Protesters took to the streets again on the 19th, launching a second wave of large-scale demonstrations in major cities like New York and Washington, D.C., to oppose U.S. President Trump and his hardline policies.
In New York, people gathered outside the Public Library, holding signs with slogans such as “America Has No King.”
Media footage shows protesters outside the White House holding banners reading “Workers Should Have Power,” “No Monarchy,” “Stop Arming Israel,” and “Due Process.”
Some demonstrators chanted slogans in support of immigrants expelled or threatened with expulsion by the Trump administration, as well as those fired by the federal government, and universities whose funding is threatened by Trump.
In Washington, protesters were concerned about Trump's threats to constitutional norms, including the right to due legal process.
Trump's actions of expelling immigrants, slashing government spending, and pressuring universities, news media, and law firms have sparked public discontent. Several organizing groups of the protests aim to turn this sentiment into a lasting foundation of protest.
The main organizing group of the protests, “50501,” stated that approximately 400 demonstrations have been scheduled.
The name of the group 50501 represents 50 states, 50 protests, and 1 common movement. Their website states that the related demonstrations are “a decentralized rapid response action against the anti-democratic, illegal actions of the Trump administration and its wealthy allies.” The site insists that their protests are non-violent.
Originally, the group called for millions to participate on the 19th; however, the actual turnout seemed less than that of the April 5th “Hands Off” protests across the U.S.