As hundreds of people spilled into the streets of downtown Birmingham during a unity rally opposing the election of Donald Trump as president, Bessemer resident Malik Robinson decided to let go of the fear.

Black, Vietnamese and queer, Robinson, 17, said he lived with the fear all his life. When unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer in 2012, Robinson stopped wearing hoodies. After Trump was elected president, Robinson contemplated suicide because he didn't feel like his life mattered, he said.

Instead of ending his life, he decided to make a stand for the lives of others. Not just the ones who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, but the ones who are also Muslim, African-American and disabled.

"I'm not giving up," Robinson said. "I don't want any of us to give in."

Creating an atmosphere of unity amongst America's minorities was the point of the rally that started at Kelly Ingram Park on Thursday night, organizers said. LBGTQ members held their rainbow pride flags high in the air. Their straight allies held colorful signs supporting marriage equality. Black and whites held their fists in the air while chanting black lives matter.

After watching videos of anti-Trump protests across the nation Wednesday night, Jordan Giddens, 22, was surprised there wasn't a rally scheduled for Birmingham. The night Trump became president-elect, Giddens said his Facebook page was flooded with worry. His LGBTQ friends worried about the fate of the Supreme Court ruling allowing same-sex marriage. Disabled individuals recalled the time Trump mocked a disabled individual during his campaign.

Giddens said he and a handful of other local activists wanted to make sure no one felt alone. During his speech, Giddens asked the crowd to hug the person beside them. He said the crowd needed to stand together to protect one another.

"Yes, Donald Trump won. Yes, he is going to be our president," Giddens said. "But if we can take a stand during these next four years and say, 'You're going to treat us equal.' He can't do anything against us. This is day one. Do not let this stop here."

Unity Rally at Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham is starting. Organizer Jordan Giddens sets the tone. pic.twitter.com/MvIYtvhSse — Jonece Starr Dunigan (@StarrDunigan) November 11, 2016

Mercutio Southall, a local activist and one of the rally's organizers, expressed his appreciation about the diversity in the crowd during his speech. He quoted Fred Hampton, who was chairman of the Black Panther Party Illinois chapter during the 60s.

"You don't fire with fire. You fight fire with water. You don't fight racism with racism. You fight racism with solidarity," Southall said. "Coming from a black man in America, it means something that you are out here right now."

Local activist Mercutio Southall speaks to crowd during a unity rally at Kelly Ingram park on Nov. 10, 2016.

Some of the organizers were surprised by the number of people who came out to the event. Giddens created the event page on Facebook at 11 p.m. on Wednesday. Less than 24 hours later, more than 300 people were marching together. Their chants echoed through the streets.

"Not my president."

"Love Trumps hate."

"We reject the president-elect."

Unity rally against the election of Donald Trump in Birmingham Al Posted by Starr Civil Dunigan on Thursday, November 10, 2016

Giddens said the organizers did receive death threats following the event's announcement. But no violence was displayed during the peaceful rally.

After about an hour of marching, participants made their way back to the park to hug each other. Organizers are hoping for a better turnout during a second rally on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Kelly Ingram Park. Another rally is scheduled in Tuscaloosa at 10 a.m. at the Walk of Champions.

Robinson doesn't want the energy of the rallies in Birmingham and across the nation to end. He hopes people will gather together to talk about how they will protect each others rights as women, as LGBTQ members, as immigrants, as minorities.

Because he only has one fear now: people forgetting what could happen if they don't stand together.

"I'm afraid of complacency. I'm afraid the fire is not going to stay." he said. "If you can forget, that is a privilege. Some of us will never forget."