Dozens of protesters marched through freezing temperatures from Federal Plaza to Trump Tower on Monday, standing up against what they called a threat to democracy. The demonstration, organized by the group Refuse Fascism, was part of a larger wave of Presidents Day protests against the Trump administration. Protesters voiced concerns over what they described as attacks on democratic freedoms.
One of the major issues highlighted was the recent cuts to government spending and job losses within federal agencies. These changes were made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which has been firing government employees in recent weeks. Many protesters held signs in support of LGBTQ and reproductive rights, while others pointed out that Musk was appointed to his role rather than elected.
Dr. Joseph Milton, a 73-year-old emergency medicine physician, spoke at the event, warning that healthcare in the U.S. could suffer under Trump and Musk’s leadership. He criticized the administration for limiting the work of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), saying that important updates about measles and tuberculosis outbreaks were not reaching doctors.
“This could be managed properly if the CDC was allowed to do its job,” Milton explained. “But with so many staff members gone, they can’t do what’s needed.”
The midday protest was one of many happening nationwide. A movement called “No Kings on Presidents Day” organized demonstrations in multiple cities, including Boston and Washington, under the banner “50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement.”
Many of these protests took place in cities experiencing extreme cold due to an ongoing polar vortex. The demonstrations came in response to several executive orders issued by Trump and widespread layoffs across government agencies aimed at shrinking the federal workforce.
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee spoke about the uncertainty government workers are feeling. “We’re very worried about what’s happening,” the employee said, choosing to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. “Even though I have a permanent position, that doesn’t mean I’m not concerned about the future of my job and the agency’s work.”
Madeleine Melville, a 27-year-old public policy student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, attended the protest after hearing about it. She said the current political climate reminded her of stories from her great-grandmother, who lived in Nazi Germany.
Her mother was attending a similar protest in Alabama.
“Hopefully, if enough of us stand up and speak out, we can make a difference,” Melville said. “It feels like we just have to keep pushing back and not give up.”
