Bernie Sanders Joins Global Anti-Trump Protests as Thousands Rally in Lisbon and Worldwide

Widespread Demonstrations Against Trump's Policies

Nine months after Donald Trump's inauguration, thousands of Americans took to the streets this Saturday to criticize what they describe as a tyrannical and autocratic governance of the United States. The protests, organized by a coalition of groups, mobilized people in over 2,600 locations across the U.S., with actions also scheduled in Lisbon, London, Madrid, and Berlin.

Lisbon's Role in the Global Movement

Praça do Comércio served as the epicenter of the concentration against the American President in Portugal, where dozens of people gathered with signs sharing the protest motto, "No Kings". Messages like "Stop the insanity, make America democratic again"; "No Kings, no KKK, no fascism"; and "No tyrants" were raised on placards in the Lisbon square.

The map of protests in over 2,600 locations in the U.S., according to the organization

Key Issues Driving the Protests

The thousands of people mobilized worldwide for the protests pointed to immigration, education, and security policies as symbols of a democratic decline that is pushing the U.S. toward autocracy, with Trump as king, hence the motto of the demonstrations called for this Saturday.

Naturally, the majority of protesters were concentrated in the U.S., with the organization expecting millions of people in the streets. According to New York police, the protests gathered over 100,000 people in various parts of the state. In Washington, the protests featured a special appearance by Democratic Senator Bernard 'Bernie' Sanders, who issued several warnings in his speech to the crowd.

Bernie Sanders' Stark Warnings

"Our country is in great danger when we have a president who threatens to detain and arrest political opponents," said the experienced 84-year-old politician. Sanders also criticized the intimidation of journalists by the White House, interference in university operations, and the threat made by Trump to remove judges who do not agree with his orders.

Thousands of people took to the streets to criticize 'King Trump' in Europe as well

Focus on Immigration Enforcement

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been another target of the protesters. Federal agent operations began earlier this year with the goal of "carrying out U.S. immigration law" and detaining all immigrants considered criminals. At the inauguration, the President promised he would "return millions and millions of criminal immigrants to the places they came from."

In Chicago, which has been the scene of many ICE actions, Governor Brandon Johnson told the crowd that he would not allow an "occupation" of the city by "troops."

Escalating Tensions and Government Response

In recent months, protests against the White House administration have been repeated and have already led Donald Trump to send military personnel to U.S. states, especially those led by Democratic governors, with the argument that state authorities cannot control violence and crime. Unaffected by the wave of protests, the U.S. President spent the day at his golf club in Mar-a-Lago.