T-L Photo/JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH A woman who declined to give her name holds a sign criticizing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies during his visit to downtown Wheeling on Wednesday.

WHEELING — The people who came to downtown Wheeling to protest a visit by President Donald Trump on Wednesday said they were striving to set an example that differs from their perception of the nation’s political climate today — they wanted everyone to be heard without causing “ugliness.”

At least 50 individuals gathered on the west side of Main Street at its intersection with 14th Street, about a block from WesBanco Arena where Trump was scheduled to speak at a private fundraiser hosted by Murray Energy President and CEO Robert E. Murray. On the opposite of Main Street, a smaller number of Trump supporters assembled, occasionally calling out in response to the protesters’ chants.

Liz Prather, a Wheeling resident and an organizer with Marchers Ohio Valley Empowered, said she believed more than 60 people had turned out to protest the current administration and its policies, including representatives of groups such as the Ohio County Democratic Women, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Ohio Valley Pride and various labor leaders.

“The America we love and believe in doesn’t put kids in cages,” Prather said. She termed the president an “autocrat” who “cares more about his feelings and his ego than about the people who are hurting.”

Prather said those who planned the protest emphasized the need for voices to be heard while making an effort to minimize any potential for violence and shouted exchanges among people with differing viewpoints. For that reason, she said, many in the group waited until most of those who lined up to see the president had entered the arena before beginning to display signs and chant slogans. She added that, personally, she is deeply disappointed with the ugliness she is seeing across the nation.

As she spoke, people around her called out phrases such as “We did not consent to this president” and “Don’t give in to racist fear, immigrants are welcome here.” Another popular slogan was “Vote him out,” along with “We need a leader, not a creepy tweeter.”

Many of the signs the protesters held showed that they were attempting to deliver a kinder, gentler message than had been shared during past presidential and vice presidential visits to the city. Some of them stated: “This Valley Votes;” “Tolerating Racism is Racism;” “tweet people KINDLY;” and “Vote 4 Kindness and Morality.” One man summed up his feelings in a single word: “UGH.”

Many members of the crowd opposing Trump were educators, and they were largely focused on the treatment of immigrant children. Jenny Craig, president of the Ohio County Education Association and a teacher at Wheeling Middle School, said she was there as a teacher but not officially on behalf of the union.

“I am here to protest Trump’s education policies and the policies of his education secretary, Betsy DeVos, who has no experience in the field,” Craig said. “The cuts to special education are very alarming.”

Craig added that she opposes the privatization of schools using a charter school system, just as she and many other Mountain State teachers have opposed the same issue as state legislators in Charleston debated an education reform “omnibus bill” this year.

Rhonda Hinton, a retired teacher from Ohio. was concerned that a few Trump supporters had confronted some of the protesters, despite what she believed were genuine efforts by the protesters to remain peaceful. She said verbal confrontations had occurred three times before the president’s arrival.

Mollie Kennedy was present along with a few volunteers to observe on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union. She said the ACLU sends representatives to such events upon request to take notes, record exchanges and document any conflicts or incidents that might occur.

“The ACLU is committed to making sure people’s rights are protected,” she said.

On the east side of Main Street, Laurence S. Pelley displayed a large sign in support of the president and said he wants Trump’s work to continue even after he leaves office. Pelley said he recently moved to Benwood after having lived in Wheeling all his life.

“I came out during Donald Trump’s visit with Bob Murray to show those people across the street that our president is making America great again, that he will keep making America great and that, when he’s done, I’ll run for president and I’ll keep making America great,” Pelley said.

Pelley said he approves of Trump and “the way he got America working again and the way he is standing up to North Korea.” He added that he would like to see other politicians in Washington, D.C., do their jobs and “make American great again,” instead of bickering and fighting.

Joe Wade, another Wheeling resident who turned out in support of the president, said he is concerned that it has taken so long for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to receive compensation. He said Trump would have “got their benefits in a week.” The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved permanent compensation for first responders who have suffered health effects after working at Ground Zero in New York City following the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.

Wade also called Trump a “philanthropist,” saying he did not run for president because he needed the money or wanted to achieve celebrity. Instead, Wade believes Trump sought the office because he has lived a “blessed life with his money and everything” and that, as a result, he wants to help his fellow Americans.