A sea of demonstrators took to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday, as a nationwide wave of protests against President Trump‘s policies and actions reached a fever pitch. The largest and most widespread show of opposition yet, with crowds pouring into public spaces, park, plazas, and even outside government buildings.
Protesters held signs that read “Hands Off”, “No to Hate Crimes”, “Protect Our Rights”, and “Not My President”, among others, expressing their deep-seated concerns about Trump’s administration. The atmosphere was tense but peaceful, with many participants wearing masks to protect themselves from tear gas and pepper spray deployed by police.
“We’re here to stand up against what we believe is a toxic, divisive presidency,” said Sarah Johnson, 28, a teacher from New York who marched in Washington D.C. “We won’t let hate speech and intolerance dictate our lives.”
The rallies were organized through social media and local activist groups, with some events starting as early as 5 am to maximize attendance. From coast to coast, cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, Philadelphia, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Baltimore, San Francisco, New York, Oakland, Houston and Nashville saw thousands of people show up.
President Trump himself did not attend any protests, but his opponents took advantage of the lack of leadership from him to rally behind their cause. Many of those who participated claimed that this marked a significant turning point for grassroots activism in America.
