April 5 (Reuters) - Thousands of protesters gathered in Washington, D.C., and across the U.S. on Saturday, part of some 1,200 demonstrations that were expected to form the largest single day of protest against President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk since they launched a rapid-fire effort to overhaul government and expand presidential authority.
People streamed onto the expanse of grass surrounding the Washington Monument under gloomy skies and light rain. Organizers told Reuters that more than 20,000 people were expected to attend a rally at the National Mall.
Some 150 activist groups had signed up to participate, according to the event's website. Protests were planned in all 50 states plus Canada and Mexico.
Terry Klein, a retired biomedical scientist from Princeton, New Jersey, was among those who gathered by the stage beneath the Washington Monument. She said she drove down to attend the rally to protest Trump’s policies on “everything from immigration to the DOGE stuff to the tariffs this week, to education. I mean, our whole country is under attack, all of our institutions, all the things that make America what it is.”
The crowd around the memorial continued to build throughout the day. Some carried Ukrainian flags and others wore Palestinian keffiyeh scarves and carried “Free Palestine” signs, while Democrats from the U.S. House of Representatives blasted Trump's policies on stage.
Wayne Hoffman, 73, a retired money manager from West Cape May, New Jersey, said he was concerned about Trump's economic policies, including his widespread use of tariffs.
"It's going to cost the farmers in the red states. It's going to cost people their jobs - certainly their 401Ks. People have lost tens of thousands of dollars," Hoffman said. Kyle, a 20-year-old intern from Ohio, was a lone Trump supporter, sporting a “Make America Great Again” hat and walking the fringe of the Washington, D.C., rally while engaging protesters in debate. “Most people aren’t too hostile. A few people cuss,” said Kyle, who declined to give his last name.
Trump, who shook financial markets and upset nations around the world with a raft of trade tariffs this week, spent the day in Florida, playing a round of golf at his club in Jupiter before returning to his Mar-a-Lago compound in the afternoon. Some four miles (6 km) from Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, more than 400 demonstrators gathered on a sunny day in protest. Drivers honked their horns in support of the pastel-and khaki-clad demonstrators as they passed by. "Markets tank, Trump golfs," read one sign. At another protest in Stamford, Connecticut, Sue-ann Friedman, 84, brought a bright pink, handmade sign objecting to the administration's moves to cut funding for medical research.
"I thought my marching days were over, and then we get somebody like Musk and Trump," said Friedman. Paul Kretschmann, a 74-year-old retired attorney in Stamford, said it was the first time he had ever attended a protest. "My concern is that Social Security is going to be gutted, that we're going to lose our benefits, and that there's going to be nobody around to administer it in the first place," he said. "I'm afraid that this is all part of a larger plan to dismantle the government and for Trump to maintain power."
DOGE UNDER FIRE With Trump's blessing, Musk's Department of Government Efficiency team has scythed through the U.S. government, eliminating more than 200,000 jobs from the 2.3 million federal workforce. At times, the effort has been haphazard and forced the recall of needed specialists.
On Friday, the Internal Revenue Service began laying off more than 20,000 workers, as much as 25% of its ranks. Several hundred people gathered outside the headquarters of the Social Security Administration, a top DOGE target, near Baltimore to protest against cuts to the agency which delivers benefits to the elderly and disabled.
Linda Falcao, who turns 65 in two months, told the crowd she had been paying into the Social Security fund since the age of 16. “I'm terrified, I’m angry, I’m pissed, I’m bewildered this could happen to the United States,” she said. “I do love America and I’m heartbroken. I need my money. I want my money. I want my benefits!” The crowd chanted, “It’s our money!”
White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston disputed the protesters' charge that Trump aimed to cut Social Security and Medicaid.
"President Trump's position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats' stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors," Huston said in an email. Much of Trump's agenda has been restrained by lawsuits contending he has overstepped his authority with attempts to fire civil servants, deport immigrants and reverse transgender rights.
Trump returned to office on January 20 with a stream of executive orders and other measures critics say are aligned with an agenda outlined by Project 2025, a deeply conservative political initiative to reshape government and consolidate presidential authority. His supporters have applauded Trump's audacity as necessary to disrupt entrenched liberal interests. Hours before the protests were due to kick off in the United States, hundreds of anti-Trump Americans living in Europe gathered in Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris and London to voice opposition to Trump's sweeping makeover of U.S. foreign and domestic policies.
lagonovo: True, those Igbos and Hausas from Ife tried here
And how do you know that? Was it the hausa and Igbo that authored the Cambridge University of Oxford article from 1903 too? Perhaps, those hausa and igbos are more educated 👇
Raskimonojendor: Two olodos. The two of you have some missing screws in your heads. Was Awolowo born in 1903 when the british colonial master of that era called out to the Ooni and the Alaafin even had to sleep outside his palace out of respect for the Ooni?
Don't let your hatred for Oba Ogunwusi consume you. Soldier go, soldier come, but barrack go remain.
The mad boy that posted the rubbish on the first page sef don Japa from the thread after he made a fool of himself Some Igbo and Hausa were even correcting the nonsense he posted. That's how bad his post was.
Amalekki: Keep wasting your time. When people call Alaafin the Olori Oba as they have been doing long before your forefathers were born, you are free to go and challenge them physically or in court. Alaafin, Olori Gbogbo Oba from time immemorial Iku Baba Yeye Alase Ekeji Orisa
Amalekki: You are probably using your Ufe language to interpret
Igbakeji and Ekeji are two different things. Igbakeji means 2nd in command. Ekeji means EQUAL
You are a clown. Unfortunately, I don't have your time tonight as I have to sleep. I will be in Oyo for the coronation. Olori Oba and Ekeji below. Have a good night.
It means Oranmiyan left Ife to establish Oba of Benin and his children continued there as kings, then left to establish Alaafin of Oyo with his childrens as kings, then return to claim the throne at Ile-Ife with his children as kings. Oranmiyan was Ooni, was Oba of Benin and was Alaafin, how could Oranmiyan be senior to himself. If that version of history is accurate then those kings are equal and Oranmiyan's children are ruling at separate locations and are equal. Seniority based on what, and for what exactly? Will Ooni go to Benin or Oyo and be issuing commands or what? At what point did that ever happen?
I don't think i have read any more nonsense this year with this hogwash you put up. The staff of Oranmiyan is in ufe and not in Oyo.
Oranmiyan is still being worshiped in Ife till date. His sons continued to remind as Ooni of Ife after him.
The Ooni is the OloriOba. He is not just an Oba, but also a deity. The Alaafin is the igbakeji Orisha meaning he is the 2nd to the deity.
rinzaugustine: These people no Dey tire from lies and propaganda . If they had spent at least 1% of the billions they waste on lies and propaganda at least things would have gotten a little better in Nigeria than growing worse which is the current situation
And one House of Rep member from Abia state is pushing for indigeneship by settlement.. You haven't given them indigenous status and they are already sacking communities and taking over their lands. Just imagine what will happen when you give them legal status to back up their invasion.
iLoveYouToo: Agreed, let’s bring this home, how do indigenes benefit more from the government? We’re fooling ourselves in Africa, especially Nigeria
Indigenes have easier access to state universities, state bursaries, state jobs e.t.c
In Anambra, there was a post by Anambra state government where applications are only accepted from Anambra indigenes. You can't erode that and expect the indigenes to be happy. It would lead to violence.
Slytiger: Their are reservations in America. In reservations, you pay less tax. Aboriginal Americans aka Red Indians also get access to more bursary than a regular white American settler.
In fact, in American reservations, aboriginals do not pay state tax on income.
A 31-year-old Nigerian man, Adimabua Chukwuka, is facing a possible life sentence after being charged with the first-degree murder of a 60-year-old homeless man, Mario Ferreira, in Toronto, Canada.
PUNCH Metro gathered on Tuesday that Chukwuka was arrested last Friday by the Toronto Police Service’s 52 Division following a tip from the public.
It was alleged that Chukwuka attacked Ferreira without provocation, leading to the victim’s death.
According to the report, police responded to a call from University of Toronto Campus Safety Special Constables on March 20 regarding an unconscious man near 144 College St. Officers, firefighters, and paramedics arrived at the scene, but Ferreira was pronounced dead.
Detective Trevor Grieve emphasised the police department’s commitment to justice, stating, “We are committed to bringing justice to Mr Ferreira and his loved ones.”
He urged anyone with information to come forward, adding, “We are asking anyone who may have seen something, no matter how small, to call immediately.”
The report stated that homicide investigators released a photo of the suspect on March 21, and shortly afterward, Chukwuka was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder.
Grieve explained that security footage showed the victim lying on a bench near 6 Queen’s Park Crescent around 5:20 a.m. when the suspect armed himself with debris, possibly from a construction site or dumpster.
“Without warning or provocation, the suspect approaches Mr Ferreira, who is lying on the bench, and uses that debris to assault him repeatedly and violently,” Grieve said.
“He then fled the area holding the debris he used to commit the assault,” he added. He noted that investigators continue to gather evidence and review security footage.
“We are continuing to canvas for additional video and information,” Grieve said, urging anyone with relevant footage to contact police.
Meanwhile, according to Section 235 (1) of the Canadian Criminal Code, anyone convicted of first-degree or second-degree murder faces a mandatory life sentence.
The law states, “Everyone who commits first-degree murder or second-degree murder is guilty of an indictable offence and shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life.”
It further clarifies that “the sentence of imprisonment for life prescribed by this section is a minimum punishment.”
If convicted, PUNCH Metro reports that Chukwuka will face life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for at least 25 years.
PUNCH Metro reports that a 44-year-old Nigerian man, Alex Sualim, who lived in Toronto, has been sentenced to 12.5 years (150 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton.
He was also ordered to pay more than $13m in restitution after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
madridguy: Supposing president Tinubu didn't take the right steps, the haters and their evil media will be saying Tinubu intentionally set Rivers state on fire so the oil companies can relocate Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.
To them, nothing right can be done. What a sad way yo live and they still have till 2031. Lol.
iwaeda: State of emergency. Tinubu only interested in oil.
All I see are mansions everywhere that the herders would now occupy. Perhaps, those mansions built with mud and rusted zinc roof are critical infrastructures.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in collaboration with producers of the Big Bull rice, has carried out a series of raids on shops in Woji, Mile 3, and Mile 1 markets in Port Harcourt, uncovering large-scale sales of counterfeit Big Bull Rice.
In a statement released on Thursday, the agency disclosed that a shop located along the YKC axis of Woji was identified as a key distribution point for the fake rice.
Inside, officials discovered large quantities of empty counterfeit Big Bull Rice bags along with other rice brands such as Cap Rice, Stallion Rice, Tomato Rice, and Mama Pride.
Meanwhile, a salesgirl, identified as Ogechi Okafor, was apprehended at the scene.
Other items recovered from the shop included sewing and sealing machines, a generator, a stove, thread, and several bags of already rebagged rice.
Pharm. Emmanuel Onogwu, NAFDAC’s Rivers State Coordinator, highlighted key features that distinguish the original Big Bull Rice.
According to Onogwu, from counterfeit versions, including a distinct shiny ribbon across the threaded top, superior bag quality, and an authentic logo.
He warned that the rebagged rice often comes from questionable sources and may be treated with harmful chemicals to enhance its appearance.
"In total, over 120 fake bags of rice were seized from more than ten shops and transported to the NAFDAC Zonal Office for further investigation," Onogwu added.
Founder of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and leader of BIM, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has defended former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike while blaming Siminalayi Fubara for his removal from office.
Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, Uwazuruike stated that Fubara was the architect of his own misfortune, insisting that the crisis could have been avoided if he had honored his agreement with Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
“Whoever advised Fubara to fight Wike, who made him governor, did not advise him well,” Uwazuruike wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday.
He added: “If you know you are a politician and you are approached to do a dirty job which your conscience doesn’t want you to do at that moment, say ‘I won’t do it’ or ‘I can’t do it’, that makes you a gentleman.”
Uwazuruike also blamed Fubara for not listening to the counsel of prominent personalities like former Ekiti State Governor Fayose. “If Fubara had listened to the counsel of some people like Fayose, he would not have fallen into this temptation. It would have been avoided.”
“All of these things happening in Rivers State could have been avoided if one party had kept his own part of the promise. This is very common in Southeast and South South. When somebody will bring you from obscurity and made you a governor and at the end of the day, you refused to keep your own part of the bargain. It is not good.
“Some people will say you are voted by the masses, which masses, if nobody gave you the chance or the ticket of the party, the masses would not have seen you to vote for you.
“You want to play a card and you have forgotten that as a civil servant, the highest you could go is becoming the permanent secretary. Somebody brought you out and made you the governor, you turned around to make him a bad guy, it is unjust.”
In a scathing critique of Nigeria’s political system, Uwazuruike stated, “There is no better governor in Nigeria who doesn’t steal money because the country is corrupt. Wike is not the only devil in Nigeria politics, all the other governors are devils and corrupt. No one should play the victim card.”
Foreign Affairs › Re: Nationwide Protest In US- Targets Trump And Elon Musk. by Goodvibes007: 10:21pm On Apr 05, 2025
