Multiple groups carried out demonstrations against President Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, the most prominent of which was the “No Kings” protests that spread to many states.
Several protests have already taken place against Trump or his administration’s policies, especially in the aftermath of his decision to deploy the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles as some protests against his immigration policies turned violent in the city.
Most of the protests in Los Angeles have been peaceful, but some have taken the opportunity to burn or vandalize property, loot, and throw projectiles at law enforcement. Trump responded to these incidents with his military deployments, but doing so against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, escalating the situation and tensions with the Democratic leaders.
Similarly, the protests on Saturday have largely remained peaceful, with little interaction between law enforcement and protesters, but as the afternoon dragged on, tensions between Los Angeles and New York City started to rise and small clashes broke out.
The protests will likely continue into the night.
Los Angeles Remains Epicenter of Protests
Protesters in Los Angeles have remained largely peaceful but the city remains under immense tension as the National Guard and Marines maintain their deployments in the city.
Trump scored a temporary legal win thanks to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which issued an injunction against an initial ruling for the White House to return control of the National Guard to California, pending a final ruling after arguments on Tuesday.
But the Los Angeles protests took a turn as police tried to disperse protesters near federal buildings by launching tear gas into the crowds.
Small Clashes in New York City
Outside of Los Angeles, New York City has seen the most tension between law enforcement and protesters, with some individuals arrested.
Puerto Rico Takes To the Street
In an unusual move, Puerto Rico took part in national U.S. protests, demonstrating against Trump and his policies, taking to the streets of San Juan to express their discontent about the president’s immigration policies.
Many of the biggest protests have taken place in U.S. cities with heavy Hispanic populations, where concern about deportation is most acute.
Austin, Texas Festive In Protest
The Texas capital displayed an on-brand and creative protest, with drag queen performances and poetry slams while demonstrators took to the parks in scenes reminiscent of hippies in the 1970s protesting the Vietnam War.
Philadelphia, Birthplace of American Democracy
Philadelphia, where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and wrote the United States Constitution, protesters listened to a series of speakers who urged the need to remember the roots of the nation.
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