NEW YORK — Demonstrators gathered in various cities across the United States on Saturday to protest against what they perceive as threats to the country’s democratic principles under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The protests took different forms, from a march in midtown Manhattan to a rally outside the White House, and even a demonstration at a Massachusetts event commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War. In San Francisco, protesters formed a human banner that read “Impeach & Remove” on Ocean Beach.
One of the participants, Thomas Bassford, attended a reenactment of the Battles of Lexington and Concord near Boston. The 80-year-old retired mason from Maine expressed his belief that Americans are currently facing attacks from their own government and emphasized the importance of standing up for freedom.
In addition to the protests, some activists organized community service events like food drives, teach-ins, and volunteering at local shelters. These demonstrations come on the heels of similar nationwide protests against the Trump administration that occurred just two weeks earlier.
Protest organizers have cited concerns over civil rights violations and constitutional infringements under the current administration. They have criticized policies such as the mass deportation of immigrants and the downsizing of the federal government by firing government workers and closing entire agencies.
Some protesters drew parallels to the American Revolutionary War, advocating for resistance to tyranny and rejecting the notion of having a king. George Bryant, a resident of Boston, expressed his fears of a growing police state in America under Trump’s leadership.
In Washington, Bob Fasick attended a rally near the White House to voice his concerns about threats to constitutionally protected rights and federal safety-net programs like Social Security. The Trump administration has taken steps to close Social Security Administration field offices, reduce funding for government health programs, and roll back protections for transgender individuals.
Protests also took place in Columbia, South Carolina, where demonstrators rallied at the statehouse, and in Manhattan, where protesters marched against ongoing deportations of immigrants near Trump Tower. The protesters chanted slogans like “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state” in reference to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Marshall Green, a protester from New Jersey, criticized Trump for invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify deportations of individuals linked to Venezuelan gangs. He stressed the importance of upholding due process rights for all individuals in the country.
Meanwhile, Melinda Charles from Connecticut expressed concerns about what she perceived as executive overreach by the Trump administration, particularly in its clashes with federal courts and elite colleges like Harvard University.
The protests reflect a growing sense of unease and dissatisfaction with the current administration among a significant portion of the American population. As tensions continue to simmer, it remains to be seen how these demonstrations will impact the political landscape in the coming months.
