Anti-Trump demonstrators hold rally in Washington Square Park to demand change
MANHATTAN, New York (WABC) -- Anti-Trump demonstrators gathered in Manhattan on Monday for a President's Day protest against what they call Donald Trump's attacks on democracy, the environment and the dismantling of crucial agencies.
The gathering, sponsored by Rise and Resist, was a carbon copy of similar demonstrations held nationwide on Monday.
Those who braved the frigid temperatures in New York City wanted to highlight the long list of what many call the Trump administration's anti-democratic and illegal actions.
Several hundred people first met up in Union Square around 1 p.m. They were very vocal but peaceful.
The NYPD was there to monitor the protest and ensure no problems.
The large crowd then marched to Washington Square Park.
The mass gatherings in cities nationwide follow President Trump's signing of a series of executive orders, which critics are confident will ultimately be struck down in court. They also oppose billionaire Elon Musk's role in guiding and advising the Trump administration.
The gathering on President's Day in New York City is the first of many actions that demonstrators hope will change the country's landscape.
"I'm old enough to remember the civil rights marches in the 1960s, where up until 1965, Black voters in Mississippi and Alabama could not vote without being killed," protester Frank Hickey said. "Yes, these things do make a difference. I also remember the Vietnam demonstrations. I believe these demonstrations are the American spirit."
"The administration issued an executive order that said it was going to be a 90-day pause on all USAID projects, but it's really just been a cut on projects," protester Kristin Mullin said. "Projects don't know when they're starting, and as a result there is HIV medicine in warehouses that is not getting distributed, there's food from U.S. farmers that is not getting distributed as vital humanitarian aid around the world, so it's very concerning to me."
This wave of national protests is being sponsored by the movement "50-50-1," standing for 50 states, 50 protests and one movement.
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