As President Donald Trump was inaugurated for a second term Monday, Bostonians united in protests against his administration’s agenda and others hosted events to promote solidarity.
Joining outside the John F. Kennedy Federal Building on Sudbury Street in the afternoon, the Boston Party for Socialism and Liberation held a protest against the “extreme-right billionaire agenda” planned for Trump’s second term.
Ximena Hasbach, an organizer with the Boston PSL, said the protest opposed the Trump administration’s plan for mass deportations and raids.
“It is crucially important that we’re out here, on this very cold day, on the first day of this new administration,” Hasbach said.
Hasbach said it is not only Trump putting forth an agenda that does not aim to help the working class.
SARAH CRUZ/ DFP PHOTOGRAPHER
“All of these politicians are really serving the same interests, and they are not the interests of the working class,” Hasbach said. “We see through those lies, and this is just day one of our fight back.”
Other groups, including the Boston Coalition for Palestine and the Boston South Asian Coalition, joined the protest.
Sana Qureshi, an organizer with the Boston South Asian Coalition, said the purpose of the protest is rooted in the Trump administration’s “intentions to attack the working class.”
“We’re unified, we’re organized, and we make it known that we will not let them take those rights away from us,” Qureshi said.
In addition to the protest on Monday, Boston’s chapter of the Center for New Liberalism hosted a “Countdown to 2028!” event on Zoom, while the Queer Neighborhood Council held an “Inauguration Day Don’t Panic Party” at Tiki Rock bar.
Tobin Stone, community and communications manager of CNL, said the countdown was designed for “getting our group out there” and setting a new trajectory for the Democratic Party with the hope of a “more pragmatic future.”
The CNL held the countdown in 15 other cities across the globe to expand their reach and advocate for policies that will “advance progress and protect democracy.”
“It’s not sexy at all, but it’s important if we want to actually advance progress around the world,” Stone said.
For TQNC, its “Don’t Panic Party” was a space for people to gather during the Inauguration, said Co-Founder Jack Imbergamo. The council was also founded by Matthew Broude.
“Going into this next administration, we’re going to need community now more than ever,” Imbergamo said. “We’re just looking for more ways to get together and support each other.”
Broude said Inauguration Day did not have the same weight as election night.
“We’ve spent the last month or so preparing, not only just mentally, but also talking about where there’s the most risk for the community,” Broude said.
Broude said he expects fighting for federal funding in Massachusetts for the programs that the council cares about will be difficult under the new administration.
Sean Austin, an attendee at the party, said he enjoyed the community space the party offered.
“This is a stressful time for a lot of people who feel like their rights are under attack and are scared about the future and what that holds,” Austin said.
Kate Collins DeBeul, the secretary of TQNC, said watching the inauguration of an administration with opposing goals was “disappointing and heartbreaking.” However, she said she was still happy they held this event.
“We’re just going to keep doing the work that we’ve been doing all along, and they can’t ignore us,” DeBeul said. “We’re going to fight to be seen as equals, because we are.”
