BOSTON (AP) — Demonstrators standing against President Donald Trump and his policies braved freezing temperatures to engage in rallies on Monday, coinciding with the Presidents Day holiday. Coined “No Kings on Presidents Day” by the 50501 Movement, the most recent protests occurred shortly after a similar nationwide gathering on Feb. 5, which saw participation in numerous cities. Both demonstrations criticized Trump and wealthy advisor Elon Musk, who leads Trump’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency, an entity external to the government tasked with reducing federal expenses. Nearly 1,000 individuals marched through the snow from Boston’s Statehouse to City Hall, chanting slogans like “Elon Musk has to leave” and “No kings on Presidents Day!” The weather was below freezing with wind chills in the teens. Some protesters in Boston were attired in Revolutionary War-era garb from the 1700s and carried placards with messages such as “This is a Coup” and “Cowards Submit to Trump, Patriots Rise.” One sign portrayed Uncle Sam proclaiming “I Want You to Resist.” “I felt it was vital to be present here on Presidents Day to advocate for the principles America upholds,” stated Emily Manning, a 55-year-old engineer from Boston who attended the rally with her two teenage sons. “The values of America are not those of a plutocracy or a select few wealthy individuals.” Organizers of Monday’s protests, concentrated in state capitals and major cities like Washington, D.C.; Orlando, Florida; and Seattle, declared they were opposing the “undemocratic and unlawful actions of the Trump administration and its wealthy allies.” A sign at the gathering in the nation’s capital, which drew hundreds, read, “Deport Musk Dethrone Trump.” Numerous protests were scheduled in cities where temperatures were significantly below freezing due to a polar vortex traversing the country. The demonstrations followed a series of executive orders by Trump and occurred shortly after layoffs across federal agencies as part of an initiative to downsize the government workforce. Associated Press writer Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this report.
