Opponents of President Donald Trump’s administration took to the streets of communities large and small across the U.S. on Saturday, decrying what they see as threats to the nation’s democratic ideals.
The disparate events ranged from a march through midtown Manhattan and a rally in front of the White House to a demonstration at a Massachusetts commemoration marking the start of the American Revolutionary War 250 years ago. In San Francisco, protesters formed a human banner reading “Impeach & Remove” on the sands of Ocean Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Thomas Bassford was among those who joined demonstrators at the reenactment of the Battles of Lexington and Concord outside of Boston. “The shot heard ’round the world” on April 19, 1775, heralded the start of the nation’s war for independence from Britain.
The 80-year-old retired mason from Maine said he believed Americans today are under attack from their own government and need to stand up against it.
“This is a very perilous time in America for liberty," Bassford said, as he attended the event with 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.”
Elsewhere, protests were planned outside Tesla car dealerships against billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk and his role in downsizing the federal government. Others organized more community-service events, such as food drives, teach-ins and volunteering at local shelters.
The protests come just two weeks after similar nationwide protests against the Trump administration drew thousands to the streets across the country.
Organizers say they’re protesting what they call Trump’s civil rights violations and constitutional violations, including efforts to deport scores of immigrants and to scale back the federal government by firing thousands of government workers and effectively shutter entire agencies.
Some of the events drew on the spirit of the American Revolutionary War, calling for “no kings” and resistance to tyranny.
Boston resident George Bryant, who was among those protesting in Concord, Massachusetts, said he was concerned Trump was creating a “police state” in America as he held up a sign saying, “Trump fascist regime must go now!”
“He’s defying the courts. He’s kidnapping students. He’s eviscerating the checks and balances,” Bryant said. “This is fascism.”
In Washington, Bob Fasick said he came out to the rally by the White House out of concern about threats to constitutionally protected due process rights, as well as Social Security and other federal safety-net programs.
The Trump administration, among other things, has moved to shutter Social Security Administration field offices, cut funding for government health programs and scale back protections for transgender people.
“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,” said the 76-year-old retired federal employee from Springfield, Virginia.
In Columbia, South Carolina, several hundred people protested at the statehouse. They held signs that said “Fight Fiercely, Harvard, Fight” and “Save SSA,” in reference to the Social Security Administration.
And in Manhattan, protesters rallied against continued deportations of immigrants as they marched from the New York Public Library north towards Central Park past Trump Tower.
“No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state,” they chanted to the steady beat of drums, referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Marshall Green, who was among the protesters, said he was most concerned that Trump has invoked the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 by claiming the country is at war with Venezuelan gangs linked to the South American nation’s government.
“Congress should be stepping up and saying no, we are not at war. You cannot use that,” said the 61-year-old from Morristown, New Jersey. “You cannot deport people without due process, and everyone in this country has the right to due process no matter what.”
Meanwhile Melinda Charles, of Connecticut, said she worried about Trump’s “executive overreach,” citing clashes with the federal courts to Harvard University and other elite colleges.
“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.”
__
Associated Press reporters Claire Rush in Oregon, Joseph Frederick in New York, Rodrique Ngowi in Massachusetts, Nathan Ellgren in Washington and Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina contributed to this story.
© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
67 Comments
Chyobaka
Awesome!
GuruMick
Wicks pencil...crisis actors ?
US voters should start enrolling all potential voters to ensure Republican defeat in 3 and a bit years.
Trumps here, its like winter, just have to wait for spring.
Whats that Japanese word ?
"Shogunai " ?
itsonlyrocknroll
The one protest that brought about the vital necessary change, the US people screamed out load at the ballot box 5th November 2024.
A silent majority, one after another, filed into the polling booths, across all races, creed, black, white, rich, poor, up and down the country, every US state,
The message clear bold loud, hold Biden Harris accountable.
No more toxic identity politics infesting US schools, communities, crazy ideological extremism that advocated policies of open borders, defund the police, law and order.
Put a stops to "Trans women" in biological women's/young girls changings room, corrupting female sporting achievement.
Nn snivelling sneering anti Trump protests will change that fact outcome.
Underworld
itsonlyrocknroll
Nope. It was about grocery prices. And now they have buyer's remorse.
(Some may have believed the lies about illegals being criminals, but even now, the vast majority don't agree with Trump's immigration policies.)
bass4funk
Relax, it’s the typical blue states overwhelmingly who didn’t vote for Trump, nothing new
Underworld
itsonlyrocknroll
Nobody cares about this. It's not an issue. It's yet another "manufactured other" to get the ignorant masses angry.
itsonlyrocknroll
Underworld
"Buyers remorse", is the go to, political straw-man, illiberalism, democrat euphemism for a refusal to listen learn to the US electorates demands, to face up to even basic obligations for/to the people.
theFu
Defying the courts is bad.
Doing illegal things is bad. Doing major things based on an Executive Order is bad.
Withholding funds from programs that Congress funded is bad. If he wants to look for waste, great. Find the waste and shut those tiny parts down. Gutting the CDC, FDA, and other programs without any PROVEN cause is wrong.
If he is picking up people inside the US illegally, I like that. The fact that they happen to be students shouldn't magically protect them from US laws. But whenever someone is picked up, they need to be detained and have their "due process". Deportation without due process first is illegal, as the courts have rules.
Illegally entering at a non-standard border and being immediately deported SHOULD be legal, if it isn't and there needs to be a significant fine for doing it. Anyone who enters the US illegally as a non-citizen should be banned from entering again for life. Period. That isn't the current law. Trump needs to get Congress passing laws to make illegally people inside the US need to follow the law.
We want a President to actually enforce and follow the laws on the books, not make up new interpretations from some dark place. And whenever a civil servant follows any unlawful order, they need to be personally liable for those actions.
And before someone claims that the election gave him some mandate - the election didn't mandate that he violate US law. The election didn't mandate that due process no happen for people living inside the US. And the election never gave approval for him to be petty towards anyone.
Underworld
itsonlyrocknroll
Nope. It's the truth. Trump's approval rating is in the toilet.
I'veSeenFootage
Yup, that's exactly what it is. And people who support it are, quite simply, fascists. If only they had the courage to admit it...
WoodyLee
"I wanted the boys to learn about the origins of this country and that sometimes we have to fight for freedom.”
America never really stopped it's fight for freedom ! it is an ongoing fight that keeps the Flames of Democracy Alive and Burning.
itsonlyrocknroll
President Trump does not have all the answers.
Trump must politically diplomatically surface to take a breath.
Trump is rushing policy decision making, leading/creating doubt and confusion to command/control the overall process.
Having said that, President Trump is the only realistic hope of positive change within government.
lincolnman
Good for you - wish I could join you...
Show King Donald the Demented Dimwit we'll stand by the Constitution and our democracy - and won't let him ruin over 200 years of American freedom and liberty...
We rejected a King in 1776 and will do so again in 2025...
funkymofo
Trump approval ratings:
Economy-
Approve: 46%
Disapprove: 56%
Inflation-
Approve: 40%
Disapprove: 58%
Underworld
itsonlyrocknroll
This is the definition of cognitive dissonance.
bass4funk
Economy-
Approve: 46%
Disapprove: 56%
Inflation-
Approve: 40%
Disapprove: 58%
For a moment, I thought the guy was in the 20’s range. No worries
funkymofo
Where’s your ‘landslide majority’?
bass4funk
The Presidency, the House, the Senate
funkymofo
Down by 10% on the economy, down by 18% on inflation- it’s going very well. And then there’s the wholesale brainless destruction of government and the refusal to follow the constitution… aren’t you the ones who are supposed to protect the constitution, or just when it suits you?
patkim
Of course this is what happens when Trump and his administration takes away people's jobs, cuts their retirement and health benefits, take away research grants to help fund medical and technical research, tell them what they should and should not learn in school, take away their basic sense of security by not being able to walk around freely without the threat of being picked up suddenly due to some clerical error and be sent off to a prison in another country without the chance to prove their innocence, and basically cripple their ability to afford a decent quality of life.
WoodyLee
Out of 161.42 million registered U.S. voters 77,300,000 voted for Mr. Trump and the rest voted democrats and others or did not participate at all.
That is about 48% of registered voters.
funkymofo
You're underwater and it's getting worse. You're into Fo part of the FAFO paradigm. Over 400 protests across the US this weekend.
Some dude
This is nice to see, in that it seems that at least a part of the US cares about democracy, but from an external perspective it seems like the fact that Trump was elected (fairly or otherwise) was the final, self-inflicted mistake. That gave him, and the machine surrounding him, carte blanche to take over the country and turn it into what they want it to be, and they've been moving at quite a pace.
They clearly don't care about public opinion because their media mouthpieces will simply lie and the braindead people who voted for Trump will lap it up. They back down when challenged by superior minds and superior civilisations (see: Harvard and China, respectively), but they can weather that and focus their energies on crushing any potential opposition or dissent.
Most non-Americans now see America as a semi-democracy at best, and consider that the direction it is moving in to be 180 degrees in the other direction from democracy as most people understand the term.
bass4funk
As he said he would, that’s what we voted for, but you do know polls fluctuate, right?
True, but I really don’t want to hear libs trying to show concern and worry for the constitution. I love laughing but seriously…
Ditto
HopeSpringsEternal
Peaceful protests fine, but most voters will be pleased as DJT delivers secure borders, deports especially illegal alien criminals, inflation trends down, efficiency of Govt. via DOGE advisory occurs, world at war stabilizes etc.
Tax cuts, no tax on tips, O/T, social security benefits and deductible loan interest on cars made in America and DOGE $Refund checks will also act to reduce protests!
itsonlyrocknroll
May I offer up a political comparison of ideological "political" opposite reflection from across the pond UK style.
The contention insistence of political voters "buyer remorse".
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer government is at present seen to be one of the most incompetent feckless hapless hopeless governments in living memory.
Yet I suggest if a general election were called tomorrow, I content Keir Starmer will prevail remain in office.
Opposition parties, Conservative, Reform, Liberal Democrats could spilt voters opinion expectations, that would hang parliament,
Coalitions could form under a "first past the post" electoral system. Keir Starmer could well sail through the political divide.
Now, US voters, however much US media suggests these protests represent.
The fact remains, US voters have decisively rejected Democrat progressive ideology in government.
Will continue to do so.
HopeSpringsEternal
Protests largely happening in blues states, most of which like California and New York, busy depopulating, many moving to places like Texas and Florida for YEARS now.
People should protest their state leadership destroying their economy via over regulation, taxation, permitting sanctuary cities etc. These lousy policies not DJT's fault.
There's a REASON so many Japanese Corp's have moved their US HQ's out of California lately, largely re-locating to less (from Japan) convenient Texas.
HopeSpringsEternal
Enemies Alien Act of 1798 is legal and limited in scope to Non-US Citizens deemed threats to US National Security. We all know terror's asymmetrical warfare, killing far more than 100K Americans annually with drugs = War
Protestors should consider MANY victims of crime, from these illegal alien gang members designated as terrorists
funkymofo
Case closed! lol
Bob Fosse
Tell me. When did any US president have an approval rating in the 20s in your lifetime? I’ll tell you; never.
Biden didn’t. Ever. But you had plenty of worries.
The 2 worst initial approval ratings of a U.S. president in your lifetime are 45 and 47. Your guy.
GuruMick
Trump got 33% of the registered vote.
MAGA...please remain calm when claiming a "landslide win "...it was not
It was a win....maybe if USA had compulsory voting like more enlightened countries...Australia comes to mind....the result may have been different.
Trump and MAGA will enjoy the protests....I wouldn't give them what they enjoy.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
Not according to the polls.
Trump's immigration policies are wildly unpopular.
DOGE is wildly unpopular.
Inflation is rising.
Trump is waging a war against the Houthis. He hasn't stopped any wars.
Why do you think there are widespread protests? Did this happen to Biden? It did not.
OssanAmerica
Supporting fascism is like supporting cannibalism. It's all great until you end up on the menu.
A great many Americans who voted for Trump are now realizing that maybe they should have believed the mainstream media warnings of what we can expect from another Trump presidency. As they face higher prices for groceries, and everything else when the tariffs kick in.
DaDude
Perhaps Libs should look at themselves in the mirror and realize they not only let their Party choose a terrible candidate but they did it undemocratically. Where are all the "stars" of the Democrat party and why didn't they run to be POTUS?
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
It's not legal. The US isn't at war.
Anyway, Trump suffered a massive loss when the Supreme Court ordered it to stop deporting people without due process.
This is manufactured. Illegals commit less crime than American citizens. Deporting illegals will not reduce crime.
HopeSpringsEternal
Ultimately, all Presidents and leaders in general judged on their long-term results. Too early regarding DJT or Biden but noteworthy how Democratic Party has moved on from Biden so rapidly, who also has lousy polling now
Most consider Ronald Reagan based on polling the most successful post WWII President and Jimmy Carter the least. Many Presidents were popular upon leaving office but less over time and vice-versa.
Protestors should keep above in mind, history will sort out whether DJT policies and decisions were worthy or not, but no question DJT's re-structured Republican Party much like FDR did with Democrats nearly 100 years ago.
Interestingly both DJT and FDR went after the working, union and middle class, pivoting away from the wealthy
Yrral
What don't kill you will.make stronger,it time to get the ACLU to put the DOJ under court supervision,their is a statue in law ,called Vindictive Prosecution , prohibited the government from prosecution citizens from exercising their right under law
Underworld
itsonlyrocknroll
Nope. They wanted cheaper groceries.
Didn't happen.
Buyer's remorse.
GuruMick
Remember when "terrorists " had to have "political objectives " to be designated "terrorists "
Now its any Latino with a tattoo or conviction for bicycle theft.
DaDude
Answer my question Underworld instead of downvoting. Where are YOUR candidates?
Blacklabel
How are those egg prices though?
Peter Neil
Republican members of Congress not hold town meeting anymore because of Republicans who voted for Trump outraged about the path the country is on.
I think most people agree about violent gang members being jailed.
Can we look forward to the Proud Boys and violent mob who attacked and ransacked the US. Capitol, beating police officers unconscious, being jailed again?
You can’t tell the difference anymore between a two-bit authoritative regime and the US.
Slayer
These people are clueless. They are protesting with no solutions or goals. I don't like Trump?
That won't cut it anymore.
otherworldly
Yep, that's why they lost in the first place. They are still lost, bumping into each other.
BB
US consumers paid a record $6.227 per dozen on average in March, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics said last week.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
The fact of the matter is that the undocumented commit less crimes than US citizens.
So what DJT is doing is a waste of time.
Did the people he deported commit crimes?
We will never know, because they had no due process.
Luckily SCOTUS have stopped him from deporting more people without due process.
Peter Neil
Trump displayed a doctored photo of Garcia’s hand showing MS-13 on his knuckles, but no other photos of him have it.
It’s so amateurish that even the KGB wouldn’t do it.
Blacklabel
And today wa?
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
You miss the point. They are protesting the removal of due process, the bedrock founding principal of this country.
It's not lawful vetted immigration according to SCOTUS.
bass4funk
Uhh, what in the world are you talking about??
Peter Neil
People are protesting because there was no reason to flush the entire economy down the toilet and the world with it. Soybean farmers say they’ll be bankrupt next year. Trump reneging on appropriated funds to farmers, leaving them in debt. Leader of the manufacturers association says the tariff circus has already hurt America companies. Imports to the US are down 64%. Exports are down over 30% already.
There are plenty of things to be mad about.
HopeSpringsEternal
Americans understand crime spiked substantially during the Biden Admin Open Borders era, not to mention prices, especially car insurance, groceries and rent.
DJT now trying to address above problems, especially crime and national security threats due to open borders, naturally some will not approve, especially since its DJT.
But make no mistake, these protestors also want less crime and lower prices in their communities too!
u_s__reamer
Some Americans just can't get used to the idea of a corrupt ignoramus with a criminal record running the DOJ as his own fiefdom and meting out punishments to groups of people he doesn't like. Hence these significant demonstrations that are bound to continue until he is unseated from his fantasy throne.
Blacklabel
unseated? By who?
What about muh democracy where he was “seated” by the American people while winning every swing state and the popular vote?
wallace
The recent homicide murder rate was the highest in 2021 when Trump was in office. 7.75.
wallace
How long before Trump tries to ban these protests?
chatanista
How big are the protests? What are the participant numbers?
chatanista
If there are hundreds of thousands at a rally that could be a problem for Trump administration.
wallace
HopeSpringsEternal
From 2018 to 2019 the average homicide rate increased by 10%, then increased another 26% from 2019 to 2020. The rate continued to increase into 2021 (+7%), dropped in 2022 (-7%), and continued to drop in 2023 (-11%). That downward trend continued in 2024.
https://counciloncj.org/crime-trends-in-u-s-cities-year-end-2024-update/#:~:text=From%202018%20to%202019%20the,downward%20trend%20continued%20in%202024.
Peter Neil
If red states are so great and Republican policies so wonderful, why are they the poorest, least educated, have the least well-paying jobs, most health problems and highest dependence on welfare programs?
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
Crime didn't spike. And crime rates have no relation to the border.
DJT isn't addressing any problems. He isn't addressing inflation. And he certainly isn't addressing the border. The deportations are mere political theatre.
And Trump is not delivering.
Fountain
Without any evidence, I’m sorry I don’t believe you, based on just about everything else you say being completely unfounded nonsense.
I guess you’re just a widely detested fantasist who spends all of his time commenting on this website.
Blacklabel
oh? What’s the inflation rate right now?
Aren’t border crossings down 95%?
aren’t consumer prices down, including eggs?
gas? Down?
Underworld
Blacklabel
He isn't addressing inflation. And he certainly isn't addressing the border.
High and getting higher. The bigger risk is stagflation:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/04/17/what-is-stagflation/83140535007/
Blacklabel
odd that I didn’t hear a word from you when it was nearly double what is in now when the Dems were in charge.
define “high”?
Would 3% satisfy you considering you were fine with 8.1%?
gas? Eggs? Border?
Blacklabel
“Inflation rate eases to 2.4% in March, lower than expected; core at 4-year low”
oh, I see.
Underworld
Blacklabel
As I said, Trump is doing nothing to address inflation.
Expect it to increase in the coming months, due to his tariff folly.