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Hundreds of protestors marched through the streets of downtown Tucson Monday to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump’s second-term inauguration and what they called his “billionaire agenda.”

The protest was organized by the Tucson branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, but included representatives and speakers from more than a dozen local, state and national groups who joined roughly 300 others at Armory Park, united by a variety of causes.

The protest was part of a series of nationwide demonstrations organized in response to the inauguration, with activists in cities across the country taking to the streets to voice similar concerns.

Speakers from organizations including the Arizona Green Party, Derechos Humanos, Tucson Education Association, Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance and Tucson Tenants Union kicked off the event, highlighting concerns about the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the Trump administration’s stance on Palestine and broader economic and social justice. 

Many in attendance carried signs with messages supporting immigrant rights, denouncing Trump’s policies, and advocating for global solidarity, displaying slogans, such as “Putin owns Trump,” “We have daughters, they need reproductive rights,” and “No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA.”

Protester Liam Arias carried a large red flag with a hammer and sickle insignia, the symbol of the Soviet Union and communism, along with a newspaper featuring a headshot of Trump and a headline touting communism’s ability to defeat capitalism.

“We're seeing the rise of another brutal right-wing authoritarian leader, and we need to stand up against them,” Arias said. “This is one way that we can see our community come together, collect their efforts, and show that we want and we treasure immigrants in our community. We treasure democracy.”

Arias waved his flag proudly for the majority of the protest, saying he chose the symbol as a way of fighting back.

It took protestors about 90 minutes to walk from Armory Park, through downtown Tucson and back to their starting point, the streets filled with chants, music and a sea of colorful banners and flags.

The march drew mixed reactions from onlookers. While some residents leaned out of windows to cheer and join in the chants, others expressed opposition by shouting at the crowd. 

The tension mirrored the polarized political landscape that has come to define the country as Trump enters his second term. 

Jessica Salas, organizer and spokesperson for Tucson’s branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, said the group is a “revolutionary socialist group” fighting for a variety of causes.

“We get engaged in all different kinds of struggle. Housing rights, women's rights, LGBTQ rights, and especially the last 15 months, the fight for free Palestine,” she said. “Collectively, we all understand that this system is rigged in favor of the rich and does not serve the regular everyday people. That's what (we) want to change. (We) want to help build a movement and build a new society that benefits all of us.”

While PSL took the lead on spearheading the march, roughly 20 other groups were involved in planning the event, meeting regularly during the six weeks leading up.

“A lot of people have been feeling uncertain or scared, unsure of what's to come (over the next four years,” Salas said. “We wanted to come out on Day One and say that we're here, we're not afraid, and we're gonna fight back.”

With no counter-protestors or police involvement, the march concluded peacefully and without interruption back at Armory Park, where several more speakers delivered final thoughts and reflected on their collective action.

Many expressed hope that the demonstration would serve as a rallying cry for continued resistance.

“In the last Trump administration, a lot of people were coming out … in opposition to Trump,” Salas said, adding that while that was initially made for a united front, the energy was quickly diverted to encouraging people to vote for Democrats. “What's different (now) is that a lot of people are realizing that that is not the answer. This time around, we don't want to be co-opted or diverted. We really want to build a grassroots movement.”

Samantha Callicutt is a Tucson Spotlight reporter and graduate student at the University of Arizona. Contact her at Scallicutt@arizona.edu.

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