WASHINGTON, D.C.—President Donald Trump’s inauguration was held in the Capitol Rotunda due to frigid temperatures, but, protests were still held and brought thousands around the country to the Nation’s Capital and other cities, which was not reported by the mainstream media.
From the People’s March to the National Day of Action to Rev. Al Sharpton’s Inaugural Day Rally, people took to the streets to express their views. Dissatisfaction and frustration are growing among Americans of all backgrounds aimed at both political parties no matter who occupies the White House.
The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad addressed this important fact in his 1965 book, “Message to the Blackman in America,” in the chapter, “The National Election.”
“How much good have the two parties (Republican and Democrat) done for us for the last century in the way of freedom, justice, and equality? Regardless of what party wins, the die is always set against us (the Black people in America),” he wrote.
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, National Representative of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad also addressed the growing dissatisfaction in America’s political discourse and direction in his landmark book, “A Torchlight for America.”
“If the greatest political system is democracy and the right to choose leadership, and if only half of the people are participating in this democracy; then the people are demonstrating their gross dissatisfaction with their own leadership and government.
This dissatisfaction must bring about a change. The question becomes: Who will bring about the change? Who will offer solutions to the problems faced by the people and what kind of change will there be?” Minister Farrakhan wrote.
Many people expressed anger, fear and frustration at some of the Executive Orders President Trump signed shortly after taking office which they argue will impact millions of people.
Some orders addressed immigration, the U.S.-Mexico border, birthright citizenship, federal workers, so-called diversity, equity and inclusion regulations and the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
President Trump also reversed a previous federal directive that prohibited Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol (ICE) officers from arresting suspected undocumented immigrants in “sensitive” areas like schools or houses of worship, funerals, hospitals or public demonstrations, reported abcnews.go.com.
“We want education. We want houses that don’t cost a fortune. We want low interest rates. We want low taxes. We want a strong, powerful military, and we’re going to have that,” President Trump said in comments delivered at the Liberty Ball on Jan. 20 after being sworn in earlier that day.
In several fact sheets posted on Whitehouse.gov, the new administration touted its views on some of the new Executive Orders, including one dealing with delivering emergency price relief.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to deliver emergency price relief for American families and defeat the cost-of-living crisis,” the fact sheet notes.
Some of the actions the administration said would address listed in the memo included: Drastically lowering the cost of housing and expanding housing; eliminating unnecessary administrative expenses and rent-seeking practices that drive up healthcare costs and eliminating counterproductive requirements raising the costs of home appliances.
While people were reacting to President Trump’s first few executive orders, across town, in the frigid cold, protesters at Malcolm X Park in Washington, D.C., were part of 80 cities nationwide in 40 states that mobilized to oppose the incoming administration. Cities where demonstrations happened included New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Portland.
Demonstrators also demanded an end to the siege of Gaza and all U.S. aid to Israel, a continuation of massive protests that took place during the Biden-Harris administration.
Brian Becker, national director of the ANSWER Coalition, told the crowd, “His (President Trump’s) real agenda is to destroy worker’s rights, deport millions of immigrant families, and pave the way for a complete corporate takeover by ending regulations to protect the environment, firing thousands of public sector workers, and transferring ever-larger parts of the national treasury to the military-industrial complex.”
Sponsoring organizations of the protest included the Palestinian Youth Movement, U.S. Palestinian Community Network, Party for Socialism & Liberation, UAW 4811, United Educators of San Francisco and Black Men Build.
Manolo De Los Santos, executive director of The People’s Forum, said, “The Trump victory in the 2024 election represents the complete failure of the Democratic Party to stop the rise of the ultra-right. In fact, they have contributed to it by adopting much of the program of the extreme right while embracing endless war.”
“We can defeat the Trump program not by following the Democratic Party establishment, but by building a massive movement against the ruling class and the political system that gives everything to billionaires while impoverishing an ever larger section of the population,” he added.
Hundreds of organizations from immigrants’ rights defenders, Black Lives Matter local chapters, legal rights organizations, to Palestine solidarity organizations joined the protest. Notable endorsers included actress and activist Rowan Blanchard, Rev. Graylan Hagler, former third-party presidential candidate Jill Stein, and others.
Days before the inauguration on January 18, thousands of protesters rallied in the People’s March to voice their opposition to the incoming president and his proposed policies. The march kicked off in three separate downtown locations.
Each gathering spot addressed various interests like Free D.C., Palestinian Youth Movement D.C., Democracy and Immigration. Marchers were inspired by speeches and then walked to the Lincoln Memorial for a larger rally. Final Call Managing Editor Starla Muhammad contributed to this report.
