Protests in New York against Trump call for impeachment and denounce abuses

Thousands of people took to the streets of New York this Tuesday (20) in protests against the President of the United States, Donald Trump, denouncing what they classify as a “fascist threat” in the country and defending the opening of an impeachment process.

In recent days, similar protests have spread across hundreds of cities in the United States, driven by the actions of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), accusations of authoritarianism, attacks on civil rights and foreign policy initiatives considered aggressive.

The demonstrations in New York took place on the date that marked one year of the beginning of Trump’s second term.

This Tuesday’s events took place in different parts of the city, such as Central Park, Fifth Avenue, Trump Tower and the New York Public Library.

Among the main focuses of the protests was the actions of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the target of criticism following the death of Renee Nicole Good, shot by a federal agent in Minneapolis in early January.

The episode increased the rejection of the agency’s operations and reinforced, among protesters, the fear that similar actions would be repeated in large urban centers, such as New York.

In front of Trump Tower, protesters chanted slogans such as “No more ICE!” and displayed banners with sayings such as “No kings”, “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders” and “Renee Nicole Good was not a criminal, but the president is”.

“Like a dictator, he just does what he wants and it doesn’t seem like anyone can stop him,” one protester told US broadcaster WABC.

“What is happening in our country needs to stop,” actress Lisa, 62, resident of Manhattan, told the New York Times, commenting on the death of Renee Nicole Good during an ICE raid in Minneapolis.

In addition to the immigration issue, the acts incorporated broader criticisms of the Trump administration, including allegations of disrespect for court decisions, attacks on civil rights and the perception of an authoritarian escalation in the exercise of power.

Posters and slogans also targeted the government’s foreign policy, especially statements and initiatives related to Greenland, seen by protesters as an expression of an imperial and hostile stance towards historical allies.

Local authorities and political leaders from the city participated in the mobilizations, reinforcing the public and institutional nature of the protest.

For organizers, the protests reflect an accumulation of dissatisfaction throughout the first year of Trump’s second term and seek to pressure Congress to move forward with the opening of impeachment proceedings.

On the government side, Trump responded to criticism by extolling the results of his administration. In statements and publications on social media, the president highlighted the tightening of immigration policies and the performance of the financial market as achievements of the period, while maintaining the defense of ICE’s actions and rejecting the accusations made by the protesters.

This Tuesday’s mobilizations, however, indicate that the challenge to the government remains active and articulated.

Groups involved in the protests say that new acts are planned for the coming weeks, keeping immigration policy, the limits of federal action and the institutional future of the United States under the command of Donald Trump at the center of public debate.