Opponents of President Donald Trump’s administration convened across the United States on Saturday, rallying to express their discontent with what they perceive as threats to democratic ideals.
From urban centers like Manhattan and Washington D.C. to smaller communities, the protests featured a diverse array of events, including a significant rally in Massachusetts that commemorated the 250th anniversary of ‘the shot heard ’round the world,’ the initial clash of the Revolutionary War.
Thomas Bassford, an 80-year-old retired mason from Maine, participated in the Massachusetts reenactment, proclaiming that Americans are under siege by their own government. He emphasized the importance of teaching his grandsons about the country’s revolutionary origins and the need for vigilance in the fight for freedom.
Hundreds gathered at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, brandishing banners that communicated solidarity with immigrants and called out to the Trump administration to “Hands Off!” Many of the demonstrators waved American flags, with some turned upside down to signal distress.
In Portland, Oregon, thousands marched through the downtown, while in San Francisco, protesters ingeniously spelled out “Impeach & Remove” on a sandy beach, accompanied by inverted flags. Meanwhile, participants in Anchorage, Alaska, carried handmade signs with various reasons for their dissent, with one proclaiming, “No sign is BIG enough to list ALL of the reasons I’m here!”
Other protests were organized outside Tesla dealerships to criticize Elon Musk for his advisory role in the administration, while some groups focused on community service, sponsoring food drives, teach-ins, and volunteering efforts in local shelters.
These protests followed closely on the heels of similar nationwide demonstrations held merely two weeks prior. Organizers united in opposition to what they label as civil rights infringements and constitutional violations attributed to Trump. They voiced concerns over mass deportations and significant reductions in federal employment.
The spirit of the Revolutionary War inspired many events, invoking rallying cries against tyranny and advocating for the principle of “no kings.” In Anchorage, a reenactor dressed in colonial attire carried a sign reading “No Kings,” while another participant held a cardboard placard reading, “The Feudal Age is OVER.”
At the Concord protest, Boston resident George Bryant articulated his fears about a perceived shift towards a “police state” under Trump’s leadership. He held a sign that boldly declared, “Trump fascist regime must go now!”
Bryant expressed alarm over the president’s actions, stating, “He’s defying the courts. He’s kidnapping students. He’s eviscerating the checks and balances.” In his view, such actions epitomize fascism.
Bob Fasick, a 76-year-old retired federal employee from Springfield, Virginia, echoed these sentiments at a rally near the White House. He raised concerns specifically over threats to constitutionally protected due process rights as well as programs like Social Security. The administration has recently attempted to close Social Security Administration field offices, cut funding for health programs, and reduce protections for transgender individuals.
Fasick passionately declared that he felt an obligation to take action, stating, “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 neighbors is simply not one that I would want to live.”
In Columbia, South Carolina, several hundred demonstrators congregated at the statehouse, brandishing signs with messages such as “Fight Fiercely, Harvard, Fight.”
The protest in Manhattan focused on the ongoing deportations of immigrants, with demonstrators marching from the New York Public Library toward Central Park and passing Trump Tower. Their chants, “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state,” echoed against the backdrop of their solidarity.
Marshall Green, a protester from Morristown, New Jersey, expressed his concern regarding Trump’s invocation of the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which he claimed was inappropriate given that a recent U.S. intelligence report found no coordination between Venezuelan gangs and the Venezuelan government.
He argued, “Congress should be stepping up and saying no, we are not at war. You cannot use that. You cannot deport people without due process, and everyone in this country has the right to due process no matter what.”
Meanwhile, Melinda Charles from Connecticut lamented about executive overreach, citing conflicts involving the federal courts and major universities. She remarked, “We’re supposed to have three equal branches of government,” adding that it is “unbelievable” how powerful the executive branch has become.
As various forms of protest unfolded simultaneously across the nation, the undercurrent of concern about liberty, civil rights, and democracy remained palpable, signaling a pivotal moment in the ongoing discourse about the state of the nation.
image source from：https://apnews.com/article/trump-protests-hands-off-revolutionary-war-anniversary-34218e384bef12bdf3a75a40959f4ede
