1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day.
Picture by Gabriele Holtermann
Involved concerning the political course and way forward for the US, 1000’s of New Yorkers took to the streets on Presidents Day, protesting the second Trump administration’s actions to intestine the federal authorities, eradicate transgender rights, undermine checks and balances, and extra.
Beginning at Union Sq., the protesters made their means all the way down to Washington Sq. Park and have been nonetheless submitting in at publication.
Trump was not the one focus of their anger; billionaire Elon Musk, who has been closely concerned within the White Home as a part of a “Department of Government Efficiency,” was additionally focused — with many describing him as an unelected usurper working in tandem with Trump to rework America into an authoritarian nation.
“We’re here today because it’s President’s Day. And instead of having a president, we appear to have a dictator who is having a coup. It’s his second attempted coup, and it is our job to stop that coup and make it an unsuccessful coup, and one of the ways we do that is to bring people out into the street to protest,” mentioned Jamie Bauer, Rise and Resist. “We know that people are upset and they don’t like what’s happening, but we have to give them a peaceful venue to show that.”
1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day. Picture by Gabriele Holtermann
It’s solely been 4 weeks since President Trump took workplace for a second time period, and “Trump 2.0” has already “flooded the zone” with dozens of govt orders, together with trying to ban constitutionally-enshrined birthright citizenship, prohibiting trans athletes within the NCAA; ordering tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China; deporting undocumented migrants to Guantánamo and different components of the world; and pushing via controversial cupboard members like anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
With the creation of the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), Trump has seemingly given a clean examine to billionaire Musk, a non-public citizen, to fireplace federal staff, freeze billions of {dollars} in federal funding, and shut down federal companies.
Protestors shared they have been fearful that Trump was dismantling democracy as a result of his govt orders have been in step with Undertaking 2025, a 900-page memo drafted by conservative think-tank the Heritage Basis that requires abolishing the Division of Schooling and rolling again immigrant, girls’s, and transgender rights, to call just a few.
“We have a short window of time in which to stop fascism from taking over in the United States of America. Germany had this short window of time, and they did not use it. Hitler took charge,” mentioned Julie DeLaurier. “We have a short window of time, and we have a good start, and we have to keep it up, because people rising up and fighting back against this fascism is all that will stop the fascists, the billionaires, the oligarchs, from taking over our country for good.”
Julie DeLaurier. 1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day.Picture by Gabriele Holtermann 
1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day. Picture by Gabriele Holtermann
Frank Garcia, chairman of the Nationwide Affiliation of Latino State Chambers of Commerce, spoke out towards each Trump and embattled Mayor Eric Adams over immigration He famous that bodegas have seen a 60% decline in enterprise as a result of many immigrants are laying low for worry of deportation.
“We feel that Trump has infiltrated the minority business program that we work so hard is suing Bloomberg for to make sure we get 35% of our disadvantaged businesses in New York that deserve to have a voice,” mentioned Garcia. “We feel Mayor Eric Adams has sold out to the community. I voted for him. I supported him. So myself and my counterparts in the Bodega Association, we’re all coming together to get him out.”
Protesters additionally known as out Democratic leaders, demanding they acknowledge the urgency. Lisa Raymond Tolin with Indivisible Brooklyn particularly known as on Senator Chuck Schumer and Brooklyn U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Home minority chief, to step up.
“It’s so exciting to see thousands and thousands of people taking to the streets,” Tolin mentioned. “Finally, after three weeks of, I think, shock and awe, people are starting to wake up and realize that everybody needs to get involved to demand that Congress does its job, that Schumer does his job, that Jeffries does his job to stop this coup and to fight back like everybody needs to stand up and be here.”
1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day. Picture by Gabriele Holtermann 
1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day. Picture by Gabriele Holtermann 
1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day. Picture by Gabriele Holtermann 
1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day. Picture by Gabriele Holtermann 
1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day. Picture by Gabriele Holtermann 
1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day. Picture by Gabriele Holtermann 
1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day. Picture by Gabriele Holtermann 
1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day. Picture by Gabriele Holtermann 
1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day. Picture by Gabriele Holtermann 
1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day. Picture by Gabriele Holtermann 
1000’s of New Yorkers took to the road protesting the Trump Administration on Presidents Day. Picture by Gabriele Holtermann
