BOSTON (AP) — Demonstrators opposing President Donald Trump and his policies faced freezing temperatures to participate in rallies on Monday coinciding with Presidents Day.
Labelled “No Kings on Presidents Day” by the 50501 Movement, these protests occurred just under two weeks following a similar nationwide event on February 5, which attracted attendees in numerous cities. Both events criticized Trump as well as billionaire advisor Elon Musk, who leads Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency — an external organization aimed at cutting federal expenditure.
Nearly 1,000 individuals marched through the snow from Boston’s Statehouse to City Hall while chanting slogans like “Elon Musk has got to go” and “No kings on Presidents Day!” The temperatures were below freezing, with wind chills in the teens.
Protesters in Boston, some clad in attire reminiscent of the Revolutionary War from the 1700s, brandished signs with messages such as “This is a Coup” and “Cowards Bow to Trump, Patriots Stand Up.” One sign featured an illustration of Uncle Sam declaring, “I Want You to Resist.”
“I felt it was essential to be here on Presidents Day to advocate for the values America represents,” said Emily Manning, 55, a Boston engineer who attended the rally with her two teenage sons. “The values of America do not align with the interests of a wealthy few.”
Organizers of Monday’s protests, which were concentrated in state capitals and major cities including Washington, D.C.; Orlando, Florida; and Seattle, aimed to shine a light on the “anti-democratic and unlawful actions by the Trump administration and its wealthy allies.”
One notable sign at the rally that captivated crowds in the nation’s capital read, “Deport Musk Dethrone Trump.”
Numerous demonstrations were expected in cities experiencing sub-zero temperatures as a polar vortex swept across the nation.
The rallies followed a series of executive orders from Trump and occurred just days after layoffs in federal agencies aimed at reducing the government workforce.
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Contributions to this report were made by Associated Press writer Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin.
