Some members of minority groups in Bloomington-Normal said a Donald Trump presidency will undo several decades progress.
About 200 citizens joined together on the courthouse square in Bloomington Wednesday night in a demonstration organized by Illinois People's Action, to say they still feel a better America is worth fighting for.
Illinois State University Graduate Student Theartis Butler said the election results reveal how many people support some of Trump's controversial ideals.
"We look at this as a Mount Everest of an issue and problem," said Butler. "While we have made strides, this just shows us how far we still have to climb."
Butler said some minority members will accept Trump as the next President, but they will never stop working for equality.
A Normal Community High School history teacher said it will be a challenge teaching about a Donald Trump presidency. Bryan Thomas said Wednesday was one of the worst days he has had as a teacher because minority students wondered if they could still have a successful future.
"As a teacher who has been here for 20 years, I don't know what to say to them because I don't know. That's the thing, I want to give them encouragement because this is America," said Thomas. "We don't know what might happen. We have to give this President an opportunity to do his job as well. Who knows? We didn't know he would win. Who knows what he will do?"
Thomas said young Americans need to focus on their education and stay civically engaged in order to better prepare for future elections.
The peace gathering was organized by the Bloomington-based social justice organization Illinois People's Action.
