(Washington) Americans took to the streets in large numbers on Saturday to voice their opposition to Donald Trump during a day of national mobilization that the right depicts as a “hate America” movement.
From New York to San Francisco via Chicago, New Orleans and even small towns in the center of the United States, around 7 million people took part in more than 2,700 rallies, according to organizers.
This coalition of associations united under the slogan “No Kings” had already held a very successful mobilization in mid-June on the day of Donald Trump’s birthday, with according to them around 5 million demonstrators, a figure impossible to verify, the American authorities not providing a national estimate.
It was nevertheless the largest protest movement observed in the country since the Republican’s return to power.
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PHOTO SHANNON STAPLETON, REUTERS
A protester dressed in a prison jumpsuit wears a mask depicting President Donald Trump during a demonstration in New York.
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PHOTO CHANDAN KHANNA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
A woman holds a poster saying “Trump hates America” during a protest in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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PHOTO LEAH MILLIS, REUTERS
Protesters wear costumes depicting US Vice President JD Vance, President Donald Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller during a demonstration in Washington.
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PHOTO BRIAN SNYDER, REUTERS
A man dressed as President George Washington attends a rally in Boston, Massachusetts.
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PHOTO KYLIE COOPER, REUTERS
A flag proclaiming “No king in the United States since 1776” flies at a rally in Washington.
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In large processions or by the dozens on the side of the roads, Americans of all ages mobilized this weekend in a jovial atmosphere to denounce what they describe as the “authoritarian seizure of power” by Donald Trump and those close to him.
“They are destroying democracy,” denounces Isaac Harder, a high school student met by AFP in the capital Washington. “This is not America, this is fascism.”
“We are in the middle of a crisis facing the cruelty of this regime, its authoritarianism,” says Collen Hoffman, a retiree who came to demonstrate in New York, where more than 100,000 people marched “peacefully”, according to the local police.
Hippopotamus
In Texas and Florida, conservative strongholds, demonstrations were also held, notably in Houston and near the Mar-a-Lago residence where Donald Trump is spending the weekend.
Faced with the Republican camp which accuses them of promoting “hatred of America” and has gone so far as to equate them with terrorists, the demonstrators responded in a tone of humor.
PHOTO SHANNON STAPLETON, REUTERS
A young girl holds a poster reading “No king since 1776” during a protest in Times Square, New York.
Some of them paraded dressed in incongruous penguin, lobster or even hippopotamus costumes, others proudly brandishing the American flag in response to attacks from the right.
Across the country, various placards showing Donald Trump dressed as Stalin, as the Queen of England or even as the Sun King were observed in the processions, where chants rang out calling on the Republican to leave power.
The president, who had threatened in June to respond to protesters with “very great force,” only commented this week on Fox News: “I am not a king,” and remained silent on Saturday.
On social networks, an account affiliated with his communications team published several photos generated by AI presenting him as a monarch.
“Silence”
Since his return to power in January, Donald Trump has upset the American democratic balance by encroaching on the powers of Congress and the states and threatening his opponents with legal reprisals, all actions forcefully denounced on Saturday.
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PHOTO MARKUS SCHREIBER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Protest in Berlin, Germany
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PHOTO JAIMI JOY, REUTERS
Protest in London, England
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PHOTO BERNAT ARMANGUE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Protest in Madrid, Spain
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PHOTO JOHAN NILSSON, TT NEWS AGENCY PROVIDED BY AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Protest in Malmö, Sweden
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“How could this happen? “, Jennifer Bryant, a lawyer we met in Houston, Texas, spoke to AFP. “Things are changing so quickly, they are destroying our institutions, firing civil servants and taking public funds.”
This new day of mobilization also comes in the midst of a budgetary paralysis of the federal state and while Donald Trump has deployed soldiers in several Democratic strongholds to, according to him, fight against illegal immigration and crime.
As a sign of protest, several rallies were held in cities where he sent the National Guard, such as Chicago and Los Angeles.
Several left-wing figures, such as Bernie Sanders and the leader of the Democratic senators Chuck Schumer, were present in the processions.
