Thousands of people took to the streets across the U.S. on Saturday, holding a second major wave of protests against President Donald Trump and his increasingly controversial policies.
In New York City, crowds gathered outside the main public library, carrying signs with messages like “No Kings in America” and “Resist Tyranny.” Many chanted slogans in support of immigrants, such as “No ICE, no fear — immigrants are welcome here,” referring to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency’s role in deportations.
Over in Washington D.C., protesters expressed alarm over what they see as the erosion of constitutional protections, particularly the right to due process.
“The administration is launching a direct attack on the rule of law and abusing its power,” said Benjamin Douglas, 41, standing near the White House. Douglas carried a sign calling for the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a student protester recently arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
“They’re targeting individuals as a way to stir up fear and dismantle long-standing legal safeguards,” he added.
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Among the New York protesters was 73-year-old Kathy Valy, the daughter of Holocaust survivors. She warned that Trump’s rise mirrored early signs of authoritarianism seen in Nazi Germany.
“There are scary parallels to what my parents told me about Hitler,” she said. “The one difference is, Trump is a lot more foolish than Hitler — and his team is fractured.”
Science and Health Concerns
The protests weren’t only about immigration. Some demonstrators raised concerns about attacks on science and healthcare.
Daniella Butler, a 26-year-old PhD student at Johns Hopkins University, criticized the government for defunding science and promoting misinformation about vaccines. She carried a map of Texas showing measles outbreak zones — a disease making a dangerous comeback in the U.S.
“When science is ignored, people die,” Butler said, pointing to vaccine skepticism spread by Trump’s health chief, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has falsely linked vaccines to autism for years.
Nationwide Response
In Texas, a small group rallied in the coastal city of Galveston. “This is my fourth protest,” said 63-year-old writer Patsy Oliver. “Usually I wait for the next election, but not this time. We’ve already lost too much.”
On the West Coast, several hundred people gathered on a San Francisco beach, spelling out “IMPEACH + REMOVE” in the sand. Others nearby held an upside-down American flag — a traditional sign of distress.
Saturday’s protests were organized by a group called 50501, which stands for “50 protests in 50 states and one movement.” The group said around 400 demonstrations took place nationwide. All events were strictly non-violent, organizers emphasized.
The protests follow weeks of growing frustration over Trump’s immigration policies, budget cuts to federal agencies, and what critics call attacks on free speech at universities and in the media.
While the turnout was smaller than the nationwide “Hands Off” protests held on April 5, organizers hope the movement continues to grow as more people push back against what they see as authoritarian behavior from the White House.
