Rallies were held across the country, including in the Triangle. The left-leaning organizers said more than 3,100 events have been registered in all 50 states, with more than 9 million people expected to participate.
Demonstrators filled streets as large "No Kings" protests drew crowds for the third time in less than a year, with attendees calling attention to issues such as immigration enforcement and federal funding cuts.
Participants in Raleigh gathered near the Capitol as some drivers honked in support, while in Durham, marchers moved from CCB Plaza to Central Park. Many described their presence as an act of civic engagement.
"This is democracy in action. Protesting, using our rights, exercising them, and making our voices heard in a way that cannot be ignored," attendee Deb Furphy said.
For some, the demonstrations marked their first major protest in decades.
"Last protest I was in was against the Vietnam War in 1970," attendee Richard Huggins said.
Immigration enforcement drew significant attention from marchers, including concerns about actions by federal agents.
"I think the violence of ICE is really scary and we have to figure out a way to stop that and do what is right and safe for our communities," attendee Niha Wunnava said. "But I think the deaths that we saw (in Minnesota) are really questionable and egregious and we have to make sure that doesn't continue to happen."
Others criticized U.S. involvement in the ongoing war in Iran and expressed concerns about federal staffing and budget cuts.
"The gutting of USAID, it's a horrible impact on our relations overseas because that fund provides all sorts of humanitarian and food aid," attendee Mike Gallagher said.
First-generation American Bobby Wunnava said he and his wife chose to display the American flag as a symbol of their values and connection to the country.
"I grew up learning about the American dream, learning about becoming better, learning what America means. It's the beacon, it's the light for the world," he said. "I served in the military as well. I've served in government institutions as well. For me, it's like a reclaiming of the American experience, the American flag. The patriotism is actually doing what's right for your country, interpreting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and doing what's right and not what's easy."
Cary Police said that the demonstration in the town was peaceful, and no arrests were made. A total of 66 Cary police officers and fire department personnel were on hand.
GOP officials called the events "Hate America Rallies." The White House dismissed the rallies. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson described the protests as the product of "leftist funding networks" with little real public support.
Jackson said in a statement that the "only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them."
In a statement, Matt Mercer, Communications Director for the NCGOP wrote: "Democrats continue to show hating President Trump is a higher priority for them than supporting our military as they bravely defend our national security against the Iranian regime or funding DHS to secure our own country."
Organizers told reporters in an online news conference Thursday that they expect Saturday's protests to be larger than the first two rounds of No Kings rallies, which they estimate drew more than 5 million people in June and more than 7 million in October.
National organizers of Saturday's rallies across the country predicted that the protests could add up to one of the largest demonstrations in U.S. history.
In Washington, hundreds of marchers moved through the streets, past the Lincoln Memorial and into the National Mall, holding signs that read "Put down the crown, clown" and "Regime change begins at home." Demonstrators rang bells, played drums and chanted "No kings."
In New York City, Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, described Trump as the nation's "Bully in Chief" and said Minneapolis residents "forced the wannabe king to withdraw his shock troops."
"They want us all to be afraid to protest," she said during a news conference. "They want us to be afraid that there's nothing we can do to stop them. But you know what? They are wrong - dead wrong."
The National Republican Congressional Committee also fired back at the protests.
"These Hate America Rallies are where the far-left's most violent, deranged fantasies get a microphone," said Maureen O'Toole, spokesperson for the NRCC.
- The Associated Press contributed.
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