Chattanooga Times Free Press

Thousands of demonstrat­ors across U.S. say ‘Not My President’

- BY JULIE WALKER

Thousands of demonstrat­ors turned out Monday across the U.S. to challenge Donald Trump in a Presidents Day protest dubbed Not My President’s Day.

The events on the federal holiday didn’t draw nearly as many people as the million-plus who thronged the streets following the Republican president’s inaugurati­on a month earlier, but the message was similar.

Thousands of flagwaving protesters lined up outside Central Park in Manhattan. Many in the crowd chanted “No ban, no wall. The Trump regime has got to fall.” They held aloft signs saying “Uphold the Constituti­on Now” and “Impeach the Liar.”

A rally in downtown Los Angeles also drew thousands. Demonstrat­ors there called attention to Trump’s crackdown on immigratio­n and his party’s response to climate change and the environmen­t. 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 Chicago, several hundred rallied across the river from the Trump Tower, shouting “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go.”

Rebecca Wolfram of Chicago, who’s in her 60s, said concerns about climate change and immigrant rights under Trump prompted her to start attending rallies.

“I’m trying to demonstrat­e as much as possible until I figure out what else to do,” said Wolfram, who held a sign that said “Old white ladies are really displeased.”

Several hundred demonstrat­ed in Washington, D.C. Dozens gathered around the fountain in Dupont Circle chanting “Dump Trump” and “Love, not hate: That’s what makes America great.”

Dozens marched through midtown Atlanta for a rally named with a Georgia flavor: “ImPEACH NOW! (Not My) President’s Day March.”

Hundreds of protesters chanting “This is what democracy looks like” marched through Salt Lake City.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported the crowd marched to push back against Trump and his administra­tion’s stance on such issues as the environmen­t, immigratio­n, free speech and Russia.

Some people raised signs that said “Not My President,” while others held up a large American flag. Protester Reg Brookings warned the crowd Trump is trying to divide the country by making such groups as immigrants the enemy.

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