Thousands spill out to the streets in California, with calls for an anti-Trump encampment outside White House

Days after US President Donald Trump threatened to send the National Guard to San Francisco, thousands of demonstrators poured out in full force on Thursday, with organisers calling for a sit-in in Washington, DC, on 5 November.

The first major gathering of the day took place in nearby Alameda, where a 5 am protest was held after federal immigration agents (Customs and Border Control) were spotted, and then in the evening in the city, where thousands of protesters congregated with just hours' notice, in one of the largest displays of dissent since Trump took office.

The demonstration began at the Ferry Building and continued with a march to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building. Protesters held signs and chanted in English and Spanish. Many wore Halloween costumes while dancing to the band's music. At least one protester wore an inflatable frog costume, which has become a symbol of countering, with humour, what many see as Trump's absurd policies.

"We wanted to bring some fun to the movement, and poke fun at the actual ridiculousness of sending troops to peaceful cities," Clay Mazing, a clown dressed as an "irrational guard" in a nod to immigration agents, told The New Arab.

"Sometimes the only way to combat that is by poking at the ridiculousness and exaggerating it," he said, after fake-capturing an inflatable frog with a rope.

"I'm playing the bad guy, just to show how completely insane things have got. I think it takes all sorts of people to come together, and the clowns have their place as well," he said.

As the march wound down after the sun had set, some of the remaining protesters gathered, singing and dancing with the marching band.

Some were already planning future events, as this week's demolition of the east wing of the White House for Trump's $300 million ballroom (initially estimated at $200 million) is fuelling further outrage amongst his opponents.

"We need millions coming back again and again until this regime is removed," Sully Atheirne, a leader with the Refuse Fascism movement, told TNA.

"Refuse Fascism is calling for people to go to DC on November 5 and shut the city down until the people in power are forced to impeach or do the 25th," she said.

Activists say they are already coordinating with residents, churches and community centres in Washington to host them in their homes long-term while they stage their sit-in.

Thursday's demonstration was held hours after Trump called off sending troops to the city following a phone call with the city's mayor, Daniel Lurie, who reminded the president that the city is an important business hub.

It's unclear if Trump will move forward with sending troops to Oakland, which he has suggested as a location for deployment. Both cities have seen significant drops in crime in recent years.