Wayne — Hundreds gathered at the Packanack Wayne shopping center on Monday afternoon for a “No Kings” Presidents Day protest, speaking out against President Donald Trump’s recent executive actions and billionaire Elon Musk’s influence on the president’s decisions.
Protests have been organized across the country as demonstrators express their outrage at Trump’s attempt to halt federal funding, cuts to federal jobs, and relationship with Musk.
“The president does not have unlimited powers, nor does a private individual by the name of Elon Musk,” said Michael Gottesman of the New Jersey Public Education Coalition during the Wayne protest.
The Monday protests across the country were orchestrated by organizations such as the 50501 movement and Indivisible.
New Jersey held its own demonstration in Passaic County. Many people were seen holding signs that read “Musk was not elected,” “Felons should not be president,” and “Honk to Stop Musk.”
“Our democracy is being threatened. But we will not submit to fascism. “We will stand together and fight back in defense of our rights, communities, and values,” Indivisible stated on its website.
The group stated that its mission is to prevent the “Trump-Musk coup” and that they are speaking out against Trump “raiding the treasury, accessing your personal data, and attempting to illegally eliminate parts of our government.”
The organization has three branches in New Jersey: Trenton, Belle Mead, and New Providence.
Many counter-protesters wearing Trump merchandise drove by or chanted across from the original protest in Wayne.
Protests erupted not only in New Jersey, but also in other major cities across the country. Organizers in New York City, Washington, D.C., Austin, and Colorado also gathered to speak out against the president and Musk, the world’s wealthiest man.