Opponents of President Donald Trump’s administration gathered in cities and towns across the United States on Saturday, voicing concerns about what they view as threats to the country’s democratic principles. The protests took many forms—from a march through midtown Manhattan to a rally outside the White House, and even a demonstration held during a historic event in Massachusetts marking the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War’s start on April 19, 1775.
One of the demonstrators, 80-year-old retired mason Thomas Bassford from Maine, joined the crowd at the reenactment of the Battles of Lexington and Concord near Boston. Accompanied by his partner, daughter, and two grandsons, Bassford said he believes the government is endangering American freedoms. “This is a very perilous time in America for liberty,” he said. “I wanted the boys to understand where this country came from—and that sometimes, we have to fight to protect our freedoms.”
Anti Trump protests in US
In Denver, hundreds of protesters gathered at the Colorado State Capitol with banners expressing solidarity with immigrants and telling the Trump administration: “Hands Off!” People waved US flags, some of them held upside down to signal distress.
Thousands of people also marched through downtown Portland, Oregon, while in San Francisco, hundreds spelled out the words “Impeach & Remove” on a sandy beach along the Pacific Ocean, also with an inverted US flag. People walked through downtown Anchorage, Alaska, with handmade signs listing reasons why they were demonstrating, including one that one that read: “No sign is BIG enough to list ALL of the reasons I'm here!”
Calls for 'no kings'
In Anchorage, a colonial reenactor in colonial garb held up a "No Kings" sign while the person next to him hoisted cardboard that read in part: "The Feudal Age is OVER." Boston resident George Bryant, who was among those at the Concord protest, said he is concerned that the president is creating a "police state." He held a sign saying, "Trump fascist regime must go now!" "He's defying the courts. He's kidnapping students. He's eviscerating the checks and balances," Bryant said. "This is fascism."
"I cannot sit still knowing that if I don't do anything and everybody doesn't do something to change this, that the world that we collectively are leaving for the little children, for our neighbours is simply not one that I would want to live," Fasick said.
(AP inputs)