A mass of protesters packed into streets, parks and squares across the United States on Saturday protesting President Donald Trump, marching downtown and small towns, flaunting anti-copyright chants mixed with support to protect democracy and immigrant rights.
Organizers for the “No Kings” demonstration said millions of people marched at the event. Governors across the United States gently urged and did not pledge tolerance for violence, but some mobilized the National Guard ahead of the Marches gathering.
The conflict was separated. However, police in Los Angeles used tear gas and crowd-controlled ammunition to clean up protesters a week ago, sparking demonstrations across the country and clearing protesters after the official event ended. Portland officials also fired tear gas and projectiles to disperse the crowds who protested in front of US immigration and customs enforcement buildings until the evening.
And in Salt Lake City, Utah, police were investigating a downtown shooting in March, when one person was seriously injured. Police Chief Brian Red said three people were taken into custody, including a man believed to be the shooter who was injured in a bullet.
Redd said it’s too early to determine whether the shooting is politically motivated and whether people involved know each other. The shooter appeared to be walking with a group of thousands of people marching, he added. The video feed showed demonstrators running for safety when gunshots rang.
Huge and loud crowds marched, dancing, dancing, chanting shoulders, and behind the “No Kings” banner in New York, Denver, Chicago, Austin and Los Angeles. Atlanta’s 5,000-person capacity event quickly reached its limit, with thousands more gathering outside the barrier to hear speakers in front of the state capitol. Seattle officials estimated that more than 70,000 people participated in the city’s largest Rally Downtown, the Seattle Times reported.
Trump was in Washington for a military parade to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Army, coinciding with the president’s birthday. About 200 protesters gathered in Logan Circle in northwestern Washington, chanting “Trump has to go now” before cheering. A puppet bigger than Trump’s creatures – a caricature of a president sitting in a golden toilet, wearing a crown, moved into the crowd.
In some places, organizers handed out small American flags, while others flew the flag upside down, a sign of pain. The Mexican flag, which became a fixture in protest against the Los Angeles immigration attack, also appeared at several demonstrations on Saturday.
In Culpepper, Virginia, police said one person was hit by an SUV when the 21-year-old driver intentionally accelerated the SUV into the crowd as protesters had left the rally. The driver was charged with reckless driving.
The demonstrations soon after the protests against the federal immigration raid that began last week, Trump ordered the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, where protesters blocked the highway and burned cars.
“Today, across red states and blue, rural towns and major cities, Americans have emerged in peaceful unity and revealed it.
Thousands gathered downtown, organizers handed out small American flags, carrying signs of protests that people would “fight against the Oligarchy” and “deport Mini Mislini.”
Karen Van Trieste, a 61-year-old nurse who drove from Maryland, said she grew up in Philadelphia and wanted to show her support along with a large group of people.
“We feel we need to protect democracy,” she said. She said she is worried about layoffs of Trump administration staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fate of the immigrant community, and that Trump will try to control through executive orders.
A woman wearing a statue of Liberty Crown bubbles brought the speaker system, singing anti-trump, and transforming the word “young man” from “YMCA” into “Con Man.”
“I’m what a successful American dream is,” said CC Terres, an immigrant from Bolivia who attended the protest. “I’ve been a huge success here in the US, and I’ve also made a huge contribution to my community, and I think there’s a way for everyone else to belong here if I have the space for me.”
Los Angeles
Thousands gathered in front of city hall, waving signs to listen to Native American drum circles before marching down the street.
When protesters passed the National Guard or the US Marines stationed in various buildings, most of the interaction was friendly, with demonstrators giving fist bumps and posing for selfies. However, others chanted “shame” or “go home” in the army.
Among the signs that read, “They are afraid we won’t let California go,” and “We’re not putting our dreams in danger,” one demonstrator carried a two-foot-high (60 centimeters) Trump Pinata on a stick, placed a crown on his head, and the sombrero was hanging from his back. Another person rolled up an orange baby balloon filled with giant helium with blonde hair in the style of a Trump-like style.
A few blocks from City Hall, protesters gathered in front of the Downtown Federal Detention Center, protected by Marines and other law enforcement agencies. It was the first time the Marines have held combat equipment and rifles since they were deployed to the city on a stated mission to protect federal property on Friday.
Peter Ballady, 54, said he voted for Trump last November for “economic reasons.” Now, for the first time in his life, he is protesting and waving a flag that combines Mexicans with us.
“I voted for Donald Trump, and now he’s taken this fascism to a new level and I regret it,” Baladi said. “I’m Latino now. Who’s next? It’s gay. Black people after that. They’re coming for everyone.”
Even after the official event ended, downtown streets were packed with crowds of joy, dancing with people dancing to salsa music, hot dogs and ice cream purchased from vendors, many of whom are Latinos immigrants. However, the previously calm demonstration became confrontational as horse-riding police moved into the crowd and attacked some people with wooden sticks and batons as they cleared the streets in front of a federal building.
New York City
The marching in the crowd that stretched along Fifth Avenue to the block had a variety of reasons, including anger over Trump’s immigration policies, support for the Palestinians, and anger over what they said was an erosion of freedom of speech.
But there was also a patriotic symbol. Leah Griswold, 32, and Amber Larry, 59, marched in white voting dresses and brought 250 American flags to hand over to those in the crowd.
“Our mothers who came out fought for our rights. Now we’re fighting for future generations,” Griswold said.
Some protesters have held signs of criticizing Trump, while others have pounded the drums.
“We are here because we are worried about the existential crisis of this country and the planet and our species,” said Sean Christon, 28.
Minnesota
Gov. Tim Waltz and law enforcement encouraged people not to attend the rally “from a wealth of caution” after the shootings of Democrats.
Dozens of events have been cancelled, but tens of thousands still took part in demonstrations in Duluth, Rochester and St. Paul, including a march to the Capitol. Waltz has cancelled his scheduled appearance at the St. Paul event.
Authorities said the suspect had a “king” flyer in his car and had a work that referenced the names of the victims and other lawmakers and officials.
Seda Hen, 29, of Rochester, said he was heartbroken by the shooting but still wanted to attend the rally there. “These people are trying to do what they can for their community, their nation, their nation,” Hen told the Minnesota Star Tribune.
North Carolina
The crowd cheered anti-Trump speakers at Charlotte’s First District Park before marching, saying, “There is no king. There is no crown. We do not bow.”
The Marcher stretched out for the block and was led by a group of people holding a huge Mexican flag, cheering and applauding along the way.
Jocelyn Abarca, a 21-year-old university student, said the protest was an opportunity to “speak the right thing” after a massive deportation and the deployment of the Los Angeles National Guard.
“If we don’t stop it now, it’s just going to keep getting worse,” she said.
Naomi Mena said she held a demonstration in Charlotte and traveled an hour to stay safe to represent “friends and family, sadly not being able to speak up in public.”
Texas
Despite the temporary closure of the building and surrounding grounds, the rally at Austin’s Texas Capitol departed as planned after the officials said they received a “reliable threat” to Democratic state legislators in attendance.
Dozens of state troopers flocked to the property about four hours before the event, but the area was later opened and the rally began on time. The building remained closed.
The Department of Public Safety later said one person was taken into custody “in connection with a threat to state legislators” after a traffic stop in Lagrange, Texas, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) east of Austin. State police did not elaborate on the threat or identify the person immediately, but said there were no additional, aggressive threats.
Mississippi
A demonstration of hundreds of people playing Black Sabbath, playing on the sound system at Jackson’s State Capitol, has opened in “Woebuta.”
“A lot of the things happening right now are targeting people of color and it makes me very emotional to see people here fighting for me to be here.”
Some people wore tinfoil crowns over their heads. Others said, “We held signs that if we never text a war plan, we would invite honk to the driver.
Melissa Johnson said she drove to Jackson for an hour and a half to protest, as “we’re losing the thread of democracy in our country.”
Portland
Earlier that day, thousands of protesters lined up on downtown Portland’s streets for several blocks, with cars passing by waving signs of support. They marched around the city covered in American flags towards drums and music beats.
Until late afternoon, a small group of demonstrators gathered across the river and launched a small fire on the building before protesting in front of the ice office where three people were arrested Wednesday night, police said.
Federal immigration officials fired tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets in the evening to wipe out the remaining protesters. Some protesters returned water bottles and injured each other. The police station wrote to X that the event was declared a riot.
At least two people were taken into custody and taken inside a federal immigrants building.
(AP)