Latest news with #HandsOff
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
No Kings protest surpasses records to become largest in U.S history — Trump admin rattled by scale
A huge protest called 'No Kings' happened across the U.S. on June 14. It was against President Donald Trump's second-term policies, which many say are too strict and authoritarian. People protested in all 50 states and in over 2,000 cities. The protest is now believed to be the biggest in U.S. history. Estimates say 4 to 6 million people joined the protests. That's about 1–2% of the U.S. population. The protests happened on the same day as Trump's 79th birthday and a big military parade in Washington, D.C. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said over 5 million people joined more than 2,100 rallies. Move On, a political group, also supported the 5 million number in an email. Jeremy Pressman from Harvard and UConn said it will take more time to confirm the numbers, as per the USA TODAY report. Trump's team downplayed the protests. His Communications Director Steven Cheung claimed 250,000 people went to the parade, and called the protests a 'complete failure.' Historical significance & size These protests were larger than the 2017 Women's March, and arguably the largest ever in U.S. history. Attendance estimates held firm at 4–6 million. In comparison, Hands Off protests (April 5) drew 3–5 million across 1,400 locations, still behind 'No Kings', as per The Independent, The Nation and Wikipedia. Live Events What were the protests about? People were upset about Trump's immigration raids, especially in Los Angeles where Trump sent 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines, even though the California Governor Gavin Newsom didn't agree. Many think Trump's second term is much harsher than his first. Since January, there have been 15,000 protests, which is 3 times more than at this point in his first term, as per the Morris report. Protest in cities Los Angeles police used tear gas and batons because some people threw rocks and fireworks. New York City 50,000 people protested, as per New York Post report. In Boston the 'No Kings' protest joined the Pride Parade. Up to 1 million people are expected. Northern Virginia a man drove an SUV into a protest crowd, hurting at least one person. In Minnesota all protests were cancelled after a shooter attacked local lawmakers. Sheriff Wayne Ivey from Brevard County, Florida, gave a scary press conference warning protesters, if you throw a brick or firebomb, police will kill you. If you hit or spit on a cop, you'll go to hospital and jail and might get bit by police dogs. If you block roads, you'll go to jail. He said, "We're not going to play". As per the report by Independent. FAQs Q1. Why did people protest in the 'No Kings' march? People protested against Trump's second-term policies, especially immigration raids and his increasing power. Q2. How many people joined the 'No Kings' protests? Around 4 to 6 million people marched across the U.S., making it the biggest protest in American history.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Letters: The real story is why Padilla wanted to question Noem, not his removal from the room
Regardless of what one may think of Sen. Alex Padilla's actions during Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference, we should keep foremost in mind what elicited his reaction: Noem's statement. 'We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country.' Noem is saying the Trump administration is attempting to use military force to overthrow the democratically elected leaders of Los Angeles and California. Maya Angelou famously said, 'When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.' Trump and his administration have told us many times: They want to overthrow our democracy and replace it with a dictatorship. It is time the rest of us believe it and do everything we can to stop it. The controversy over Padilla is just a convenient side show to keep us distracted from the real danger. Why wasn't Noem's statement the story rather than Padilla's reaction to it? Jeffrey Kaplan, Berkeley Dems' stance correct Every Democratic politician he quoted denounced violent protest and property destruction. Meanwhile, our Republican president has pardoned those who attacked police and vandalized the Capitol. I also have to ask, who exactly is initiating the violence in the current round of protests? I have seen video of a police officer in Los Angeles casually firing a rubber bullet at a broadcast reporter in the middle of her live report and heard reports of federal agents dragging people out of their immigration hearings. Is it only violence when Waymos burn? Finally, I don't understand why Gavin Newsom should pay attention to how his words are received in some mythical rural heartland when he is right now the governor of the fourth-largest economy in the world. Please, Joe, back up and look at the bigger picture; you are lost in the details. Mary Mazzocco, Oakland Keep the peace Regarding 'Manny Yekutiel: When hate masquerades as protest, we all lose' (Open Forum, June 13) and 'Will Democrats finally stop defending protesters who turn to thuggery?' (Joe Garofoli, June 15): Manny Yekutiel and Joe Garofoli speak wisdom. If those who attacked Manny's cafe were at the demonstration against immigration arrests on June 9, I doubt their sincerity in being there for a just cause. I suspect they are of the mentality of the Waymo burners, those providing grist for the right-wing social media, as are those with 'F— Trump' signs. At the Hands Off demonstration on April 5, Indivisible advised us not to react to hecklers who benefit from videos they take of violence after they've incited it. Joe Garofoli reminds us of this. What I saw at San Francisco's No Kings march was peaceful except for the ubiquitous 'F— Trump' signs, which seem trite, especially compared to the much more inventive 'No Faux King Dictators.' Tina Martin, San Francisco Better to unite Regarding 'Forget the American flag. These are the flags to fly on July 4 to celebrate liberty' (Open Forum, June 15): I disagree with Joe Mathews' suggestion. This country is as divided as it was during the Civil War. This is not the time to fragment and break up the union. We must fight to preserve the United States of America as one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Here's a suggestion. No matter which side you're on, you surely know someone with the opposite point of view. Call them and see if you can't get them to agree that this country, for all its problems, is worth preserving. Let's stop bickering and name-calling. Let's stand together for liberty and justice. Then let's get to work and work out the details. Ted Tilton, Sunnyvale
Hans India
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Protests against Trump's immigration policies staged across all US states
About 2,000 protests against the Trump administration's policies were held in all 50 US states, ranging from small groups in more rural communities to larger rallies in major cities, including New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, among others. The protests on Saturday came as US President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown and decision to deploy the military in Los Angeles have already led to large-scale protests and additional protests in several other cities, reports Xinhua news agency. On the same day, a military parade hosted by Trump was staged in Washington for the US Army's 250th anniversary, which coincides with his 79th birthday. The protests, under the slogan "No Kings," have been arranged by a number of groups that overlap with the coalition that pulled together the "Hands Off!" protests on April 5 and other recent large protests against the Trump administration, according to US media reports. The coalition behind the protests has branded Saturday as a "day of defiance" against what the groups describe as "authoritarian overreach" by Trump and his allies. Plans for the event had been underway well before federal immigration raids set off protests in Los Angeles and other cities. Organisers avoided calling for protests in Washington, where the military parade was staged. They have characterised the Washington parade as a theatrical "display of dominance." Trump warned that anyone seeking to protest at the parade would be met with "very big force." In Atlanta, thousands of demonstrators gathered at Liberty Plaza, carrying signs with messages against the administration. The crowd also sang a protest version of the classic tune "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," reworded as "Take Trump Out of the White House." In Nashville, more than 1,000 people gathered near the Tennessee State Capitol and a cheering crowd recited the Pledge of Allegiance, a patriotic verse that promises allegiance to the flag of the United States and the Republic. In New York City, the police estimated that around 50,000 people took to the streets, shouted slogans like "What do we want? No ICE! When do we want? Now!" and waved banners reading "No Deportation! Trump Must Go!" and "No Justice, No Peace!" Xinhua reporters on the scene saw no arrests made by police. "That guy isn't content to be president of the United States of America, wants to be king!" Eddie B, a resident, told Xinhua. "But we won't let that happen." Mindy W, a visitor to New York City, said, "We need to rise up and stop him before it's too late and our democracy is gone forever!" In California, over 100,000 protesters staged demonstrations in over 200 cities and towns. Even in Idyllwild, a mountain town with only 3,600 residents, some 600 people took to the streets. Demonstrations even spread to Santa Catalina, an island some 35 km off the coast of Southern California. The authorities in Los Angeles, which has emerged as the epicenter of anxiety over immigration enforcement and seen days of sustained protests, said they were bracing for the possibility of crowd sizes that could be "unprecedented." It turned out that at least 25,000 people participated in the protests in LA on Saturday. Elected leaders and law enforcement officials in California and across the country encouraged protesters to remain peaceful, and organisers of the "No Kings" demonstrations called on participants to focus on "nonviolent action." Karen Bass, mayor of Los Angeles, warned that demonstrations that turned destructive would only feed into an unfounded portrayal of LA as gripped by unrest. In Houston, Texas, the official estimate placed the number of protesters at over 15,000. Xinhua reporter at the scene saw many of them as Latinos and young, peacefully in protest, with one speaker shouting, "No Kings! Just like today, we don't need Donald Trump as king." A speaker named Mima told reporters, "This is a democracy and this isn't a monarchy ... The ICE raids and everything are not right. Violence and ripping families apart are not okay." In Greenville, Ohio, where Democrats are rare, protesters began gathering at noon, waving flags and holding posters in a downtown roundabout. Police warned that anybody blocking the road would go to jail. In Miami, the "No Kings" protest is unfolding near the Torch of Friendship, a symbol of the city's connection to the Caribbean and Latin America, with many protesters waving American flags. As is the tradition with protests on Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami, cars passing by were honking steadily to show support, and people were banging pots and pans. Ras Baraka, mayor of Newark, travelled between protests in New Jersey, heading from one in Montclair to another in Piscataway. He recounted what happened after his arrest last month following a clash at Delaney Hall, a private detention centre. "What I found out is that people who don't defend immigrants won't defend me either," he said. "We have to defend that right and defend it vociferously."
CBS News
14-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Watch live: "No Kings" anti-Trump protests underway in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties
Across South Florida and nationally, "No Kings" demonstrations began Saturday to protest what organizers are claiming to be the "increasing authoritarianism, excesses and corruption" from President Trump and his allies. On Saturday, a large military parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States Army is set to take place in Washington, D.C. The parade coincides with Flag Day and Mr. Trump's 79th birthday. Organizers of the national "No Kings" movement said they are taking to the streets on Saturday in response to Mr. Trump's "made-for-TV display of dominance." "No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance," according to the organizer's website. The protests follow a series of nationwide rallies organized in April by Hands Off! and the 50501 movement, where opponents of the president and his allies decried what they saw as threats to the country's democratic ideals. "We've watched as they've cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts," Hope and Action, a grassroots political activism group, said in a statement. "They've done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies." In anticipation of the protests, which are expected to draw hundreds to the streets of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, Florida officials made their positions clear, promising zero tolerance for violence during demonstrations focused largely on immigration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Here's a look at where "No Kings" protests will be happening in South Florida. Broward County Originally in Broward County, separate events were planned for Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale. Those events have since been combined into one that will be held in Fort Lauderdale at State Road A1A and Sunrise Boulevard. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Hope and Action, an Indivisible group in Broward, is the event organizer. The group said the growing unrest in Los Angeles related to immigration enforcement is prompting greater participation. Jennifer Jones, with Hope and Action, said that the group is working with Fort Lauderdale Police to keep everything calm, and volunteers have been trained to be safety marshals. She told CBS News Miami that they have been taught to spot trouble and de-escalate tensions. Fort Lauderdale Police also said they will be monitoring the event to ensure safety and that participants should report suspicious activity. Miami-Dade County In addition to the Fort Lauderdale event, there will be "No Kings" protests in Miami and Miami Beach. The Miami event will be held at the Torch of Friendship in Downtown Miami from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meanwhile, the Miami Beach event will be held at Pride Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. At this time, the Miami-Dade County events are separate demonstrations.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump is fine with peaceful protests during military parade, White House says
WASHINGTON ― The White House sought to reject any notion that President Donald Trump doesn't support peaceful protests, one day after he warned "any protesters" who interrupt his upcoming military parade in Washington will be "met with very heavy force." "Of course the president supports peaceful protests," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a June 11 briefing with reporters. "What a stupid question." Trump issued his threat to "any protesters who want to come out" during the June 14 parade, which will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army while also falling on Trump's 79th birthday. Trump did not distinguish between peaceful protests that are protected by the First Amendment and violent riots that violate laws. More: Trump warns would-be protesters on Army's 250th birthday celebration of 'heavy force' "For those people who want to protest, they're going to be met with very big force," Trump said on June 10. "And I haven't even heard about a protest. But you know, these are people who hate our country. But they will be met with very heavy force." Trump's warning came after he's deployed National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles to counter protests that erupted over his administration's deportation efforts targeting immigrants in the country illegally. Trump critics have organized "No Kings Day" protests in more than 1,800 communities on the day of the military parade. It is expected to be the largest and most numerous protests since Trump's second term began, dwarfing the Hands Off protests in early April that drew as many as 1 million Americans to the streets at more than 1,000 rallies. "The president absolutely supports peaceful protests," Leavitt said at the June 11 press briefing. "He supports the First Amendment. He supports the right of Americans to make their voices heard. He does not support violence of any kind. He does not support assaulting law-enforcement officers who are simply trying to do their job." More: 'No Kings Day' protests planned for June 14 with aim to reclaim the American flag On his first day of his second term, Trump issued sweeping pardons for more than 1,600 people convicted of crimes ‒ including assaulting law enforcement officials ‒ for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol. The riot was waged by Trump supporters who hoped to stop the certification of Trump's election loss to Joe Biden. The military parade, estimated to cost $40 million in taxpayer dollars, is set to include Abrams tanks, vintage World War II warplanes and some 7,000 soldiers marching in period uniforms to mark the nation's battles from the Revolutionary War to the present. A reviewing stand has been erected for Trump to the south of the White House. Contributing: Sara Wire of USA TODAY. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump OK with peaceful protests during DC parade: White House
