From bustling metropolises to quiet corners of the American landscape, opponents of President Donald Trump’s administration gathered in force on Saturday, declaring their resistance to what they view as a growing threat to the country’s democratic foundations.
The nationwide chorus of dissent took many forms, a march through midtown Manhattan, a fervent rally outside the White House, and even a demonstration woven into a Massachusetts commemoration marking the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War, AP reported. In San Francisco, protestors etched their sentiment into the sand with a sweeping human banner on Ocean Beach, spelling out “Impeach & Remove” against the vast Pacific horizon.
Outside Boston, amid the reenactment of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, 80-year-old Thomas Bassford stood firm in silent reflection before adding his voice to the present-day cause. Known as the spark that ignited the War for Independence, the original “shot heard ’round the world” still echoed for Bassford as a warning.
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“This is a very perilous time in America for liberty,” said the retired mason from Maine, flanked by his partner, daughter, and two grandsons. “I wanted the boys to learn about the origins of this country and that sometimes we have to fight for freedom.”
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From coast to coast, demonstrations took root in unexpected places. In addition to major urban rallies, protesters gathered outside Tesla dealerships, taking aim at billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk over his involvement in the administration’s push to shrink the federal government. Meanwhile, others chose quiet resistance, organizing food drives, hosting teach-ins, and lending hands at local shelters.
These protests come on the heels of similar mass mobilizations just two weeks prior, signaling an enduring wave of opposition. Organizers framed Saturday’s actions as a unified stand against what they described as constitutional violations and civil rights infringements, citing mass deportation efforts and sweeping reductions in federal agencies and personnel.
In keeping with the day’s Revolutionary War themes, some rallies invoked early American slogans—calls of “No Kings!” and warnings against tyranny rang out among handmade signs and 18th-century reenactors.
In Concord, Massachusetts, Boston resident George Bryant gripped a sign that read, “Trump fascist regime must go now!” as he sounded the alarm on what he saw as creeping authoritarianism.
“He’s defying the courts. He’s kidnapping students. He’s eviscerating the checks and balances,” Bryant said. “This is fascism.”
The sentiment echoed in Washington, D.C., where demonstrators convened near the White House. Bob Fasick, a 76-year-old retired federal employee from Springfield, Virginia, stood among the crowd, his concern rooted in the preservation of basic rights and federal safety nets.
“I cannot sit still knowing that if I don’t do anything and everybody doesn’t do something to change this, that the world that we collectively are leaving for the little children, for our neighbors is simply not one that I would want to live,” he said.
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Much of the anxiety centered around cuts to Social Security, healthcare programs, and protections for transgender individuals. The administration has also closed Social Security Administration field offices, prompting sharp backlash from retirees and low-income Americans alike.
In Columbia, South Carolina, hundreds gathered at the statehouse, brandishing placards that read “Fight Fiercely, Harvard, Fight” and “Save SSA,” reflecting concerns over both education and entitlements.
Back in Manhattan, a thrumming protest line marched from the New York Public Library toward Central Park, their chants aimed at immigration enforcement policies. Drums echoed off skyscrapers as they cried out: “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state!”
Among the marchers was Marshall Green, a 61-year-old from Morristown, New Jersey. His outrage focused on Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a rarely used wartime measure to justify detaining immigrants allegedly tied to Venezuelan gangs.
“Congress should be stepping up and saying no, we are not at war. You cannot use that,” Green said. “You cannot deport people without due process, and everyone in this country has the right to due process no matter what.”
Further north, in Connecticut, Melinda Charles raised her own alarm about what she viewed as unchecked presidential authority. Referencing Trump’s clashes with federal courts and elite universities such as Harvard, she expressed disbelief at the erosion of institutional balance.
“We’re supposed to have three equal branches of government and to have the executive branch become so strong,” she said. “I mean, it’s just unbelievable.”
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