Mass protests erupt nationwide as Trump marks Army anniversary with military parade
PHILADELPHIA — Cities across the United States are bracing for large-scale demonstrations on Saturday as protesters mobilize against President Donald Trump's leadership, federal immigration raids, and the use of military force against civilians.
The protests coincide with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and Trump's birthday, marked by a major military parade in Washington, D.C.
While the largest demonstration is planned in Philadelphia, protests are expected in nearly 2,000 locations across all 50 states.
Organizers say the rallies are intended to reject authoritarianism, oppose billionaire-first policies, and stand for democratic principles.
National Guard units have been mobilized in several states, and law enforcement agencies have heightened security in anticipation.
Republican governors in Virginia, Texas, Nebraska, and Missouri announced emergency deployments of troops to support local police.'If you violate the law, you're going to be arrested,' Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin warned.Tensions have escalated following Trump's order to deploy National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles, where protesters blocked freeways and set vehicles on fire.Police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades, while Democratic governors condemned the response as a dangerous federal overreach.Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson urged demonstrators to remain peaceful to prevent Trump from sending federal forces to the state.Arizona's Gov. Katie Hobbs also called for calm, encouraging citizens to exercise their First Amendment rights responsibly.Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro confirmed his administration is working closely with law enforcement ahead of a demonstration in Philadelphia that could draw up to 100,000 people.Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner emphasized the need for peaceful protest. 'If you are doing what Martin Luther King would have done, you're going to be fine,' he told reporters, while warning that any unlawful conduct would face consequences.Protests are also expected near Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis warned demonstrators against unlawful actions.Organizers criticized Trump's military parade — estimated to cost between $25 million and $45 million — as a display of militarization unbecoming of democratic values.'The flag doesn't belong to President Trump. It belongs to us,' one organizer said in a statement.Demonstrations are expected to include marches, speeches, and nonviolent civil actions. Participants have been instructed not to carry weapons and to de-escalate any confrontations.Saturday's protests are projected to be the largest single-day mobilization since Trump returned to office, with millions expected to take part nationwide. — Agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
an hour ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iran Media Say Police Arrest Two Suspects Linked to Israel's Spy Agency
Iranian media said Sunday that police had arrested two suspects over alleged links to Israel's Mossad spy agency, on the third day of heavy exchange of fire between the two foes. "Two members of the Mossad terrorist team who were making bombs, explosives, booby traps and electronic equipment were arrested" in Alborz province, west of Tehran, the Tasnim news agency reported, citing a police spokesperson. Israel pressed its intense bombardment campaign on Iran on Sunday, striking a defense facility and fuel depots as the two arch foes kept up their most intense confrontation in history. It came after Iranian missile fire on Israel killed at least 10 people overnight, according to authorities, pushing the toll up to 13 since Iran began its retaliatory strikes on Friday. In Tehran, a heavy cloud of smoke billowed over the city after Israeli aircraft struck two fuel depots. For days, Iranians have formed long queues at petrol stations, fearing shortages. Iranian media later said Israel attacked a facility affiliated with the defense ministry in the central city of Isfahan, reporting "possible damage". US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Washington "had nothing to do" with ally Israel's intense bombardment campaign that was launched early Friday, hitting key military and nuclear sites as well as residential areas.
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Police say one ‘critically injured' in shooting at US protest
A shooting at a protest against President Donald Trump's policies in the western state of Utah left one person with 'life-threatening injuries,' police said, adding that three others were taken into custody. Police said the incident occurred around 8:00 pm Saturday (0200 GMT Sunday) in Utah's capital Salt Lake City during a protest that drew about 10,000 people -- one of several 'No Kings' demonstrations across the United States rallying against Trump. 'We can confirm the shooting resulted in one person being critically injured. The patient has been taken to a hospital with life-threatening (injuries),' said the Salt Lake City police department in a social media post, adding that they had 'a person of interest in custody.' Police Chief Brian Redd stressed during a news conference that the events leading up to the shooting 'were very peaceful,' adding that the first person taken in custody had a gunshot wound and was transported to the hospital. Two other individuals involved in the incident were also taken into custody, he said. 'At this time, there is... no ongoing threats to the public,' Redd said, adding that it was too early in their investigation to say if the shooting was politically motivated. City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said 'this act of violence does not define' Salt Lake City -- a Democratic bastion in the deep-red Republican state of Utah. 'The purpose of today's demonstration was a powerful and peaceful expression until this event and that cannot be overshadowed or silenced by a single act meant to harm,' she said. 'We are a nation that needs our First Amendment right, we deserve to protest in peace. And what happened today I hope will not silence the voices of the public who deserve to have their voices heard.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
France Says Supports Harvard, Welcomes Foreign Students
France's foreign minister on Saturday said his country supported students and staff at Harvard, after President Donald Trump tried to ban foreign students from the prestigious US university. "We stand with universities facing the threat of government control, restriction to their funding, constraints on their curricula or research projects," Jean-Noel Barrot said during a commencement address at the high-profile HEC business school in Paris. "We stand with Harvard faculty, with Harvard students, facing unjustified stress and anxiety right now," he added in English. "Should US courts uphold decisions to ban international students, France will offer (them) a safe place to complete their degrees," he said. Universities and research facilities in the United States have come under increasing political and financial pressure under Trump, including with threats of massive federal funding cuts, said AFP Harvard has been at the forefront of Trump's campaign against top American universities after it defied his calls to submit to oversight of its curriculum, staffing, student recruitment and "viewpoint diversity". A US court last week put a temporary stay on Trump's latest effort to stop foreign students from enrolling at Harvard. A White House proclamation a day earlier had sought to bar most new international students at Harvard from entering the country, and said existing foreign enrollees risked having their visas terminated. The US government has already cut around $3.2 billion of federal grants and contracts benefiting Harvard and pledged to exclude the institution from any future federal funding. France and the European Union are seeking to encourage disgruntled researchers to relocate from the United States to Europe. European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said last month that the EU would launch a new incentives package worth 500 million euros ($580 million) to make the 27-nation bloc "a magnet for researchers". French President Emmanuel Macron in April unveiled plans for a funding program to help national universities and other research bodies cover the cost of bringing foreign scientists to the country.
