Seven million people, according to organizers’ claims, gathered yesterday across the US at more than 2,700 peaceful rallies against the policies of US President Donald Trump.
From New York to San Francisco, across Chicago, New Orleans, and small towns in the central United States, approximately seven million people participated in more than 2,700 rallies, organizers claim.
The mass protests against Trump began last night (October 19).
The coalition united under the slogan “No Kings” had already organized well-attended protests on Donald Trump’s birthday in mid-June, at which, according to organizers, there were approximately five million demonstrators.
These figures are impossible to verify as US authorities do not publish national-level estimates.
Nevertheless, the gatherings on Saturday were the largest protest movement in the country since the Republicans returned to power.
Criticism of the “Authoritarian Takeover”
In large demonstrations or dozens of smaller ones along the roadsides, Americans of all age groups gathered in a festival atmosphere to condemn what they call the “authoritarian takeover of power” by Donald Trump and his associates.
“They are destroying democracy,” said Isaac Harder, a high school student interviewed by AFP in the capital, Washington. “This is not America, this is fascism.”
100,000 people protested in New York, and demonstrations were also held in Texas and Florida, conservative strongholds, especially in Houston and near the Mar-a-Lago residence where Donald Trump was spending the weekend, Index reports.
“How could this happen?” Jennifer Bryant, a Houston lawyer, told AFP. “Things are happening so fast; they are destroying our institutions, firing civil servants, and taking away public funds.”
Humor as a Response to Accusations
Faced with the Republican camp, which accused them of promoting “hatred towards America” and even compared them to terrorists, the demonstrators responded with humor.
Some of them walked dressed in penguin, lobster, or hippo costumes, while others proudly waved the American flag in response to the attacks from the right.
Across the country, various posters were seen at the marches depicting Donald Trump dressed as Stalin, an English king, or even the Sun King Louis XIV, and calls for Republicans to leave power resonated.
Trump did not comment on the protests on Saturday, and earlier this week, he only briefly told Fox television that he “is not a king.”
Several prominent American leftists were also present at the rallies, such as Bernie Sanders and the Democratic leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer.
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Source: N1, Foto: CBS Chicago