Thousands Of Protesters Leave Work For ‘Free America Walkout’

NEW YORK CITY — More than 47,000 people throughout the country walked out of work Tuesday to protest the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s second inauguration, as well as to stand in solidarity with Minneapolis.

Around 47,166 people had RSVP’d to participate in a nationwide "Free America Protest" that was started at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

A number of protests took place in several locations around New York City including Madison Square Garden, Washington Square Park, Central Park, Mount Prospect Park in Brooklyn and Trump Tower, among others. More than 1,000 people in the city had signed up for various rallies.

"A free America begins the moment we refuse to cooperate. This is not a request. This is a rupture. This is a protest and a promise. In the face of fascism, we will be ungovernable," Free America wrote on its website.

More demonstrations are planned throughout this week. On Friday, college and high school students are planning to walk out to protest increased ICE enforcement in the country and the deadly shooting of Renee Good at Washington Square Park.

“It’s time to rise up and refuse to comply with this injustice —our ancestors showed us time and again that we can prevail when we, the people, stand up and refuse to comply,” organizers wrote for the Friday protest.

President Trump has previously threatened to expand ICE crackdowns in major cities, including New York.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul have previously said that an increased ICE presence in New York is not needed.