Tens of thousands gathered across the United States on Saturday at the start of nationwide mass protests against what organizers view as rising authoritarianism under President Donald Trump.
More than 2,600 “No Kings” rallies were due to be held in cities and towns in all 50 states in what is thought to be the largest mobilization against the Trump Administration yet.
Large crowds took to the streets in East Coast cities by midday on Saturday, including in New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Boston and Miami. Some experts have speculated that the demonstrations could be the largest in recent U.S. history.
The protests come in response to an unprecedented use of presidential power by Trump in his second term. Since January, Trump has ordered the National Guard into Democratic-run cities to quell protests and aid in immigration enforcement, launched a crackdown on left-wing and liberal groups, and implemented a sweeping mass deportation program that has seen masked federal agents engaged in military-style raids and detaining people without due process.
The ‘No Kings’ rallies have earned the backing of Democrats from across the ideological spectrum. Former presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton have both given their support, along with progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and independent Senator Bernie Sanders.
Taking to the stage at the rally in Washington, D.C., Sanders told the crowd: “We’re here because we love America.”
“This moment is not just about one man’s greed, one man’s corruption, or one man’s contempt for the constitution,” Sanders continued, calling out the billionaires who attended Trump’s inauguration, specifically calling out Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg. “This is about a handful of the wealthiest people on earth, who in their insatiable greed, have hijacked our economy and our political system in order to enrich themselves at the expense of working families throughout this…
