Americans take to the streets in ‘No Kings’ day protests against Donald Trump

{"text":[[{"start":12.25,"text":"Demonstrators gathered in cities across the US on Saturday to join a massive “No Kings” demonstration against Donald Trump, which organisers promoted as “the largest day of protest in US history”."}],[{"start":25.78,"text":"Our Revolution, one of the groups mobilising the demonstrations, said more than 3,000 events were planned in what is a third round of nationwide “No Kings” protests against Trump. The protest movement was spreading into Republican states and rural communities amid growing opposition to the president’s decision to go to war against Iran, the group said."}],[{"start":52.61,"text":"“Trump is not only governing like an authoritarian, he is advancing a system where war, corporate power and political corruption are deeply intertwined,” said Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution, a grassroots political organisation that grew out of leftwing senator Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":76.85,"text":"In Montclair, New Jersey, several thousand people gathered at Brookdale Park singing protest songs, chanting “No Kings” slogans and listening to speeches from political representatives and protest leaders. There was a small police presence on the ground and a calm atmosphere throughout the event."}],[{"start":98.53,"text":"“It’s mind-boggling that anybody still supports Trump given all the lies he has told,” said Lisa Rosen, a mother of three holding a “No Kings” banner."}],[{"start":109.42,"text":"She said her daughter is visiting Europe and was almost embarrassed to say she was an American because of Trump and the war against Iran. “We have to get people up off the couch and to come together and vote in the midterm elections.”"}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":123.92,"text":"James Barnes, a retiree with two sons, said the war against Iran was “idiotic” and there appeared to be no plan."}],[{"start":132.7,"text":"“We wiped out 150 children on the first day of the war and blamed the Iranians. And that was a lie,” he said, referring to an attack on Shajerej Tayyebeh Girls School in Minab, which Iran claims killed 175 people.  "}],[{"start":150.77999999999997,"text":"Steve Shalom, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace who was wearing a “Fund People Not Bombs” T-shirt, said the war against Iran was “illegal and unjust” and an attempt by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to distract from their own criminal liabilities."}],[{"start":168.95999999999998,"text":"The latest “No Kings” demonstration follows recent electoral successes by the Democrats and a slump in Trump’s approval ratings. Organisers were hopeful that as many as 9mn people could turn out at events in all 50 US states."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":185.59999999999997,"text":"Analysts say the war against Iran, rising petrol prices, stock market volatility, as well as criticism of his hardline immigration clampdown, pose a threat to the Republican Party in the November midterm elections."}],[{"start":200.43999999999997,"text":"Finnegan Kreger-Kirkman, a 15-year-old student who attended the Montclair protest with his mother and grandmother, said he was worried Trump could fix the election. “I’m here to protest against fascism.” "}],[{"start":214.43999999999997,"text":"Trump mocked demonstrators who turned out at previous “No Kings” protests, including by posting a video on social media depicting himself wearing a crown and dumping raw sewage on marchers while flying a fighter jet."}],[{"start":230.31999999999996,"text":"Asked to respond to Saturday’s nationwide protests, Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said: “The only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them.”"}],[{"start":245.30999999999997,"text":"One of the largest “No Kings” events was taking place in Minneapolis, a city where Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot dead by federal agents during US Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions. Singer Bruce Springsteen told a large crowd that “this reactionary nightmare, and these invasions of American cities, will not stand,” according to AP."}],[{"start":268.03999999999996,"text":"He then sang “Streets of Minneapolis”, a song he wrote about the fatal shootings. Sanders, actress Jane Fonda and folk legend Joan Baez were also scheduled to speak at the event."}],[{"start":281.17999999999995,"text":"Thousands of New Yorkers marched from Central Park to Penn Station down Seventh Avenue, waving banners and chanting slogans, including “Laws not men”, “Healthcare not wealthcare”, “I’ve seen better cabinets at Ikea”, “The only ICE I want is in my margarita” and “No kings since 1776”."}],[{"start":304.05999999999995,"text":"Many also held American flags and stressed they loved their country, with placards that criticised ICE, corruption, the attacks on Palestine and Iran, and Trump’s assaults on the media and democracy."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":318.78999999999996,"text":"Madelyn, a Manhattan-based therapist, told the FT the actions by the Trump administration had added to the mental health concerns of her clients."}],[{"start":329.28999999999996,"text":"“I’m hoping the experience will be meaningful, filled with a sense of solidarity and connection, engaged with the collective expressions of humanity.”"}],[{"start":339.47999999999996,"text":"Sally, a healthcare worker who mobilised her neighbours to march and expressed her strong opposition to Trump, said she felt powerful and was keen to show her feelings. "}],[{"start":351.08,"text":"“I don’t know what else to do.”"}],[{"start":363.12,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1774857053_1502.mp3"}