Tens of thousands strike across the U.S. to protest Trump policies

Tens of thousands of Americans across all 50 states walked out of workplaces and classrooms this week to protest the policies of President Donald Trump’s second term.

The coordinated demonstrations, branded as the "Free America Walkout," coincided with the one-year anniversary of Trump’s second inauguration. Organizers held more than 800 rallies nationwide, with participants aiming to "disrupt daily operations" by leaving their jobs and schools.

Protesters cited a wide range of grievances, including the administration's hardline immigration enforcement and the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

The marchers also demonstrated against the deployment of the National Guard in U.S. cities. Other primary concerns included policies affecting healthcare access and transgender rights.

California saw some of the country's largest gatherings, with hundreds of people demonstrating at Los Angeles City Hall. In Orange County, more than 1,000 people joined marches across various communities.

In San Francisco, an estimated 1,000 protesters gathered at Civic Center Plaza. The group later marched to the city's federal building to continue their protest.

The "Free America Walkout" marks a definitive inflection point in the deepening sociopolitical fissures of the second Trump administration. Far from an isolated grievance, the coordinated nationwide demonstrations—spanning all 50 states—signal the emergence of a disciplined and sustained infrastructure of resistance one year into the President’s second term.

The movement’s strength lies in its ability to consolidate a disparate coalition of opposition. By weaving together specific policy grievances—ranging from intensified ICE enforcement and restrictive immigration mandates to rollbacks in transgender rights and healthcare access—the walkout represents a broad-based rejection of the administration’s executive direction. This is no longer a single-issue protest; it is a systemic challenge to the current governing philosophy.

Strategically, the shift toward disrupting daily operations marks a significant escalation from the traditional weekend march. By aiming for maximum economic and social friction, organizers are attempting to force a policy reckoning through visibility and institutional pressure. Predictably, California has emerged as the movement’s geographic and political vanguard. As hubs like Los Angeles and San Francisco mobilize, the state reaffirms its role as the primary subnational counterweight to the Republican agenda in Washington.

The ultimate test for the movement, however, remains its sustainability. To achieve more than symbolic defiance, organizers must demonstrate they can translate the momentum of street-level disruption into concrete legislative concessions or judicial victories.

This event hits home for the Vietnamese-American community, a demographic already navigating deep political divisions. The core issues at stake—namely immigration enforcement and the actions of ICE—are particularly sensitive for the many families currently sponsoring relatives through F2B visas or those living under the uncertainty of TPS. As these large-scale protests unfold across Orange County, the impact is felt throughout the heart of Little Saigon, disrupting daily life and local commerce for everyone from nail salon owners to phở restaurant operators. Ultimately, these demonstrations highlight the growing civic engagement of Vietnamese-Americans, reflecting a community that is increasingly vocal and divided on the local political stage.