When Donald Trump’s election to the American presidency became real early Wednesday, supporters of his opponent Hillary Clinton were stunned by an upset victory largely missed by media forecasts and television pundits.
Many grieved. Some protested in the streets. And some, it seems, opened up their wallets.
The American Civil Liberties Union reported that more than 14,000 online donations flowed in to the organization after Trump was elected, adding up to about $940,000. The ACLU had made a statement vowing to “fight against any encroachment on our cherished freedoms and rights” should he act on campaign pledges to deport 11 million people living in the country illegally or ban Muslims from entering the country.
The organization underscored that message with a prominent banner on its homepage with the words “see you in court” next to Donald Trump’s face and a “donate” button.
"In terms of online donations in a single-day, it far exceeds anything we've seen before," the ACLU's chief development officer Mark Weir told Business Insider.
Nor was the ACLU the only beneficiary of increased donations. Users on Twitter called for donations to other organizations supporting women and minorities including Planned Parenthood, the NAACP and those embracing LGBTQ causes.