Anti-Trump protests in over 20 cities end peacefully

Despite fears that protests by anti-Trump demonstrators in over 20 cities would be hijacked by violent anarchists, authorities said that the rallies came and went peacefully on Saturday.

The organizers of the protest, a group known as Refuse Facism, called for millions to take to the streets on Saturday in an effort to remove the Trump administration from power.

Doomsday scenarios of mass violence and chaos, which were promoted by right-wing media outlets like Fox News, did not come to pass, according to authorities.

In Los Angeles, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of downtown to denounce President Donald Trump and his administration.

Demonstrators from the Refuse Fascism movement hold up a flag likening Trump to Adolf Hitler

An anti Trump protester (left) confronts a counter protester and Trump supporter during This Nightmare Must End: the Trump/Pence Regime Must Go! protest in downtown Los Angeles

Anti-Trump protesters dress up in traditional Russian garb while holding signs denouncing Trump and Pence in Los Angeles on Saturday

Pro-Trump supporters march as they try to disrupt demonstrators from the Refuse Fascism movement

A protester is taken into custody by Los Angeles Police Department. There were only two arrests made on Saturday in LA

LAPD officers on bicycles managed to form a wedge separating anti-Trump protesters from scores of Trump supporters in Pershing Square

Police are seen above removing a pro-Trump supporters from the anti-Trump protest in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday

Anti-Trump demonstrators hold signs denouncing the president during the rally in Los Angeles

Right-wing media outlets like InfoWars promoted conspiracy theories about a possible ‘civil war’ being planned by protesters

The protests on Saturday bore little resemblance to the stormy days immediately following Trump’s election night victory a year ago this week

Los Angeles witnessed five days of massive protests in which hundreds of thousands took to the streets. Nearly 500 people were arrested during that week

Trump’s candidacy and his presidency have been polarizing elements of America’s contemporary political climate

A demonstrator holds up a picture of Trump with the words ‘Idiots Rule’ written across his face during the protest in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Police Department said that two people were arrested during the demonstrations.

LAPD officers on bicycles managed to form a wedge separating anti-Trump protesters from scores of Trump supporters in Pershing Square.

The police deployed hundreds of officers on the streets of downtown in the morning hours leading up to the demonstration, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The protests on Saturday bore little resemblance to the stormy days immediately following Trump’s election night victory a year ago this week.

Anti-Trump demonstrators are seen marching down University Place in the Greenwich Village section of New York City on Saturday

A person in a Guy Fawkes mask marches with people participating in a protest in New York

Policemen on motorbikes guard the procession down 7th Avenue in Manhattan on Saturday

Anti-Trump demonstrators gather for a second rally against the president at Washington Square Park in Manhattan on Saturday

A demonstrator with a bullhorn chants slogans against President Trump during a march in New York City on Saturday

Rallies took place in at least 22 other cities nationwide, including Minneapolis, Austin, San Francisco, and Cincinnati 

Los Angeles witnessed five days of massive protests in which hundreds of thousands took to the streets. Nearly 500 people were arrested during that week.

In New York City, hundreds took to the streets for similar anti-Trump protests that were largely peaceful.

Demonstrators gathered in Times Square for a rally and then continued south on Broadway for a second protest in Washington Square.

There are no reports of any arrests made, according to WPIX-TV.

In Chicago, over 100 protesters marched to Trump Tower on Saturday, some of them carrying signs which read ‘The Trump/Pence Regime MUST GO!’

The demonstration was peaceful, as no arrests were made, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

Other demonstrations were held in at least 22 cities, including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Honolulu, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle.

Right-wing media outlets like Alex Jones’ InfoWars began spreading conspiracy theories that ‘antifa’ anarchists were planning to ignite a civil war.

Despite fears that the demonstrations would turn violent, there were no reported arrests made by the New York Police Department

Refuse Fascism vowed earlier this week to continue the protests ‘day and night’ in nearly two-dozen cities until their demand is met: the removal of Trump’s ‘regime’

‘RefuseFascism.org called for non-violent protests to begin on Saturday in cities and towns across the country to raise the single demand: This Nightmare Must End: The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go!’ the group said in a statement on its website

Demonstrators also brought signs to the protest. The man on the right is holding a sign depicting Trump locked in a kiss with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The word ‘traitor’ is written underneath

The group said it hoped to emulate a series of popular demonstrations in South Korea that began in October 2016, culminating in the impeachment of that country’s president months later in March

An NYPD officer is on duty during the demonstration. In Chicago, over 100 protesters marched to Trump Tower on Saturday, some of them carrying signs which read ‘The Trump/Pence Regime MUST GO!’

A speaker addresses the crowd of protesters in Times Square. The procession then moved south toward Washington Square Park

Others made wild claims including the supposed plans by demonstrators to behead white people in town squares. 

Refuse Fascism vowed earlier this week to continue the protests ‘day and night’ in nearly two-dozen cities until their demand is met: the removal of Trump’s ‘regime’.

‘RefuseFascism.org called for non-violent protests to begin on Saturday in cities and towns across the country to raise the single demand: This Nightmare Must End: The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go!’ the group said in a statement on its website.

‘The plan is for these protests to continue every day until this demand is met,’ the statement continued.

The group said it hoped to emulate a series of popular demonstrations in South Korea that began in October 2016, culminating in the impeachment of that country’s president months later in March. 

‘Our protest must grow day after day and night after night—thousands becoming hundreds of thousands, and then millions—determined to act to put a stop to the grave danger that the Trump/Pence Regime poses to the world by demanding that this whole regime be removed from power,’ organizers wrote.

Antifa, short for anti-fascist, are a coalition of far-left radicals who advocate ‘direct action’ against their ideological opponents, who in the past have included outright neo-Nazis as well as Trump supporters. 

Homeland Security and the FBI have deemed antifa ‘domestic terrorists’.

But one Refuse Facism organizer has scoffed at the idea that the November 4 protests will be marked by violence.

‘It’s absurd. Calling for a civil war?’ Andy Zee told the Washington Post. ‘Pick a date for a civil war? Honestly, what do you say to this?’ 

Zee described the goal of the demonstrations: ‘Impeachment, the 25th Amendment – they will determine the means and ways when it becomes clear there is a tremendous crisis of confidence.’

The organization is engaged with a broad coalition of groups, including the Revolutionary Communist Party.