Massive protests against US President Donald Trump are set to occur this Saturday as millions of Americans express their discontent over his authoritarian tendencies and perceived lawlessness.
This is the third “No Kings” protest in less than a year, with the first taking place on Trump’s 79th birthday in June. The second saw an estimated seven million protesters across the country.
The latest protests aim to draw even more people as Trump’s approval rating hovers around 40% and midterm elections approach in November, potentially leading to Republicans losing control of both chambers.
Critics argue that Trump has ruled by executive decree, used the Justice Department to prosecute opponents, embraced fossil fuels while denying climate change, fought against racial and gender diversity programs, and increased US military power despite campaigning as a man of peace.
Organisers predict over 3,000 rallies across major cities, suburbs, and rural areas. Bruce Springsteen is set to perform in St Paul, Minnesota, where he wrote “Streets of Minneapolis” after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during Trump’s immigration crackdown protests.
The movement has grown from a simple day of defiance into a powerful resistance against the Trump administration, with two-thirds of planned protesters not living in big cities. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, says people are afraid and can’t afford basic necessities, urging the administration to help them build a better life instead of stoking hate and fear.