Protest group Refuse Fascism is holding a demonstration in which it plans to surround the White House to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump.
The demonstration is set to take place on December 13 and the group, which was founded in 2016, plans to deliver a “people’s indictment” against Trump, claiming he should be removed from power.
Newsweek reached out to the White House to comment on this story outside of normal business hours.
Why It Matters
Since assuming office, Trump has been hit with multiple coordinated protests from groups concerned about his use of executive power. Trump has sent federal troops to several states including Washington D.C. and has signed dozens of executive orders spanning policy areas from immigration to federal funding of government departments. Some of these actions have sparked legal challenges though his base have signaled their support for his policies.
What To Know
Refuse Fascism’s website accused Trump of running a “fascist administration” and said he had “forfeited any claim to legitimacy” so should “be removed from power.”
It also claimed Trump had violated the U.S. Constitution through his use o the National Guard and strict immigration enforcement policies. It also criticized Trump for pardoning people involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol Riots and said his foreign policy constituted “imperial domination.”
“If the Trump Fascist Regime is not driven from power now, it will continue to escalate its atrocities and violently crush all space to meaningfully oppose it,” the group said in a statement about the planned protest.
A Refuse Fascism spokesperson told Newsweek: “Our Surround the White House 2.0 mobilization is about demonstrating momentum of unrelenting nonviolent protest. We will be holding ‘crime scene’ tape around the White House and delivering the people’s indictment of the fascist regime. In doing so we will model and signal to the tens of millions who know in their bones the Trump regime’s illegitimacy what millions can and must do: come back to DC in nonviolent protest again and again because there is no living with this fascism. Together we will act as a beacon calling people across the country to nonviolently flood DC, to grow into the millions surrounding the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, coming back again and again, not stopping until this fascist regime is removed from power.”
They added: “Our actions are nonviolent. We have trained volunteer marshals, medics, de-escalators, and legal support teams. We plan our routes and formations carefully and we create clear expectations for participants before the action begins.”
Refuse Fascism previously gathered in D.C. to protest Trump’s federal takeover of local policing, marching 1.5 miles to the White House behind banners reading “No fascist takeover of D.C.” and “No military occupation.”
Meanwhile, Trump has faced protests from other groups. The “No Kings” protest group is coordinating a boycott of three retailers over Thanksgiving.
The “No Kings” group said in an email that it was calling on Americans “to withhold their purchasing power” from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday (November 27 – December 1) to protest retailers (Target, Home Depot Amazon) which it said were “enabling the Trump administration’s abuses of power.”
“Vets Say No” protests, organized by About Face, a movement of post 9/11 veterans, and May Day Strong, a self-described anti-authoritarian movement, took place on Tuesday, November 11, across the country to protest ICE and “fascism.”
Another protest took place on the Memorial Day weekend, while others targeted Flag Day and Trump’s birthday. Another recently took place in Scotland, when protesters demonstrated against Trump’s visit to the country.
What People Are Saying
The Refuse Fascism website says: “The Trump administration constitutes an illegitimate fascist regime and must be removed from power.”
What Happens Next
The protest takes place on December 13.
More protests against the Trump administration are likely to take place as his presidency continues.
