Resistance to Trump swells in the US
Mass protests against Donald Trump swept through the United States on Saturday. Around 100,000 people took to the streets as part of a day of action organised by 50501—meaning 50 protests, 50 states, one movement.
The mobilisations took place from east coast to west, and in major cities, with over 700 rallies occurring.
It marks the second day of mass action this month, showing signs that resistance to Trump is becoming more sustained. Saturday’s protests happen just two weeks after around one million people took to the streets in early April as part of the “Hands Off” protests.
Tens of thousands marched through Manhattan in New York, where chants of, “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state,” referring to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, rang out.
Meanwhile, others held a rally outside the White House in Washington, where protesters repeatedly shouted “Shame!”
Thousands marched through downtown Portland, Oregon. People gathered at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. Protesters held signs attacking Trump’s deportations in Miami.
A human chain was formed to spell out “Impeach Remove!” in San Francisco, California.
Many expressed solidarity with migrants and slammed Trump as undermining democracy. Some called for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the Trump administration deported to El Salvador.
Elsewhere, protests were held outside of Tesla car dealerships against far right billionaire Elon Musk. Others organised mutual aid campaigns, where collecting and distributing food, baby products and hygiene supplies.
“Our people are under pressure,” read a flier for one mutual aid campaign. “Laid off, left behind, locked out. Federal workers. Neighbors. Collective family. This isn’t new, and we’ve always had each other. Mutual aid is how we resist. Mutual aid is how we win.”
Pop-up food banks, teach-ins and volunteering at local shelters were also organised.
The date of the demonstrations coincided with the 250th anniversary of the start of the US’s revolution against British rule. Many held signs reading “No Kings”.
All the while Trump spent the day playing golf in Potomac Falls, Virginia.
The protests come after a dizzying array of assaults from the Trump administration. It has moved to shut down Social Security field offices, cut funding for government health programmes and scale back protections for trans+ people.
It has carried out deportations of migrants, as well as activists fighting for Palestine.
The 50501 organisation originated on social media but has since spilled out onto the streets.
Heather Dunn, a spokesperson for 50501, said the goal of Saturday’s protests was “to protect our democracy against the rise of authoritarianism under the Trump administration”.
She called the group a “pro-democracy, pro-constitution, anti-executive overreach, nonviolent grassroots movement”.
“We have registered Democrats, registered independents and registered Republicans all marching because they all believe in America, because they all believe in a fair government that puts people before profits,” she said.
The movement against Trump in the US is swelling—but any real resistance must break from the Democrats.
The Democrats paved the way for Trump’s return in their failures to address the US’s social and economic crisis. Too often, the US left has fallen into defending the Democrats, with their racist scapegoating and defence of Israel’s genocide.
Resistance to Trump lies outside the Democrats—building that alternative is the crucial challenge for resistance in the US.
- Words, picture culled from co.uk
