Dozens Protest Trump Policies in Alabama's Calhoun County
Several dozen people joined an anti-Trump protest in Jacksonville, in Alabama's Calhoun County, on Saturday, April 19, as more than 700 rallies and community events against Trump administration were scheduled across the US.
Footage shot by Nathan Young at Jacksonville's Public Square shows protesters holding signs calling for the protection of veteran services, Social Security, public health services, public education, and national parks – all of which are facing major cutbacks under the Trump administration.
At least three protesters held signs in defense of due process, a principle which the US Constitution guarantees to 'any person within its jurisdiction' but which the Trump administration has denied to hundreds of people it has taken into custody, including several hundred people whom it flew to El Salvador to be imprisoned by the country's regime.
The Trump administration sped up 'deportations' after invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 on March 15. The 227-year-old wartime authority allows a US president additional powers to detain and 'remove' non-citizens during times of war, 'invasion or predatory incursion.'
Later on Saturday, the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to halt the 'removal under the Alien Enemies Act' of Venezuelan migrants detained in Texas, whom it alleges are gang members 'until further order.' The court invited the Solicitor General to 'file a response tothe application (…) as soon as possible.'
Saturday's nationwide demonstrations were organized under the decentralized '50501' movement, which describes itself as 'a national movement made up of everyday Americans who stand for democracy, and who stand against the authoritarian actions of the Trump Administration.'
The numerical name stands for '50 protests in 50 states on 1 day,' referencing a push for nationwide protests that took off on Reddit in February.
National organizers called for a 'day of action' on April 19, rather than just protests, urging participants to hold donation drives for food and clothes, community picnics, cookouts, or other activities to benefit their local communities. Credit: Nathan Young via Storyful
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