Protesters Gather in Major Cities Across the US
On Saturday, thousands of protesters gathered in major cities across the United States for a second round of demonstrations against President Donald Trump and his hardline policies.
New York City Protests
In New York, protesters of all ages congregated in front of the Public Library near Trump Tower, holding signs that criticized Trump for attacking democratic institutions and judicial independence.
“Democracy is in great danger,” declared Kathy Valyi, 73, a daughter of Holocaust survivors, warning that what her parents told her about Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1930s Germany is “happening here now.”
Washington D.C. Protests
In Washington, demonstrators expressed concern over Trump’s threat to constitutional norms, such as the right to due process.
“The government is waging a direct attack on the idea of the rule of law,” said Benjamin Douglas, 41, in front of the White House.
West Coast Protests
On the West Coast, hundreds gathered on a San Francisco beach to spell out “IMPEACH + REMOVE” (impeach and remove), according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Ignoring Science
Daniella Butler, 26, wanted to draw attention specifically to the underfunding of science and health by the Trump administration.
A doctoral student in immunology at Johns Hopkins University, Butler carried a Texas map dotted with marks highlighting the measles outbreak in the state.
“When science is ignored, people die,” said Butler.
In the coastal town of Galveston, Texas, a small group of anti-Trump protesters also took to the streets.
“This is my fourth protest,” said writer Patsy Oliver, 63. “Usually, I’d just wait for the next election. But we can’t do that now. We’ve already lost too much.”
“Stop Trump” Demands
In New York, some protesters called for the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student at Columbia University detained for deportation despite residing legally in the US.
Khalil had participated in campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza the previous year.
They also demanded the release of Kilmer Ábrego García, a Salvadoran deported illegally and sent to his country’s prison.
“We need to put a stop to Trump,” said a 65-year-old man who identified himself only as Thomas, fearing reprisals.
“The only mechanism we have right now to make a difference is to take to the streets and make our voices heard. That’s why I’m here,” he told AFP while holding a sign with the picture of Merwil Gutiérrez, a Venezuelan teenager detained by immigration agents and deported to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, despite not being a target.
Kathy Valyi remains hopeful that “unlike other fascists (…), Trump is too incompetent to be effective, and his own team is divided,” she emphasized.
The main organizer of Saturday’s protests, the group 50501 (meaning 50 protests in 50 states), reported that around 400 demonstrations took place.
Although the group invited millions to participate, attendance seemed lower than during the “Hands Off” protests held nationwide on April 5.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main focus of these protests? The demonstrations are primarily against President Trump’s hardline policies, including his immigration enforcement actions and perceived threats to democratic institutions and constitutional norms.
- Who are some of the individuals protesters are advocating for? Protesters are calling for the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student at Columbia University, and Kilmer Ábrego García, a Salvadoran deported illegally.
- Why are some protesters concerned about science under the Trump administration? Protesters, like Daniella Butler, are worried about the underfunding of science and health by the Trump administration.
- What are protesters’ concerns regarding constitutional norms? Demonstrators, such as Benjamin Douglas in Washington D.C., are worried about Trump’s attacks on the rule of law and constitutional norms, including the right to due process.
- How many protests took place, and how many people participated? The group 50501 reported around 400 protests across the US. However, attendance seemed lower than during the “Hands Off” protests held on April 5.
