05/04/2025 17:10
The Guardian
More than a thousand events expected in a show of defiance against US president’s ‘authoritarian overreach’Hundreds of protesters gathered in central London on Saturday as part of global demonstrations against Donald Trump’s administration. Crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square with banners that read “No to Maga hate” and “Dump Trump”. The rally is one of hundreds of so-called “hands off” demonstrations around the world – including in cities across the US, Paris and Berlin. The movement has been organised by more than 150 groups, including civil rights groups and trade unions. Among the protesters in London was Clarke Reinstein, 73, from Rhode Island, who told the PA news agency he was “disappointed in my fellow Americans” over the election of Donald Trump. “I’ve been in London for two months and I like being over here because people think a little differently,” he said, adding, “They made a mistake over Brexit – but they didn’t fall over like the Americans have.” A 37-year-old woman from Philadelphia was draped in the American flag that had been presented to her Second World War veteran grandfather. The woman, who did not wish to be named, told PA she was protesting because of the “absolute, mind-blowing insipidness” of Trump’s presidency. “I don’t want to alienate the rest of the world,” she said, addiing, “It’s not going to be useful for anyone in the long run. I felt powerless and I needed to come out and say something… I have friends in the United States who are marching in protest, and I wanted to march with them in solidarity.” Brent Robertson, 56, from Albuquerque, criticised Trump’s tariffs. Robertson said: “Stupid is not the word… He is shooting himself and all of us as Americans, just so he can make himself look like a tough guy.”Maxwell Frost, Florida’s Democratic representatve, is now adddressing the crowd in Washington DC.We see the foundations of our society, social security, Medicare, Medicaid, the very safety nets that people have fought for, for generations, to ensure that our country lives up to its promise, are being targeted by the billionaires and the oligarchs and the corporations.This insidious rise of authoritarianism is fueled by corrupt billionaires and mega corporations who believe that they have the right to control every aspect of our lives, our healthcare, to our schools, to our thoughts, to our very free speech under the false banner of patriotism and freedom … Continue reading...
Continua a leggere su "The Guardian"