Protesters rally outside White House amid nationwide anti-Trump demonstrations

A large number of people gathered near the White House on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump s agenda building on a widespread effort by anti-Trump organizers to galvanize voters concerned with the administration s policies and key use of executive authority NBC News informed Attendees of the protest which took place at Lafayette Square Park in Washington D C notified NBC News that the healing of Kilmar Abrego Garcia who the Trump administration says was mistakenly deported to El Salvador was among the issues that led them to participate in the demonstration Everyone should have due process No one should be just taken away and locked up I don t care if he is a murderer he still should get due process protester Susie Stern of Ohio noted That s what this country is based on Laws The White House alleges that Abrego Garcia is a gang member and the administration has reported that if he re-enters the country he will be deported again Court records indicate that Abrego Garcia has never been criminally charged in the U S or El Salvador and his wife and lawyers deny he is a gang member Other protesters took issue with what they described as the administration s disregard for federal court rulings including a ruling upheld by the Supreme Court ordering Trump to facilitate Abrego Garcia s return to the United States What s happening is very concerning as far as due process of law and how democracy is supposed to work first-time protester Samantha Echols of Silver Spring Maryland advised NBC News You shouldn t just be able to decide what the laws are to disappear people to punish people for disagreeing with you That s things that dictators do and I don t want to see our country to slide in that direction Concerns over Abrego Garcia s episode were at the center of a similar protest in midtown New York where thousands of people gathered in front of the New York Inhabitants Library to protest Trump s immigration policies according to a local NBC affiliate One protestor disclosed the policies are creating a chilling effect throughout the city People are scared to go to church People are scared to go to work People are scared to take their kids to school mentioned Amanda Harvey a resident of Brooklyn New York The White House did not straightaway respond to a request for comment on the demonstrations The nationwide protests are a part of an effort that began earlier this month with a series of Hands Off demonstrations across the country The events are coordinated by Organizers describe the movement as a diverse group of Americans who stand for democracy and who stand against the authoritarian actions of the Trump Administration The name refers to the group s goal of states protests movement According to a list published online by the group Saturday s day of action saw nearly events nationwide from a Potluck Protest event in Kanab Utah to a Tesla Takedown protest in Woodstock Virginia to a Take America Back rally in Paw Paw Michigan The nationwide protests come as Democrats work to more aggressively counter Trump s agenda a top demand for the party s voters according to new polling An NBC News poll conducted in March exposed that nearly two-thirds of Democratic voters stated they want congressional Democrats to stick to their positions even if it leads to gridlock while one-third requested their leaders to compromise with Trump Sen Bernie Sanders I-Vt and Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez D-N Y have held a series of Fighting Oligarchy Tour stops across the country including an event last week in Los Angeles that drew more than people according to the senator s office Congressional Democrats in latest months have held dozens of smaller town hall events in a bid to capitalize on the political backlash to Trump s major cuts to the federal workforce and tariff program plan Regarding Saturday s protests Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer D-N Y explained I believe that general sentiment is everything And society sentiment is growing against Donald Trump as more Americans face rising costs and less freedom under Donald Trump s chaotic failed leadership Owen Hayes and Raquel Coronell Uribe contributed This article first appeared on NBCNews com Read more from NBC News here Florida college students scared on edge over campus police s cooperation with ICE Oklahoma wins seventh national gymnastics championship besting multiple Olympic medalists Christmas is in the crosshairs as toy industry faces brunt of China tariffs