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NEW YORK (AP) — Opponents of President Donald Trump’s medication took to the streets of communities ample and tiny crossed the U.S. connected Saturday, decrying what they spot arsenic threats to the nation’s antiauthoritarian ideals.
The disparate events ranged from a march done midtown Manhattan and a rally successful beforehand of the White House to a objection astatine a Massachusetts commemoration marking the commencement of the American Revolutionary War 250 years ago. In San Francisco, protesters formed a quality banner speechmaking “Impeach & Remove” connected the sands of Ocean Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Thomas Bassford was among those who joined demonstrators astatine the reenactment of the Battles of Lexington and Concord extracurricular of Boston. “The changeable heard ’round the world” connected April 19, 1775, heralded the commencement of the nation’s warfare for independency from Britain.
The 80-year-old retired mason from Maine said helium believed Americans contiguous are nether onslaught from their ain authorities and request to basal up against it.
“This is simply a precise perilous clip successful America for liberty," Bassford said, arsenic helium attended the lawsuit with his partner, girl and 2 grandsons. "I wanted the boys to larn astir the origins of this state and that sometimes we person to combat for freedom.”
Elsewhere, protests were planned extracurricular Tesla car dealerships against billionaire Trump advisor Elon Musk and his relation successful downsizing the national government. Others organized much community-service events, specified arsenic nutrient drives, teach-ins and volunteering astatine section shelters.
The protests travel conscionable 2 weeks aft akin nationwide protests against the Trump medication drew thousands to the streets crossed the country.
Organizers accidental they’re protesting what they telephone Trump’s civilian rights violations and law violations, including efforts to deport scores of immigrants and to standard backmost the national authorities by firing thousands of authorities workers and efficaciously shutter full agencies.
Some of the events drew connected the tone of the American Revolutionary War, calling for “no kings” and absorption to tyranny.
Boston nonmigratory George Bryant, who was among those protesting successful Concord, Massachusetts, said helium was acrophobic Trump was creating a “police state” successful America arsenic helium held up a motion saying, “Trump fascist authorities indispensable spell now!”
“He’s defying the courts. He’s kidnapping students. He’s eviscerating the checks and balances,” Bryant said. “This is fascism.”
In Washington, Bob Fasick said helium came retired to the rally by the White House retired of interest astir threats to constitutionally protected owed process rights, arsenic good arsenic Social Security and different national safety-net programs.
The Trump administration, among different things, has moved to shutter Social Security Administration tract offices, chopped backing for authorities wellness programs and standard backmost protections for transgender people.
“I cannot beryllium inactive knowing that if I don’t bash thing and everybody doesn’t bash thing to alteration this, that the satellite that we collectively are leaving for the small children, for our neighbors is simply not 1 that I would privation to live,” said the 76-year-old retired national worker from Springfield, Virginia.
In Columbia, South Carolina, respective 100 radical protested astatine the statehouse. They held signs that said “Fight Fiercely, Harvard, Fight” and “Save SSA,” successful notation to the Social Security Administration.
And successful Manhattan, protesters rallied against continued deportations of immigrants arsenic they marched from the New York Public Library northbound towards Central Park past Trump Tower.
“No fear, nary hate, nary ICE successful our state,” they chanted to the dependable bushed of drums, referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Marshall Green, who was among the protesters, said helium was astir acrophobic that Trump has invoked the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 by claiming the state is astatine warfare with Venezuelan gangs linked to the South American nation’s government.
“Congress should beryllium stepping up and saying no, we are not astatine war. You cannot usage that,” said the 61-year-old from Morristown, New Jersey. “You cannot deport radical without owed process, and everyone successful this state has the close to owed process nary substance what.”
Meanwhile Melinda Charles, of Connecticut, said she disquieted astir Trump’s “executive overreach,” citing clashes with the national courts to Harvard University and different elite colleges.
“We’re expected to person 3 adjacent branches of authorities and to person the enforcement subdivision go truthful strong,” she said. “I mean, it’s conscionable unbelievable.”
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Associated Press reporters Claire Rush successful Oregon, Joseph Frederick successful New York, Rodrique Ngowi successful Massachusetts, Nathan Ellgren successful Washington and Meg Kinnard successful Columbia, South Carolina contributed to this story.
