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- Several hundred people protested President Donald Trump's return to office at a demonstration at the Utah Capitol.
- Protesters included socialists, immigrant advocates, representatives from the LGBTQ community and foes of big business.
- The demonstration was meant to challenge what foes see as Trump's "extreme-right billionaire agenda" and support marginalized groups.
SALT LAKE CITY — Not everyone is thrilled with President Donald Trump's return to the White House and several hundred people gathered on the Utah Capitol steps Monday to voice their dissent.
"We are here to fight for workers' rights, LGBTQ rights, the rights of immigrant families, the future of our environment," said Devin Martinez, of the Salt Lake City branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, which organized the demonstration.
Trump was inaugurated into his second presidential term on Monday, elating many who support his plans to crack down on illegal immigration, bolster U.S. energy production and implement change to spur what he views as a lackluster economy. But he has his foes, and in Utah, perhaps 300 or so people representing an array of groups — immigrants, socialists, the LGBTQ community and more — voiced a message of defiance from the south steps of the Capitol.
The event was touted as a rebuke of Trump's "extreme-right billionaire agenda," and Ellis Sullivan said he was there in a show of support for the working class.
"We make America work," said Sullivan. The members of the "billionaire" class he says populate Trump's circle won't be making decisions "with our interests, the workers' interests."
Immigration and environmental advocates, tenants' rights boosters and Palestinian supporters in the war between Israel and Hamas-led militants in the Gaza Strip also took part.
Armando Ramirez, an immigrant from Mexico who has lived in Utah for more than 20 years, took part as a show of support for immigrants in light of Trump's plans to augment deportations of immigrants illegally in the United States. Immigrants, in his view, unfairly get painted in broad strokes as criminals and freeloaders.
"I've never asked for a handout," Ramirez said.
Similarly, Brenda, of Mecha de U of U, a group of University of Utah students, was at the protest Monday to show support for the immigrant community, particularly Latino immigrants. "We need to push back against oppression ... I worry for the Latino community," Brenda, whose last name wasn't provided, told KSL.com.
Another participant who identified herself as Caitlin said she was there as a show of support for the LGBTQ community, women, immigrants, working-class people and others she fears may be targeted or pushed aside under Trump. "We just want to show support for all the people who are going to be victimized by Trump's administration ... I hope the marginalized groups we're here to support feel less alone," she said.
Trump won in Utah, a traditionally Republican state, by a wide margin. His supporters gathered off 300 North in front of the Capitol to wave Trump flags and celebrate his assumption to office. But they dispersed as the nearby demonstration on the Capitol steps by Trump's foes began.
Adrian Lambrinos of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, a socialist organization, said the group aims to build a "popular movement" that prioritizes the needs of the broad public over arms manufacturers and other big business interests. "A socialist future includes seeing an end to perpetual wars, seeing an end to poverty, seeing an end to Zionism and racism and seeing an end to the commodification of life," he said.
