[Report] "We Must Show Our Strength in the Midterm Elections"... New York City Holds Anti-Trump Protest

Many Families Join the Protest
Wide Range of Slogans: War, ICE, and the Constitution
Calls Grow to Hold the Administration Accountable in the Midterms
Numerous Citizens Raise the Issue of Impeachment

Jessica Moon, a 40-year-old American woman (center), explains why she attended the 'No Kings' rally in Central Park, Manhattan, New York, USA, on the 28th (local time) with her husband and children. Photo by Yoonju Hwang

"We are parents, and we want to set an example for our children about how important it is to participate in the democratic process. As part of that, we need to raise our voices in protest at this rally."

At 2 p.m. on March 28 (local time), Central Park in Manhattan, New York, was packed with hundreds of thousands of people gathered to participate in the 'No Kings' rally. The 'No Kings' protest, which means 'There are no kings in America,' was an anti-President Donald Trump rally. On this day, the demonstrators marched approximately 1.6 kilometers from Central Park to Grand Central Station along 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue.

Jessica Moon, 40, who attended the rally, expressed her frustration, saying, "Chaos and the destruction of law and order are undermining our sense of democracy and freedom," and "I'm deeply concerned that this will affect future generations."

The sign she and her husband were holding read 'We the People.' These three words are the first words of the preamble to the U.S. Constitution. The phrase symbolizes the fundamental principle of democracy that power in the United States comes from the people rather than from a king or a privileged class. Jessica Moon and her husband explained that they brought a sign with the first three words of the Constitution to highlight that President Trump is violating the principle of popular sovereignty.

A citizen participating in the 'No Kings' protest held in New York City is holding a sign that reads 'Obey OUR CONSTITUTION.' Photo by Yoonju Hwang

The protesters were calm, but the atmosphere was intense. People filled all three lanes of both 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue as they moved along the streets. When someone started a chant with "Oh~ Yeh~," the rest joined in singing slogans such as "Donald Trump has to go!" and "We the People! People Power!"

The participants were diverse in age, race, and occupation. People from various walks of life, including employees of artificial intelligence startups, accountants, writers, and retirees, gathered in one place. Many people brought their children to the protest, which was especially notable.

Participants held signs with a variety of messages, such as "Protect Democracy," "Abolish ICE," and "No War," as they filled the streets. One couple helped their child see the protest better by putting them on their shoulders or letting them stand on a chair at the edge of the road to watch the scene.

The citizens who participated in the protest unanimously emphasized, "Democracy is collapsing." Lisa, 49, who agreed to be interviewed anonymously, pointed out, "Trump is suppressing everything that forms the foundation of democracy, including freedom of expression, voting rights, and freedom of the press. He is trying to become a king, not a president, but that will not happen."

On the 28th (local time), many citizens participated in and marched during the anti-Trump protest held in Manhattan, New York City. Photo by Yoonju Hwang

John Lewis, a 58-year-old American man, also said, "There are so many problems with the Trump administration, but the biggest issue is that he runs the government as if he were a king. He hardly reflects the opinions of Congress or the people and just makes decisions as he pleases."

Many people at the protest especially emphasized the need to hold the Trump administration accountable in the midterm elections. An elderly couple said, "We hope everyone will act. It only takes 67 votes in the Senate to impeach. Just winning the midterm elections is not enough."

The couple added, "Vice President J.D. Vance is smarter than Trump, but he is not rational. He also needs to step down. Vice President Vance's wife is of Indian immigrant descent. At the very least, he should not be criticizing immigration policies."

After asking the reporter's nationality, another male protester remarked, "This administration has made poor choices even in relations with allies like Korea. They have imposed tariffs and started wars with countries like Iran; it is a very bad administration."

When asked, "With so many issues being raised, what do you think is the biggest problem?" he shook his head and said, "There are too many problems to pick just one. We need to show our strength in the midterm elections."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.