On Saturday, thousands of protesters gathered in Washington and across the country, with 1,200 events marking the largest protest day against President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk since they began a swift attempt to restructure the government and expand presidential powers, writes The New York Times.
Protesters took to the streets of cities to oppose government cuts, financial troubles, and what they see as attacks on democracy. They stood up for national parks and small businesses, public education and healthcare for veterans, abortion rights, and fair elections. People protested against tariffs and fascism, the deportation of legal immigrants, and the Department of Government Efficiency.
According to the event's website, about 150 activist groups from all fifty states registered to participate in the protest day.
Organizers told Reuters that over 20,000 people gathered at the rally in Washington.
Trump, who this week shook financial markets and threw the global economy into turbulence by adopting a series of trade tariffs, spent the day in Florida playing a round of golf at his club, and after lunch returned to his Mar-a-Lago estate. In West Palm Beach, more than 400 protesters gathered in protest, and drivers honked in support of the demonstrators.
On Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, the protest stretched for nearly 20 blocks. In Chicago, thousands of people filled Daley Plaza and surrounding streets, and in the nation's capital, tens of thousands surrounded the Washington Monument. In Atlanta, police estimated the crowd at over 20,000 people.
The mass event titled "Hands Off!" took place at a time when more people started talking about the lack of strong resistance to Trump.
"We are facing a national crisis. Our democracy, our livelihoods, and our rights are under threat as Trump and Musk carry out their unlawful power grab (...) This is not just corruption. This is not just mismanagement. This is a hostile takeover," stated the organizers. As NYT writes, they also highlight the consequences for the financial situation of the average American, whose life Trump has significantly complicated, while his wealthiest allies benefit.
Some protesters had specific issues, while others opposed the Trump administration and the MAGA movement as a whole. "Hands off my money, rights, democracy," read one sign. "Make lying wrong again," read another.
Photo: The New York Times, Reuters