Thousands of angry protesters have rallied in various cities across the US to demand Donald Trump’s impeachment, as Democrats in Congress prepare a bill to oust the president over his “mental health.”
In New York City, Trump’s hometown, people staged a so-called Impeachment March outside a Trump hotel and confronted outnumbered pro-Trump groups in a shouting match on Sunday, two days before the Independence Day.
In Los Angeles, California, the protesters carried a black coffin wrapped in red, white and blue flowers. It had the words "The Presidency 1789-2017" written on it.
Similar rallies were held in Austin, Texas, where people tussled with counter-protesters while chanting, "What do we want? Impeachment! When do we want it? Now!"
Texas saw another major protest in Amarillo, where the High Plains Circle of Non-Violence organized a "die-in" to express support for the "99% of Americans either victimized or exploited by the Trump Regime."
In San Francisco, people descended upon the streets to voice their anger against Trump and his discriminatory policies by waving “Lock him up” signs.
"Every single thing that comes out of this president's mouth, and every action he takes, is contrary to what I believe, and frankly I've had enough," said one of the protesters.
"Resist loud, so loud that we won't even hear the door slam when he's dragged out of office," said another.
In Philadelphia, two anti-Trump protesters were arrested for attacking one of his supporters.
Dems pushing impeachment bill
The protests came in tandem with Democratic efforts to push forward a piece of legislation at the House of Representatives that opens a path to remove Trump from power.
Supported by at least 25 Dems, the legislation, introduced by Representative Jamie Raskin, would create an Oversight Commission on Presidential Capacity, an 11-member panel made up of mostly physicians and psychiatrists, to judge the president’s mental fitness for office.
The effort appears to be based on the 25th Amendment of the US Constitution which lays out the rules for succession in case of presidential disability.
Democratic Representative Al Green, who also supports the bill, addressed the impeachment rally in Austin.
"We cannot let others steal the notion that somehow they're more patriotic than we are," he sad said. "We are patriotic Americans."
Representative Brad Sherman, another sponsor of the bill, told rally goers in LA that that Trump’s behavior was shocking.
"Every day, Democrats, Republicans, the entire world is shocked by the latest example of America's amateur president," Sherman said Sunday.