies and building a Wall. ... A Wall of Empathy. We are not going to support Trump America. Let's come together and share our grief to help build a better future. Stop by and leave a note or read and share them.”
In the Bay Area, those disappointed by the Trump elections have been coming up with creative ways to let their frustrations out – over the weekend, there was a group hug event at Dolores Park, pant-suit events to show solidarity for Hillary and in Oakland, psychologists from an El Cerritto nonprofit set up a white “empathy tent” along Lake Merritt, where strangers came to talk about their feelings in a non-judgmental safe space.
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These protests have garnered ridicule from the Trump supporters and those on the right, who are calling out liberals for being too touchy feely and living in their own bubble.
The “Wall of Empathy” project will be going on until 10 p.m. Monday at the 16th Street BART Station. Walls of empathy were also created at the 24th street BART station in the Mission District and the Montgomery Street station downtown. Art materials and post-it notes will be available or you can bring your own.[[401147225, C]]
