A wave of civil unrest manifested in the form of movements and mass protests has followed Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton, but are these actions effective?

Many argue that these protesters are millennial “cry-babies” who need to learn that life just isn’t fair. Yet this movement isn’t just a generation being a bunch of sore losers; it’s a generation of U.S. citizens trying to fight against hate and show those who are most vulnerable right now that they are not alone. The mobilization of these people brings hope to those with none.

The baby-handed bigot has essentially almost normalized this discrimination by using it as a platform to win the election. A lot of Trump supporters (or optimists) say Trump may have just played the Republican Party by pandering to their hateful views and plans on doing some actual good for the country.

Even if it was an act, people all over America voted for him; the scary part about it is that they voted because most likely because they agreed with what he was saying — from his insinuation that all Mexicans are criminals to his comments calling women fat pigs. His supporters have already begun their assault on marginalized groups because they believe this behavior is appropriate now.

Not only has Trump normalized this behavior, but he revealed that there is a bigger portion of America that agrees with it. As a Hispanic woman, I was terrified to see how many people in the country truly hated me, and others like me.

I was terrified to see how many people were willing to excuse his racism because he is an outsider, how many people ignored the fact he is an alleged perpetrator of several sexual assaults because they thought he was a good businessman or that he “tells it like it is.” I was, and still am, scared for my friends and family who are people of color or who are part of the LGBTQ community.

I’ve felt very alone, like not a single person in the country cared for me and my family’s safety or civil rights.

That is where these protests come in. While these protests seem like they are only against Trump, they are actually against the hate he has preached and the hate he has revealed in our country. Protesters coming out and acting as a community to preach love against hate gives hope to those who feel alone or unsafe.

The revelation that there is a large group within the community that is willing to fight for those whose rights are in danger is important. This support could be what keeps a member of a marginalized group from committing suicide because they feel there is no hope for them.

If you are a member of a marginalized group, you are not alone. There is a community of people out there who support you, love you, and are willing to fight for your rights. They are all around you, in your classes, in your residence halls, chanting in the streets for change.