Overview
- Police in multiple cities described largely peaceful gatherings, with Washington, D.C., and New York reporting no protest-related arrests.
- Speakers at major rallies included Sens. Bernie Sanders and Chris Murphy in Washington, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in Chicago, and Elizabeth Warren in Boston, with Bill Nye criticizing the administration’s stance on science.
- Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, condemned the demonstrations as a “Hate America” rally, while a White House spokesperson dismissed questions about the events.
- The security posture remained a flashpoint, as the administration sought Supreme Court approval to deploy the National Guard in Illinois, governors in Virginia and Texas activated Guard units, and courts blocked planned deployments to Chicago and Portland.
- Protest tactics emphasized de-escalation and theatrical imagery such as inflatable costumes, and rallies extended to European capitals against the backdrop of an ongoing federal shutdown.