Thousands of Americans took to the streets in Washington, DC, Chicago, New York, and other cities on Saturday to protest against US President Donald Trump’s policies, as per a Reuters report. Policies for which objections have been raised are immigration enforcement, the administration’s stand on the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and government layoffs.
Immigration policies and massive layoffs spark outrage
Demonstrators outside the White House were holding placards displaying slogans. Banners displayed a wide range of grievances like ”Workers should have the power,” ”Stop alarming Israel”, ”Due process” and ”No kingship”. The gathering at Lafayette Square showed appeals for labour protections, immigrant rights, and academic freedom. Many of them expressed dissent over the aggressive deportation initiative, and they termed it an erosion of civil liberties under the Trump administration.
”We will not sit silently as our neighbours are dragged out of their communities,” stated one activist while addressing the crowd. ”We are building systems of resistance to protect them from this administration’s deportation machine,” as quoted by Reuters.
Protestors highlight Russia-Ukraine, Gaza conflicts
The rallies also highlighted growing concerns over Trump’s foreign policy. Protesters were seen waving the Palestinian flag and chanting ”Free Palestine” in memory of those who lost their lives in Gaza. Others were waving Ukrainian flags and urging a strong US response to Russia’s ongoing invasion. They called on Washington to take a firm stand against President Vladimir Putin.
The demonstration has been held, given federal actions that have sparked widespread criticism. The recent move includes the firing of over 200,000 government employees and attempts to dismantle central, environmental, and social policy departments. Similarly, Universities have also been targeted with threats to cut off funding from institutions that are supporting pro-Palestinian activism, climate action, and diversity.
The administration’s crackdown on dissent and free expression has been strongly condemned by the Civil rights groups. Banners near the Washington Monument showcased similar slogans, like ”Equal rights for all does not mean less rights for you,” and ”Hate never made any nation great.” This marked the second wave of nationwide protests since Trump came to power.
(With inputs from Reuters)