In the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s decisive 2024 election victory, a group of left-wing activists gathered at Klode Park in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, for a unique and emotional event.
Dubbed a “primal scream,” the gathering allowed participants to release their frustration and grief following Trump’s sweeping win over Kamala Harris.
The unusual protest, organized by local activist Tamara Gibbs, took place on November 9, just days after the election results were finalized.
Footage of the event quickly went viral, showing attendees standing by the shore of Lake Michigan, screaming loudly to express their “pain.”
Gibbs explained the purpose of the event in a Facebook post, describing it as a way to channel the emotional toll of the election results.
“What a gorgeous morning to gather at Klode Park in Whitefish Bay to engage in a Primal Scream in order to release our pain and frustration after the election,” Gibbs wrote.
The post also included images and videos from the event, where individuals stood in a circle, some taking turns sharing their feelings before releasing their screams into the crisp November air.
Others took it a step further by plunging into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan after their cathartic outbursts.
NEW: Liberals hold a ‘Primal Scream’ event at Lake Michigan to get their frustrations out of their system after the election.
Some in the group were seen jumping in the water after releasing their primal scream.
The group was apparently trolled by a Trump supporter waving a… pic.twitter.com/7sLy4AfQgy
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 27, 2024
The primal scream event was emblematic of the frustration felt by some left-leaning voters, particularly after Trump’s overwhelming electoral victory.
He not only secured 312 Electoral College votes by winning key battleground states—including Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Arizona—but also claimed the popular vote, a feat that quieted long-standing critiques of the Electoral College system.
The event also highlighted the resolve among some Harris supporters to continue advocating for progressive causes. One attendee mentioned her granddaughter’s wish to see Harris run again, expressing hope for future political success.
Kamala Harris, who had been noticeably quiet after her concession speech, addressed her supporters nearly a month after the election. In a public statement, Harris encouraged them to stay engaged and resilient despite the outcome.
“Don’t you ever let anybody take your power from you,” Harris urged in her video message. “You have the same power that you did before November 5, and you have the same ability to engage and inspire.”
However, the video sparked mixed reactions. Critics mocked Harris’s appearance and tone, with some questioning her emotional state in the aftermath of the loss.
Social media was abuzz with speculation, but Harris’s message resonated with her loyal base, who vowed to keep pushing for change at the local and national levels.
In the weeks following the election, Harris’s senior campaign team began dissecting what went wrong. During an appearance on the Pod Save America podcast, David Plouffe, a senior adviser to Harris, admitted that the campaign’s expectations were not met on Election Day.
“We didn’t get the breaks we needed,” Plouffe said, adding that internal polling painted a much grimmer picture than the optimistic public polls shared during the campaign.
The stark contrast between expectations and reality was evident not only in Harris’s loss but also in the deep divide among voters. Trump’s victory reshaped the political landscape, with his campaign leveraging strong messaging and rallying his base across key swing states.
One attendee at the event stressed the importance of working at the local level to advance left-leaning agendas, signaling a renewed focus on grassroots activism.
Trump’s victory, coupled with his ability to win both the Electoral College and the popular vote, marks a turning point in U.S. history.
For his supporters, it was a validation of their beliefs and a triumph for their movement. For his opponents, it was a bitter defeat, one that they are determined to overcome in future battles.
Whether their screams will translate into meaningful action remains to be seen, but their message was clear: they’ve undoubtedly lost their minds.
