“No Kings Day” demonstrations take place in the city and across the country Saturday, with rallies in all five boroughs.
The marches are happening in 2,500 cities and towns nationwide as part of a pushback against what activists call “authoritarian power grabs” by President Donald Trump.
One of the largest events is taking place in Times Square, where thousands of protesters showed up to express their frustration with the Trump administration.
“This is fascism. They are trying to scare people, intimidate people. They are occupying cities with the military. They are unleashing ICE to grab immigrants and citizens. And taking them off the streets and putting them in detention centers. This is fascism,” Travis Morales said.
“I am upset about all the Hispanics they are abusing. Separating families, sending them out without trials to torture prisons. I mean, that’s not America,” Bryce, who did not provide his last name, said.
“This is my first protest,” Sylvia Martinez said. “This morning. I was on the fence. If you are on the fence, get involved, okay? It’s enough. We have seen enough, too much of this. It’s not going to stop unless we stop it.”
Organizers and local politicians held a press conference ahead of the march saying they’re here to fight back against attacks on immigrants and democracy in America.
“No one needs to wonder what would America look like under an authoritarian takeover. If the military was turned against us. If judges and elected officials were arrested by the federal government,” Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, said.
City Comptroller Brad Lander, who has been arrested by federal ICE agents after escorting immigrants from their court appearances at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, also spoke ahead of the march.
“We stand up for liberty and against tyranny. We want no kings anytime,” he said.
Similar “No Kings” events were held in New York and nationwide in June, and “Hands Off” protests were held in April.
The rallies have drawn criticism from top congressional Republicans, the president’s cabinet and President Trump himself, who has called the marches anti-American and “hate America” rallies.