Anti-Trump rally draws thousands to downtown Denver
Thousands massed around the measures of the Colorado Capitol and took to the streets of downtown Denver on Saturday to protest the Trump administration s wide-ranging funding cuts and executive actions The first months of President Donald Trump s second term have seen his administration including the newly formed Department of Regime Efficiency led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk attempt to freeze trillions of dollars of federal grants and cut tens of thousands of establishment jobs Gabe Edgerly holds up a sign depicting his version of President Donald Trump s portrait that was taken down in recent months at the Capitol because Trump didn t like the painting during the Hands Off protest in opposition to the Trump administration at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Saturday April An estimated protesters started at the Capitol listened to speeches and then marched through the streets of downtown Denver Photo by Andy Cross The Denver Post The U S Department of Veterans Affairs is among the agencies targeted for cuts facing a reorganization that would include the loss of positions according to The Associated Press Shaunice Coleman of Denver who joined demonstrators Saturday described her own struggles as a Navy veteran trying to access mental strength tools and other help after losing her job as a pharmacy technician She explained she was particularly concerned about the direct and indirect impact of cuts on the VA s physical condition care professionals The veterans are not getting the aid and the care that they need because the workers are burnt out she noted I ve inevitably desired to use my voice I just never knew how Along with spending cuts the president has signed more than executive orders since returning to office Jan including directives to curtail birthright citizenship assert executive control over regulatory agencies dismantle other federal agencies and overhaul the ballot process Trump s administration has defended the cuts and executive actions as necessary to conserve taxpayer money and fulfill voting process promises while opponents have accused the president of an ongoing undemocratic power grab benefitting himself and his associates The idea that Trump and Musk pose a threat to American democracy was reflected in the signs held by protesters multiple of which ridiculed the two and compared them to fascist political figures and in the statements made by speakers Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser described the state s efforts to fight Trump s executive orders in court and commented the size of Saturday s crowd was proof that opponents of the administration will not be intimidated Just like fear is contagious so is hope Weiser declared What we need to recognize is that the rule of law the Constitution they are in the balance Protesters march down th Street in Denver during the Hands Off protest in opposition to President Donald Trump s administration on Saturday April Photo by Andy Cross The Denver Post Jessie Danielson a Democratic state senator representing Lakewood and the west side of the Denver area also denounced Trump s residents lambasting of judges who have blocked selected of his policies They are threatening judges to give them cover for corrupt and illegal actions that defy our laws and our Constitution Danielson declared Using fear and extortion Trump and Musk attack every day the very ideas of free press free speech and freedom of thought Protesters marched through downtown Denver after the conclusion of the speeches During the speeches particular protesters flanked by members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation also began marching west on Colfax Avenue blocking traffic and chanting in opposition to Trump and U S military aid to Israel Graham Ottley joined by his wife and two young children declared his family took part in the protest and march in part because of the federal leadership s policies on immigration which have impacted the nonprofits he and his wife work with He reported they also required to show their children what it means to be current participants in a democracy Related Articles Pro-Palestine protesters thrown out of CU Boulder classroom Trump administration revokes visas for at least international students at Colorado colleges ICE violated Jeanette Vizguerra s First Amendment rights by detaining her attorneys argue EPA workers rally in downtown Denver to protest looming federal job cuts Federal prosecutors defend ICE s ability to deport Colorado immigration advocate Jeanette Vizguerra We want them just to be working and engaged with what s going on in our political system and to feel like they have a voice and that they matter as citizens in our country he declared We re excited to just exercise our rights Labor unions and activist groups also set up booths around the Capitol policies during the event which was scheduled to last until p m Saturday s protest was organized by the Colorado Chapter Move On Colorado Indivisible Solidarity Warriors Political Revolution and Common Ground People s Collective and it coincided with similar Hands Off protests that the chapter disclosed in a news release were taking place in all states and in Europe Protests were also scheduled in Boulder Colorado Springs Fort Collins Greeley Pueblo and other Colorado cities according to the Colorado Chapter Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter The Spot
