Anti-Trump rallies taking place on the President’s Day holiday in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Miami and other cities
Last Updated Feb 20, 2017 7:29 PM EST
CBS Los Angeles reports that organizers said they chose to rally on the holiday as a way to honor past presidents by exercising their constitutional right to assemble and peacefully protest.
In downtown Los Angeles, thousands gathered outside city hall chanting “Love, not hate, makes America great,” reports CBSLA’s Margaret Carrero.
The protesters had signs reading “Trump is treason” and “the art of the liar.”
Chanting ‚Love not hate makes America Great‘ at #NotMyPresidentsDay rally at #LA City Hall. @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/jA4X3pZtAY
In Chicago, CBS News’ Roseanne Tellez covered a protest in the city’s downtown, where protesters had signs reading “Dump Trump” and “Repeal and replace Trump, not Obamacare!”
In Miami, protesters voiced their frustration.
“I’m upset … I am very concerned and I would like to see a return to rational reasonable policies based on fact, facts that are not up for debate,” said Chris Webber.
People across the nation took to the streets to protest against the Trump presidency on President’s Day
“There is hatred among different races, separation of races, it needs to stop, we need to find a common good and work together to preserve the United States,” said June Martinez.
Peter Bronson was in South Florida on vacation from New York. He drove down from Deerfield Beach to voice his concerns over the Trump administration.
“I don’t want to see the country sold to the highest bidder. I want to see a system, something like a change in the system that Martin Luther King talked about, that we change the country, the system, that people are treated fairly no matter what station is in life,” said Bronson.
. @realDonaldTrump will try to call „Not My Presidents‘ Day“ rallies in Britain FAKE NEWS, but really they’re accurate AF.
In Portland, Oregon, dozens gathered late Monday morning and blocked downtown streets, and a handful of protesters were arrested after refusing to stop blocking traffic, CBS Portland affiliate KOIN reported. Video from the scene showed police making arrests and people laying face down on the ground.
A screenshot of a video showing scenes on Monday in Portland, Oregon, where police took some people into custody, CBS affiliate KOIN reported.
For about 20 minutes, protesters had been given verbal warnings to clear the street. Some did, while others kept blocking traffic. Police initially arrested three people, according to KOIN, and at least five others were arrested about 10 minutes later.
Another rally was held midday in Portland and was peaceful, KOIN reported. Both groups were protesting the Trump administration.
In New York, 15,000 people were expected to show up in front of Trump International Hotel.
Monday’s rallies were the latest in what has been a seemingly endless string of protests against the president. Several cities hosted similar events over the weekend.
Protesters in Chicago at a ‘Not My Presidents Day’ rally
Demonstrators say Trump has attacked everything they stand for, from his crackdown on immigration to his party’s response to climate change and the environment.
Meanwhile, supporters of the president have followed his lead, turning on the media and saying they’re glad to see Trump fighting back.
