FLASH
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Mass protests against President Donald Trump have begun in the United States, in a wave of demonstrations expected to include over 2,500 cities and communities across the country.
The first protest, called "No Kings," began today in New York City and is just the beginning of a day that is expected to mark a broad mobilization against "Trump's growing authoritarianism."
According to the BBC, organizers have warned that millions of people will participate in the protests being held in major American cities, including Washington DC, where Senator Bernie Sanders is expected to be one of the keynote speakers, as well as Los Angeles.
On the organizers' official website, the protest is described as a counteraction to the "chaos, corruption, and cruelty" that, according to them, characterize the Trump administration.
"The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we have no kings and we will not back down," their official statement said.
Political tensions and harsh reactions
The protests have sparked immediate backlash from the Republican camp. Trump allies have accused the organizers of ties to the radical left-wing movement Antifa, although without concrete evidence.
Several Republican-led states have taken increased security measures. The governors of Texas and Virginia have activated the National Guard to be on standby, although it remains unclear whether their presence will be visible on the streets.
"We're going to have to bring out the National Guard. I hope it's peaceful, but I doubt it will be, " Republican Senator Roger Marshall told CNN.
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott justified the decision by linking the planned protest in Austin to "potential demonstrations linked to Antifa."
This statement was opposed by Democratic Party figures, including lawmaker Gene Wu, who said that "Sending armed soldiers to suppress peaceful protests is what kings and dictators do, and Greg Abbott just proved he is one of them."
In Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin took the same preventive measure.
International support and global solidarity
Similar solidarity protests have also been reported in Berlin, Madrid and Rome, where citizens have taken to the streets to support American demonstrators and express concern over authoritarian tendencies in American politics.
Trump: I am not a king
In a pre-released interview with Fox News, expected to air on Sunday, Trump reacted to the protest slogan.
"A king? That's not true. I'm not a king ," he said in the interview's promotional clip, adding that the protests are "organized by people who hate America."
Meanwhile, well-known figures in the arts and activism such as Jane Fonda, Kerry Washington, John Legend, Alan Cumming and John Leguizamo have confirmed their participation in the "No Kings" rallies, giving the protests a high public and symbolic profile.
In an atmosphere of heightened tension, the US is preparing for a day of protests that, according to many observers, could become the largest moment of civil mobilization since the protests after the 2020 elections.
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