NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Opponents of President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration took to the streets of communities large and small across the U.S. on Saturday, decrying what they see as threats to the nation鈥檚 democratic ideals.
The disparate events ranged from a march through midtown Manhattan and a rally in front of the White House to a demonstration at a Massachusetts commemoration marking the 250 years ago. In San Francisco, protesters formed a human banner reading 鈥淚mpeach & Remove鈥 on the sands of Ocean Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Thomas Bassford was among those who joined demonstrators at the reenactment of the outside of Boston. 鈥淭he shot heard 鈥檙ound the world鈥 on April 19, 1775, heralded the start of the nation鈥檚 war for independence from Britain.
The 80-year-old retired mason from Maine said he believed Americans today are under attack from their own government and need to stand up against it.
鈥淭his is a very perilous time in America for liberty," Bassford said, as he attended the event with his partner, daughter and two grandsons. "I wanted the boys to learn about the origins of this country and that sometimes we have to fight for freedom.鈥
Elsewhere, protests were planned outside Tesla car dealerships against billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk and his role in downsizing the federal government. Others organized more community-service events, such as food drives, teach-ins and volunteering at local shelters.
The protests come just two weeks after similar against the Trump administration drew thousands to the streets across the country.
Organizers say they鈥檙e protesting what they call Trump鈥檚 civil rights violations and constitutional violations, including efforts to and to scale back the federal government by and .
Some of the events drew on the spirit of the American Revolutionary War, calling for 鈥渘o kings鈥 and resistance to tyranny.
Boston resident George Bryant, who was among those protesting in Concord, Massachusetts, said he was concerned Trump was creating a 鈥減olice state鈥 in America as he held up a sign saying, 鈥淭rump fascist regime must go now!鈥
鈥淗e鈥檚 defying the courts. He鈥檚 kidnapping students. He鈥檚 eviscerating the checks and balances,鈥 Bryant said. 鈥淭his is fascism.鈥
In Washington, Bob Fasick said he came out to the rally by the White House out of concern about threats to constitutionally protected due process rights, as well as Social Security and other federal safety-net programs.
The Trump administration, among other things, has moved to , and .
鈥淚 cannot sit still knowing that if I don鈥檛 do anything and everybody doesn鈥檛 do something to change this, that the world that we collectively are leaving for the little children, for our neighbors is simply not one that I would want to live,鈥 said the 76-year-old retired federal employee from Springfield, Virginia.
In Columbia, South Carolina, several hundred people protested at the statehouse. They held signs that said 鈥淔ight Fiercely, Harvard, Fight鈥 and 鈥淪ave SSA,鈥 in reference to the Social Security Administration.
And in Manhattan, protesters rallied against continued deportations of immigrants as they marched from the New York Public Library north towards Central Park past Trump Tower.
鈥淣o fear, no hate, no ICE in our state,鈥 they chanted to the steady beat of drums, referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Marshall Green, who was among the protesters, said he was most concerned that Trump has invoked the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 by claiming the country is at linked to the South American nation鈥檚 government.
鈥淐ongress should be stepping up and saying no, we are not at war. You cannot use that,鈥 said the 61-year-old from Morristown, New Jersey. 鈥淵ou cannot deport people without due process, and everyone in this country has the right to due process no matter what.鈥
Meanwhile Melinda Charles, of Connecticut, said she worried about Trump鈥檚 鈥渆xecutive overreach,鈥 citing clashes with the federal courts to and other elite colleges.
鈥淲e鈥檙e supposed to have three equal branches of government and to have the executive branch become so strong,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 mean, it鈥檚 just unbelievable.鈥
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Associated Press reporters Claire Rush in Oregon, Joseph Frederick in New York, Rodrique Ngowi in Massachusetts, Nathan Ellgren in Washington and Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina contributed to this story.
