People are feeling galvanized': Anti-Trump protesters rally in cities across US

WASHINGTON − Groups opposed to actions by the Trump administration in recent weeks converged on cities Wednesday across the U.S. to loudly register their discontent.

The protests came days after widespread rallies and street marches against President Donald Trump's immigration policies that have led to sweeping ICE raids.

In the nation's capital two protests near the U.S. Capitol drew hundreds bearing signs and thunderous voices. The protesters marched from streets around the Capitol to the Department of Labor building on Constitution Avenue − where Elon Musk’s DOGE officials were visiting for the day. Musk, a staunch Trump ally, has been executing Trump's cost-cutting initiative to reduce the size of the U.S. government.

Cars passing by the marchers honked in a show of support.

Earlier in the day a crowd several hundred deep gathered outside the Capitol for a demonstration against Trump's efforts to diminish the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Rallygoers bundled up in puffy winter coats, hats and gloves held up signs against Trump.

“Don’t let democracy die,” “Elon cheats on video games,'' “Checks and balances make America great,” some of the signs read. Demonstrators also chanted at Democratic lawmakers who spoke at the rally, telling them, “Do your job!”

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Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said Democrats plan to fight the changes in court, in state legislatures and in Congress. Fellow Virginia Sen. Mark Warner urged protesters to take their concerns to GOP lawmakers as well.

"Don't just show up here," Warner said. "We are only going to break this when we have Republicans willing to stand up as well. Put the pressure not just on us but on everyone, every elected official."

Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders and taken other actions since his Jan. 20 inauguration to remake and reduce the size of America's 2.2 million-strong federal workforce. Diversity programs have been targeted; government web pages have been scrubbed of gender references.

Trump accuses USAID of being 'corrupt':Implies the agency's days are numbered

Developments:

∎ New Yorkers protested outside the Midtown Manhattan office of Sen. Charles Schumer, carrying signs such as "It's a coup, where R you?" and "Chuck, show us pluck."

∎ Protesters in Chicago were to rally in Daley Plaza and lobby Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin of Illinois to block Trump's efforts.

From NC to DC, one protester vows to 'be the Tiananmen tank guy'

Stewart Rabitz, 70, drove up from his home in Wake Forest, North Carolina, early Wednesday to attend the protest outside the U.S. Capitol. Rabitz isn’t new to the anti-Trump protest circuit − he’s been hitting the streets since the early days of Trump's first term and said he’s faced off against the Proud Boys.

This time feels different, Rabitz said, because of the quick pace of Trump’s executive orders. The  sentiment among the opposition to Trump has also changed.

“I think a lot of people are now realizing that walking around with signs, people got to get their hands dirty,” he said.Asked about whether he feared retribution, Rabitz said: “You can’t be afraid. I’m willing to be the first one. I’ll be the Tiananmen tankguy.”

Protests planned in every state

The 50501 Movement − 50 states, 50 protests, one day − planned demonstrations "supporting the free expression of regular Americans’ dissatisfaction with the embrace of Project 2025."

Project 2025 is a lengthy list of proposals that would expand presidential power and impose an ultra-conservative social vision. Protest organizers say Project 2025 seeks to target marginalized groups, heighten surveillance, restrict reproductive rights and slash funding for crucial services such as education and health care while dismantling "the freedoms we cherish."

The 50501 group is also opposed to Trump's executive orders such as cracking down on illegal immigration and pardoning people involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Musk the target of ire from some Austin protesters

Many of Musk's fellow residents of Austin, Texas, vociferously expressed their disapproval of the multibillionaire at a protest Wednesday in front of the state Capitol and in a march through downtown Austin.

Thousands participated in the demonstration against Trump's attempts at remaking the federal government and the country's immigration system, and a large number of them took aim at Musk and his DOGE associates.

The clamor from the rally could be heard from inside Capitol offices and the Senate chamber as protesters chanted, "No more Musk, stop the coup," "Reclaim our county, take back our rights," "All are welcome here."

Musk has brought numerous jobs to Texas by moving the headquarters of some of his businesses to the state, including Tesla and SpaceX, but his work in reshaping sections of the government has drawn strong backlash.

"Elon Musk has your number,'' said one sign, a reference to DOGE gaining access to federal employee data.

− Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman

Lawyer, nurse among those taking time off work to protest

Several attendees took off work to attend the USAID and 50501 rallies that converged outside the Capitol.

Ravenna Romack, a lawyer and military spouse, said she protested on the Capitol steps every day this week. Romack, 40, said she's most concerned about Musk’s growing power in the federal government and his team circumventing Congress.

“People are feeling galvanized right now because it's become personal,” said Romack, who saw Wednesday's protest as a continuation of the resistance movement against Trump that has existed for years.

Nathan Alexander, a 32-year-old military veteran, stood at the edge of the crowd with a cart filled with first aid materials, water, granola bars, hand warmers and flask masks. Alexander said he works as a nurse at a hospital in Maryland but opted Wednesday to provide emergency service to anyone who needed it at the rally, and added he paid for all the supplies with his own money.

“That's how important it is to me to make sure that everybody knows … we're all in this together,” said Alexander, who was wearing a rainbow pin. “Rising tides raise all ships.’’

AFL-CIO rallies against Musk labor actions

One of the nation's largest labor unions, the AFL-CIO, rallied Wednesday at the Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., concerned Musk and his team may target the department next.

Users shared posts about the rally on social media, including on the Reddit section where Wednesday demonstrations across the nation were organized.

"Working people deserve a STRONG Department of Labor that works for them, NOT for billionaires and corporate CEOs,'' the AFL-CIO said in a post on the X platform, which Musk owns.

Among the speakers at the rally were AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler; Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, a Democrat; and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat who represents D.C.

"This is where the movement begins, this is where the fight begins," Markey said.

− Krystal Nurse

Protests planned in New Jersey, where Trump lost 3 times

Trump did not win New Jersey on election night, but the state vote in 2024 was far closer than his previous races against Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. Multiple protests against Trump policies were planned Wednesday in the state.

The 50501 Movement in New Jersey planned to kick off its protest at noon at the State House in Trenton. Indivisible, a grassroots movement initiated in 2016 to defeat Trump's agenda, was hosting rallies outside Senator Cory Booker's office on Gateway Center in Newark and Senator Andy Kim's office in Jersey City.

Multiple protests set in Mississippi

Voices of Mississippi will hold a protest at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson. Organizers were asking those who can't make it to Jackson to go to local city hall buildings. And everyone taking part in the protest is encouraged to wear blue.

Indivisible Northeast Mississippi also plans to rally at Sen. Roger Wicker’s district office in Tupelo. The Republican, ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has questioned Trump’s push to greatly diminish USAID, saying it is crucial to combat China’s increasing influence in the developing world.