On Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump turned to Twitter to announce a ban on transgender troops serving in the armed forces. The news was met with outrage from LGBTQ activists, veterans, and politicians on both sides of the aisle, leading many across the nation to protest the president’s ban by nightfall.
In New York City, hundreds gathered in front of the Times Square U.S. Army Career Center, carrying “resist” signs in pink, white, and blue letters. Hosted by Equality NY, the evening protest was marked by chants against Donald Trump and people pumping their fists while shouting, “Trans power!”
“America! Refuse to be gaslit!” one protester’s sign read. “None of this is ‘Normal.'”
https://twitter.com/wokegiant/status/890347747848601600
Times Square protest. @realDonaldTrump , you should be ashamed of yourself. #transrightsarehumanrights #lgbtq pic.twitter.com/1Jn2iV8d46
— Jamie Grayson (@TheJamieGrayson) July 26, 2017
Times Square now. Rally to protest T's attack on our transgender citizens in the military. #Resist @andylassner @Rosie @robreiner pic.twitter.com/jrJfIYmmzN
— Lawrence Leritz (@LawrenceLeritz) July 26, 2017
Rally in Times Square to protest Trump pic.twitter.com/HwklwzzQpa
— David Mixner (@DavidMixner) July 26, 2017
Meanwhile, in San Francisco, activists marched against the transgender ban, gathering at Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro district. Marchers held up signs that read “Trans Lives Matter!” and “Trans Rights Are Human Rights.” San Francisco mayoral candidate Mark Leno met with protesters during the march as well, according to the San Francisco Examiner‘s Jessica Christian.
March underway from #Castro in protest of #trump #transgender military ban @CBSSF #lgbtq #sf pic.twitter.com/p08uaiIXZc
— Betty Yu (@bett_yu) July 27, 2017
.@MarkLeno is here at #SF's #transgender military ban protest in the Castro pic.twitter.com/Y6WJhYgmj9
— Jessica Christian (@jachristian) July 27, 2017
People march in S.F.'s Castro district to protest Trump's
— KQED (@KQED) July 27, 2017
decision to bar transgender people from military service.https://t.co/XPvxAnvpaF pic.twitter.com/jphixDuGED
In Washington, D.C., over a hundred protesters came to the White House, denouncing the president’s tweets with chants and signs. According to ABC News, protesters included transgender service members and veterans slamming the ban.
“I was actually really shocked and angry, I don’t know how he came to that conclusion so fast,” transgender woman and Navy veteran Kara Zajac told ABC affiliate WJLA.
https://twitter.com/M_FerreiraDVM/status/890377334548811776
Photos: Protest Trans Military Ban, Washington, DC USA https://t.co/B0Mo4K6TgB pic.twitter.com/vYFxxT7Ed3
— Ted Eytan, MD (@tedeytanblog) July 27, 2017
Political protests have erupted around the country since Trump was elected, as people pour into the streets to decry his policies, rhetoric, and alignment with the far right. And with no shortage of executive orders, bills, and actions targeting marginalized communities and the poor, the unrest doesn’t seem likely to die down anytime soon.