Politics & Government

Protesters Bash Trump In 3 Essex County Towns Over Easter Holiday Weekend

Demonstrators hit the streets in three Essex County towns over the Easter weekend. More rallies are being organized nationally in May.

Demonstrators gather to protest the Trump administration outside the municipal building in Bloomfield, NJ on April 19, 2025.
Demonstrators gather to protest the Trump administration outside the municipal building in Bloomfield, NJ on April 19, 2025. (Photo: Steve Moctezuma)

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Protesters gathered for another round of demonstrations against President Donald Trump and his administration in three Essex County towns over the Easter holiday weekend: Bloomfield, Glen Ridge and West Caldwell.

Organizers called for a national day of action on Saturday against the “anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its plutocratic allies.”

“Violence of any kind will not be tolerated,” national organizers emphasized.

Find out what's happening in Bloomfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Local events – each organized independently – took place in Bloomfield, Glen Ridge and West Caldwell.

In Bloomfield, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the municipal building. Protesters chanted slogans and carried signs. Protesters also gave speeches that attacked many of the Trump administration’s policies – including the ongoing federal budget cuts – and accused the president of violating “basic constitutional freedoms” like free speech and the due process of law.

Find out what's happening in Bloomfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Article continues below

Protesters rally in Bloomfield, NJ on April 19, 2025. (Photo: Clare Mooney)

Protesters also hit the streets in Glen Ridge and West Caldwell, the Verona Democratic Committee reported.

More anti-Trump rallies are being organized nationally for May 1, organizers say.

Last weekend’s events were organized in the wake of a national day of protest against President Trump, Elon Musk and the federal budget cuts that took place on April 5. That round of demonstrations was spearheaded by different organizations.

More than 1,200 rallies of various sizes took place across the United States on April 5, with some sources estimating the overall attendance at over a million people. Local “Hands Off!” protests were held in Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Maplewood, Montclair and West Caldwell. Read More: Anti-Trump Protesters Hit The Streets In Essex County (PHOTOS)

Essex County has also seen support for Trump, including a rally in Montclair organized by local GOP voters prior to the president’s Election Day victory.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris took Essex County in the 2024 presidential election, nailing down 224,596 votes (71.69 percent). Trump scored 83,908 votes – about 26.78 percent.

Trump performed much better on a statewide basis in last November’s election, however, flipping five New Jersey counties from blue to red.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.