On Saturday, we witness a wave of generalized protests with more than 1000 demonstrations under the motto “Hands Off” (hands outside) that filled the streets of coast at the coast of the United States. Tens of thousands of people filled the streets of New York, with actions also in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington DC and other cities. Organized by a coalition of unions, progressive groups and non -profit organizations, mass mobilizations congregated hundreds of thousands of people to oppose the growing attacks of the Donald Trump government to social programs, civil freedoms and workers’ communities.

The National Mobilization Day came at a crucial moment: what many call the most turbulent week of Trump’s presidency. On April 2, called “Liberation Day” by the Administration, Trump imposed 10 %radical tariffs to almost all foreign imports and higher additional rates for specific countries such as China (to which a 34 %tariff is applied), Japan (24 %) and the countries of the European Union (20 %).

You may be interested: Who pays? Trump tariff climb and China’s response: brutal consequences for workers

This measure triggered a historic financial impact: the markets collapsed in a wave of sales of two-day shares, losing 6.6 billions of dollars in value and marking the most severe devaluation from the Covid-19 crisis. This economic shock, added to the growing repression and social austerity, contributed to the amplitude and intensity of Saturday’s protests.

The protesters congregated in defense of essential programs such as Social Security and Medicaid, which face a renewed threat of imminent budget cuts. But the outrage transcended the economic sphere. Protesters condemned government anti -immigrants measures, attacks on freedom of expression and continuous repression.

The protests focused on anger against Elon Musk, whose Doge program collaborates with Trump to implement this mass austerity agenda. For weeks, anger against Musk has been expressed in small protests against Tesla. The judicial elections in Wisconsin further reflect this rejection of Musk, since Judge Trumpist was defeated despite the millions of dollars that Musk spent on the campaign. These are the most expensive judicial elections in the history of the United States.

USA. Strong setback for Trump and Musk in the Wisconsin and Florida elections

While many of the people who marched carried Kufiyas and groups as educators for Palestine organized to march, these actions had the important weakness of denouncing the authoritarian aspects of the Trump administration without demanding the freedom of Mahmoud Khalil and all those with revoked or detained visas for protesting, as well as the end of the genocide in Gaza. These are issues related to the rights of immigrants, freedom of expression, labor rights and more. The connections are clear and it is essential that the struggle of thousands of people against Trump assumes these demands as a central theme, with the spirit that if they affect us, we all rise.

With Trump’s approval index falling to 43 percent, the lowest since he assumed the position, and a generalized economic agitation that shakes confidence even between his base, the protests of “hands outside” point to a growing rejection of the administration’s agenda and a renewed will to counterattack.

You may be interested: Surveys Trump’s approval falls to 43%: the lowest level since he returned to the White House

This shows that Trump has no mandate and if many of the attacks of his administration have passed it is due to the inaction of the opposition and the passive role of the unions.

The protests also raised urgent demands to the labor movement. In this climate of growing authoritarianism and economic instability, union directions have refused to organize a substantial counteroffensive. The Teamsters (Truckers Union) and the UAW (Union of Workers of the Automotive Industry) have maintained a conciliatory attitude towards Trump, and the UAW praised the tariffs before their announcement. On the other hand, its lack of support and mobilization in the struggle for Palestine has allowed the Government to promote repressive measures against the Palestinian movement, which also constitute an attack on workers. The dismissal of Grant Mine, president of the Student Workers of Columbia, is an attack not only to the Palestinian movement, also to the workers.

During the last Trump administration, we witness massive movements such as the march of women and numerous marches for the rights of immigrants, as well as the greatest social movement in the history of the United States, Black Lives Matter. These movements were channeled towards the Democratic Party and used to strengthen the administration of Joe Biden, who subsequently increased police budgets, attacked the workers and financed and supported the genocide in Gaza, opening the door to the extreme right. This should serve as a warning for those who organize against Trump: Democrats seek to appease anger and channel it towards the polls, silence the progressive demands.

Therefore, the fight against Trump must be organized independently of the Democrats. The unions must be mobilized independently of both the Trump administration and the Bipartisan political establishment: organizing work centers, defending democratic rights and resisting repression.

We must organize this fight from below, organizing debates and assemblies in the work centers to discuss the way to follow, mobilize new sectors to protest and discuss the way from the bases. We need the powerful unit in the streets of the labor, student and social movement to fight with a single fist against Trump and the new extreme right in power with the methods of the working class.

Today’s actions show that there is rage and will to fight. Organized from below, with all the creativity and initiative of the bases and connecting our struggles, the movement can defeat Trump’s policies and fight for more.

Source: www.laizquierdadiario.com



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