Anti-Trump rallies crop up again on 'Not
My President's Day'
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[February 21, 2017]
By Chris Francescani and Robert Chiarito
NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) - Renewed
protests against U.S. President Donald Trump flared on the Presidents
Day holiday on Monday, with grassroots activists vowing to take to the
streets in dozens of cities in "Not My President's Day" rallies.
Protest leaders had said they expected thousands to rally in about 28
cities ranging from Los Angeles and Chicago to Grand Rapids, Michigan,
in the latest round of demonstrations to express displeasure with
Trump's policies and pronouncements.
In New York, hundreds of protesters stretching at least eight blocks
chanted "He cheats, he lies, open up your eyes" near the Trump
International Hotel on the edge of Central Park.
"I think he's got a mean personality," said marcher Edith Cresmer, a
78-year-old urban planner. "But the worst thing about him is how he
incited peoples' fears and pits them against each other."
Luis Llobera, 38, and his wife and baby took a train from Westchester
County north of the city attend the Trump protest.
"We are not American citizens but our son is," he said as his wife
cradled their 7-month-old, Atlas. "We want to make sure our son has a
government that is right and good."
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Organizers of the New York rally said they opposed the Trump agenda,
including proposed cuts in federal spending and construction of a wall
along the border with Mexico.
"Donald Trump is literally our president, but figuratively, he has
attacked every value New Yorkers embody and does not represent our
interests," organizers said on Facebook.
The idea for the Presidents Day protests originated in Los Angeles,
where about 4,300 people had said on Facebook they would attend a City
Hall rally, according to organizers, and it spread to other locales via
social media.
In downtown Chicago, about 1,200 people gathered across the Chicago
River from the Trump International Hotel and Tower. Signs spotted in the
crowd included “My body My Choice” and “Jesus was a refugee,” references
to Trump's anti-abortion stance and his efforts to stop admission of
refugees.
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People take part in an "Not My President's Day" rally in Manhattan,
New York, U.S. February 20, 2017. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
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As people gathered, a group of 25 local musicians called themselves
#SAHBRA, “Sousaphones Against Hate, Baritones Resisting Aggression,”
played songs to lighten the mood.
With Monday being a day off for many schools, many parents brought
their children to the protest.
Eileen Molony, a photographer from Oak Park, had her 12-year-old son
and 9-year old daughter in tow.
“As an immigrant family we feel strongly against the ban," she said.
"We feel America is about inclusion, but everything Trump has shown
is that he’s about division."
Chicago police reported no arrests in the protest, the latest in a
series since Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration.
Recent anti-Trump protests have included a "general strike" on
Friday, a day after thousands of immigrants across the United States
stayed away from work and school to highlight the contributions of
foreign-born residents to the U.S. economy.
On Saturday, Trump staged a rally for supporters in Florida at a
Melbourne aircraft hangar to attack the media and tout his
accomplishments in office.
Presidents Day is the unofficial name of the holiday honoring the
birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the first and
16th U.S. presidents, respectively.
(Additional reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by
Jonathan Oatis)
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