Marching on No Kings demonstration in New York (Photo: flickr/ Mobilus In Mobili)
It was the largest day of protest in the history of the United States. In cities and towns across the US some 8 million took to the streets in the latest No Kings protests on Saturday.
Donald Trump called on people to take to the streets in Iran—but it was on the streets in the US that mass protest erupted with 3,300 demonstrations taking place.
It’s the third time that the coalition behind the “No Kings” movement has organised events to protest against Trump and his policies.
Demonstrators chanted defiant messages and carried homemade signs that condemned the war in Iran, threats against voting rights and the White House’s mass deportation raids.
The anti-Ice movement fed into the demonstrations. A popular chant was, “Say it once, say it twice, we will not put up with Ice”.
One of the largest rallies took place in St Paul, next to Minneapolis, the centre of that movement, where some 200,000 marched. Bruce Springsteen performed Streets of Minneapolis, a song he wrote to protest against the murder of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by Ice agents in Minneapolis in January.
“They picked the wrong city,” Springsteen told the crowd “these invasions of American cities will not stand.” Actor Jane Fonda read out a statement from Brenda, the wife of Renée Good.
In Washington, DC, some protesters marched to the military base which is home to Stephen Miller, the White House official overseeing the mass deportation push.
Some chanted, “Stephen Miller’s got to go,” and “We’ve got the people outside your door.”
One protest group in Washington stood at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and waved a 10ft-tall Palestinian flag.
“Most Americans don’t know that our tax dollars are being used to subsidise violence,” Hazami Barmada said. “This is happening while many Americans can’t afford housing, milk, school or healthcare. Prices continue to go up as we are fighting Israel’s wars.”
Eric Fretz spoke to Socialist Worker as the march in New York City came to an end. “The march is about over. It had to use two avenues to march downtown.
“Hands-Off NYC, the coalition who organised the New York City march, counted 350,000 people marching in New York City, which feels plausible.
“At one point there were people at the end at 34th street and still people at 59th street where it started. All the different anti-Trump issues were brought to it.
“There was some ‘protect democracy’ patriotic stuff, and some pro-Democrat feeling, but there was much less of that and fewer American flags than last time.
“There were a significant number of anti-war signs and some Palestinian flags. The official New York City organisers brought ‘No Ice, no kings, no war’ and that was picked up a bit.
“We added ‘No billionaires’.
“Chants included were “hey ho, Donald Trump has got to go” and “Refugees are welcome here” and a new one “No Ice, no war, no wannabe kings—no more billionaires pulling the strings”.
“There were large contingents in the SEIU 32BJ union which organises building workers and staff, and a group of LIUNA migrant labourers.
“The protests were backed by the American Federation of Teachers and National Nurses United as well as grassroots campaigns Indivisible and 50501 as well as human rights and community groups under the umbrella organisation, No Kings.
On the streets in Chicago (Photo: flickr/SHYCITYNikon)
“Many protests were in small towns, with reports of towns in Republican leaning areas seeing more coming out to anti-Trump demonstrations.
“The large and heavily republican voting retirement community of The Villages in Florida, held its largest-ever No Kings protest Saturday,
“Nationally the No Kings website did not give clear demands (how many times can you repeat “No Thrones, No Crowns, No Kings” when we have not had a King in the US since King George III almost 250 years ago).
“But they do denounce Trump for ‘spending billions of our tax dollars on missile strikes abroad all while driving up the cost of living and handing out massive giveaways to billionaire allies.
“Hands-Off NYC, after much discussion, went further, making ‘No Ice, No War, No Kings’ the main official slogans. But, more importantly, people brought their own signs.
“Labour contingents in New York included a diverse bunch of DC37 municipal workers and staff, SEIU local 32BJ-loud and mostly people of colour-and the largely immigrant LIUNA labourers.
“The next steps will include building on this, involving more union members, and organising for May Day.
“This No Kings march had noticeably fewer American flags than previous anti-Trump marches of its kind and was once again bigger than its predecessors.
“It is also notable that the official Hands Off NYC chant sheet included the chant ‘from Palestine to Mexico, border walls have got to go’ a chant associated with the left.
“It was great that the demonstrations occurred on the same day as the huge Together march in London against the far right, and saw the issues as connected.”
Nathaniel Hort told Socialist Worker, “There was a pretty sizable turnout in Tucson, Arizona. There were a lot of diverse crowds and groups operating here.
“There was a large bulk of people against the war in Iran, not just against the fact that the Donald Trump administration didn’t go through congress, but people that genuinely were against US imperialism in Iran and wanted all foreign affairs in Iran to simply end.
“Most people were against Trump’s foreign policies, social service policies, border policies, and his executive orders targeting people of colour in government jobs which has actively worsened the conditions of many public sector workers.
“There was a bloc of trans+ and gay rights activists holding transgender, lesbian, gay and non-binary pride flags which was good.
“In many cities people were asked to register on-line for the protests and will be sent an announcement of actions in their area, and ways to get involved.”
In downtown Chicago, protestors chanted “Trump must go now, fascists gotta go now” and “Ice out” as they filed into Grant Park.
Speakers at Chicago’s rally discussed labour rights and keeping immigrant and trans communities safe. “When we build a world that protects trans people, we build a world that’s better for everyone,” said Iggy Ladden, the founder of the Chicago Therapy Collective.
Deana Fredericks was with a group of women dressed as characters from The Handmaid’s Tale. “We’re concerned about women’s rights, but it’s also gone beyond that,” she said, citing the Iran war and voting rights.
There is a danger that the Democrats put themselves at the head of the No Kings movement and divert it towards elections.
Eric said, “In the big cities that had rallies, some speakers pushed the idea that voting Democrat was part of the resistance”. This strategy will derail the resistance to Trump.
The movement must stay on the streets, resist the Ice terrorists, and connect with organised workers to make May Day a focus of militant activism.
Trump’s popularity is in free fall—the movement needs to unite and organise now to drive him out.
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