In what has become a growing weekly phenomenon, thousands of people took to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday to protest against President Donald Trump’s widening crackdowns on immigrants, government institutions, and political dissent, particularly targeting pro-Palestinian voices.
Chanting slogans such as “Love not hate, that’s what makes America great,” “When immigrants’ rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back,” and “Fire Trump,” demonstrators marched through major urban centres, demanding an end to what they describe as authoritarian and discriminatory policies.
In San Francisco, protesters marched from the Embarcadero waterfront to City Hall via Market Street, stopping outside X headquarters to raise their fists in defiance.
“I’ve been coming out for protests every weekend since January, starting with the Tesla dealership,” said Jerry Fusco, a local tech worker. “It’s astounding to me that there’s still support for Trump - but that’s what you have in a cult.”
The demonstrations represented a wide array of causes. Protesters held signs defending national parks, affordable healthcare, immigrant rights, and international students. They also rallied around individuals such as deported Salvadoran Andry Romero and Columbia University Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.
The Trump administration has recently intensified crackdowns on international students. A judge ruled on Friday that Khalil could be deported, despite facing no criminal charges. According to Inside Higher Ed, as of 12 April, more than 170 U.S. colleges and universities had identified over 950 international students and recent graduates who had their residency status changed by the State Department.
In front of City Hall, the protest took a celebratory turn as a truck leading the march played music, prompting spontaneous dancing. “Bring back joy,” the crowd chanted as the atmosphere shifted from rage to resilience.
Lauryn McIntire, a basketball coach wearing a keffiyeh and holding a sign reading “Resist,” said she was there to stand for Gaza, Sudan, the Congo, and oppressed communities across the U.S. “Right now, America is funding a genocide in Gaza. I’m standing up for people under tyranny,” she said.
She added: “Every time I go to these protests, I see people learning how to live again. I really believe the energy of this country needs to be switched from hate to love — urgently.”