Protests in the US: Thousands take to the streets

Protests in the US: Thousands take to the streets against Donald Trump's policy

Large-scale protest actions against the policy of President Donald Trump were held in several US cities. Demonstrators expressed dissatisfaction with the administration's personnel decisions, foreign policy course, and attempts to weaken independent oversight bodies.

The protests unfolded on Presidents' Day – a national holiday dedicated to the head of state. In Washington, participants chanted: «Ни короля, ни короны – мы не отступим» ("No king, no crown – we will not back down"), alluding to authoritarian methods of governance.

Crisis in federal structures: dismissals and reforms

The trigger for the rallies was the White House's actions regarding mass dismissals in state structures. In the view of protesters, Trump is deliberately weakening the system of checks and balances by removing prosecutors and officials responsible for independent oversight of the executive branch.

Kaitlin Robertson, an activist and lawyer for victims of domestic violence, came to the action with an upside-down US flag. According to her, the country is experiencing a «конституционный кризис» ("constitutional crisis"), and the reforms being carried out threaten democratic institutions.

Movement 50501: mass mobilisation through social media

The organisers of the protests were the group 50501, which positions itself as a grassroots movement opposing Trump's policy. The movement's executive director, Sara Parker, stated that the protests began with an organic discussion on Reddit. Posts criticising the administration sparked a wide discussion and became a catalyst for mass actions across the country.

Trump's foreign policy under fire

In addition to domestic reforms, protesters condemned the president's foreign policy course. Joseph Sciaracci, one of the rally participants, came out with a NATO flag and expressed concern that Trump is «разрушает альянс, уступая России по украинскому вопросу» ("destroying the alliance, conceding to Russia on the Ukrainian issue").

«Умиротворение не работает», – заявил он, намекая на политику администрации в отношении Москвы. ("Appeasement does not work," he stated, alluding to the administration's policy towards Moscow.)

Many also accused Congress of passivity and an inability to limit the president's influence.

Marches across the country: from New York to Texas

Protests covered the largest US cities. In New York, thousands of people marched, holding placards with the inscriptions «Остановите переворот» ("Stop the coup") and «Нет королям-миллиардерам» ("No billionaire kings") – an obvious allusion to the influence of tech moguls such as Elon Musk.

In Austin, the capital of Texas, a woman named Kristin Jenn came to the microphone with a placard reading «Дональд Трамп украл мою работу» ("Donald Trump stole my job"). She stated that the National Park Service, where she worked, had been subjected to mass cuts.

«Они отбирают наши рабочие места, вынуждают нас обращаться за госпомощью, а потом называют нас паразитами» ("They are taking our jobs, forcing us to seek state aid, and then calling us parasites"), she said.