Tens of thousands of demonstrators overflowed the streets of major US cities on Saturday to protest the divisive agenda of President Donald Trump, in the biggest demonstrations since his return to the White House.
Nationwide Opposition to Policies of Donald Trump
Critics of the Republican president’s policies from government staffing reductions to trade tariffs and diminishing civil liberties rallied in Washington, New York, Houston, Florida, Colorado and Los Angeles, among other places.
“I am so angry, I’m so mad, all the time, yes. A bunch of privileged, white alleged rapists are controlling our country. It’s not great,” said New York painter Shaina Kesner, 43, joining a crowd marching through the heart of Manhattan.
Voices from the Ground: Protesters Speak Out Against Donald Trump
In Washington, thousands of protesters many who had come from all over the United States congregated on the National Mall where dozens of speakers mobilized anti-DonaldTrump opposition.
“We have about 100 people who have come down by bus and van from New Hampshire to protest against this outrageous administration (that) is causing us to lose our allies across the world, and causing devastation to people here at home,” said Diane Kolifrath, 64, a bike tour guide.
Symbolism and Anger on Display Against Donald Trump
In Los Angeles, a woman who was dressed as a figure from dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” waved a huge flag bearing the message: “Get out of my uterus,” a reference to Trump’s anti-abortion policies.
In Denver, Colorado, a single individual among a huge crowd of protesters held a sign that said “No king for USA.”
Global Demonstrations in Solidarity
The demonstrations even reached some European capitals, where protesters expressed opposition to Donald Trump and his belligerent trade policies.
“What’s happening in America is everyone’s problem,” Liz Chamberlin, a dual US-British citizen told AFP at a London rally, “It’s economic lunacy… He is going to push us into a global recession.”
And in Berlin, retired 70-year-old Susanne Fest commented Donald Trump had formed “a constitutional crisis,” commenting,” adding, “The guy is a lunatic.”
Organizers and the Scale of the Movement
A loose network of progressive groups in the US including Women’s March and MoveOn sponsored “Hands Off” actions across over 1,000 cities and each of the US congressional districts, according to the groups.
Donald Trump has infuriated numerous Americans by acting swiftly to stop up the government, impose conservative values unilaterally and hit hard at even allied nations on borders and trade, sending stock markets plummeting.
Fears of Authoritarianism and Democratic Helplessness
“We’re out here to stop the, honestly, fascism,” protester Dominic Santella told AFP in Boston.
Santella said “We’re stopping a leader from… jailing his opponents, stopping him from jailing just random people, immigrants.”
Most Democrats are outraged their party, a minority in both the House and Senate, has appeared so powerless to stop Donald Trump’s actions.
Powerful Words from the Stage
Outside the National Mall, blocks from the White House, thousands listened to speakers such as Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat who was an impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment.
“No moral person wants an economy-crashing dictator who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing,” he told the crowd.
Activist Graylan Hagler, 71, also addressed the protest, saying: “They’ve woken up a sleeping giant, and they haven’t seen nothing yet, We will not sit down, we will not be quiet, and we will not go away.”
A Peaceful But Passionate Protest
The demonstrations on Saturday were mostly peaceful. A festive mood filled the air on a warm day in Washington, with demonstrators coming from the elderly to young couples accompanied by babies in strollers.
A Women’s March after Trump’s initial election in 2016 drew an estimated half-million protesters to Washington.
The organizers of the most recent Washington rally had anticipated a crowd of 20,000 but by Saturday afternoon reported that the crowd seemed much larger.
White House Reaction and Donald Trump’s Stance
As Trump keeps disrupting Washington, his approval rating has dipped to its lowest ever since entering office, according to recent surveys.
But even amid worldwide resistance to his sweeping tariffs and simmering resentment from a lot of Americans, the White House has scoffed at the protests.
The Republican president remains popular with his base and refuses to give in, “My policies will never change,” Donald Trump said on Friday.