"The president is a disgrace, and I hope millions take to the streets today," said Stephanie, a hospital worker in New York who declined to give her last name. The 36-year-old was among several hundred demonstrators who gathered in the morning (local time) to protest against Trump.
"The president believes his rule is absolute. But in America, we have no kings," said the website of the "No Kings" movement, which unites around 300 organizations."We will not retreat from chaos, corruption, and cruelty."
Millions of people expected to protest
The coalition expected millions of people to protest against the Trump administration in the US on Saturday. More than 2,600 demonstrations were planned across the country. In addition to New York, protests were planned in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, and many smaller cities.
Among other things, Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to several cities governed by the opposition Democrats recently caused outrage in the US. The Trump administration's violent crackdown on migrants and increasingly strict restrictions on media reporting have also drawn sharp criticism.
Already on June 14, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated against Trump in several US cities under the slogan"No Kings." The occasion was a military parade in Washington celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Army, which Trump had requested and which coincided with his 79th birthday.
"We have no kings"
"There's nothing more American than saying 'we have no kings' and exercising our right to peaceful protest," said Leah Greenberg, co-founder of the progressive organization Indivisible, which is the main organizer of the marches. Political scientist Dana Fisher of American University in Washington anticipates the largest protest turnout in recent US history, expecting more than three million participants.
According to Fisher, the day of action is about creating"a sense of collective identity" among those unsettled by the Trump administration and its policies. The marches are supported by left-leaning Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocásio-Cortez, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, among others.
Republicans were met with criticism. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the demonstrations a"hate America rally." Other Republicans accused Democrats and the organizers of inciting political violence, citing in particular the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk last month.
