Protests Erupt Against Political Figures on Presidents Day

BOSTON (AP) — Demonstrators opposing President Donald Trump and his policies braved freezing temperatures to express their dissent on Monday during gatherings coinciding with the Presidents Day holiday. Dubbed “No Kings on Presidents Day” by the 50501 Movement, these latest protests occurred within a fortnight of a similar nationwide event on February 5th that saw participation in numerous cities. Both demonstrations vocally criticized Trump and wealthy advisor Elon Musk, the head of Trump’s recently established Department of Government Efficiency, an agency external to the government aiming to cut federal expenditures.

Approximately 1,000 individuals marched through the snow from the Statehouse in Boston to City Hall, shouting slogans like “Elon Musk has got to go” and “No kings on Presidents Day!” The temperature was below freezing, with wind chills making it feel even colder. Some Boston protesters donned attire reminiscent of the Revolutionary War era, brandishing signs bearing messages such as “This is a Coup” and “Cowards Bow to Trump, Patriots Stand Up.” One sign featured an illustration of Uncle Sam declaring “I Want You to Resist.”

“I felt it was crucial to be present here on Presidents Day to advocate for what America stands for,” remarked Emily Manning, a 55-year-old engineer from Boston who attended the rally with her two teenage sons. “American values do not align with the values of a plutocracy or a select few wealthy individuals.”

The organizers of Monday’s protests, staged primarily in state capitals and major cities including Washington, D.C.; Orlando, Florida; and Seattle, asserted that they were highlighting “anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its wealthy allies.” A sign at the Washington, D.C. rally, which drew hundreds, demanded, “Deport Musk Dethrone Trump.”

Many of the demonstrations took place in cities gripped by sub-zero temperatures as a polar vortex traversed the nation. These protests arose following a series of executive orders by Trump and followed closely on the heels of workforce reductions within federal agencies as part of a government downsizing initiative.

___Associated Press writer Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this report.

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