“No-Kings”: Nationwide protests against Trump in the USA

In the US capital Washington in the morning (local time) after observing one dpa-Reporter appreciated Tens of thousands of demonstrators, including numerous older people, over the Memorial Bridge towards the city center. According to media reports, the organizers, an alliance of various civil society groups, expected around nine million participants nationwide and spoke of one of the largest protest mobilizations in the country’s history. Last year, similar actions brought millions of people onto the streets.

Broad criticism of government policy

The central event of the nationwide protests is a rally in St. Paul in the US state of Minnesota, where up to 100,000 participants are expected in the afternoon (local time). The background to this is, among other things, controversial operations by federal authorities in the wake of stricter measures against migration, which had previously led to weeks of protests in the region. Two US citizens were also killed by shots fired by federal officers.

Demonstrations were also planned or already underway in numerous other cities. According to the organizers in US media reports, a large proportion of the registrations come from conservative rural regions and suburbs, not just from classic Democratic strongholds.

In addition to the US government’s migration policy, the protests are also directed against foreign policy decisions and rising costs of living. Critics accuse Trump of undermining democratic principles such as freedom of expression, civil rights and the right to vote. “Trump wants to rule over us like a tyrant. But this is America, and power lies with the people – not with would-be kings or their billionaire cronies,” the organizations said in advance.

Central rallies in New York, Los Angeles, Washington and Minneapolis

Central rallies were planned in metropolises such as New York, Los Angeles, the capital Washington and Minneapolis. However, two thirds of the participants are expected in smaller cities and towns. “The defining story of this Saturday’s mobilization is not just how many people are protesting, but where they are protesting,” said Leah Greenberg, co-founder of the group Indivisible, which is co-organizing the “No Kings” protests against Republican Trump. According to their own information, the organizers are also seeing large numbers in heavily Republican states such as Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Utah.

It is the third nationwide “No Kings” day of action. The movement was launched last year on Trump’s birthday on June 14th and attracted an estimated four to six million people at around 2,100 venues. The second day of action took place in October and, according to data analysts, even more people took part.

Trump in low polls

The White House downplayed the significance of the protests. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said only journalists were interested. These are therapy sessions for people who suffered from the so-called Trump Derangement Syndrome. Trump supporters use the term to insinuate that critics of the president have lost all judgment and are therefore irrationally and almost hysterically rejecting Trump. The president is facing low poll numbers. Midterm elections are coming up in November. Trump himself is not up for election. But Republicans must defend their majorities in the House and Senate so that Trump doesn’t have to rule against Congress.