Coordinated demonstrations under the banner “Free America Walkout” unfolded across the United States on Tuesday, marking one year since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. The nationwide action was promoted by the Women’s March Network, which described the effort as a symbolic withdrawal from economic and civic participation.
Organizers reported that more than 44,000 people registered for over 1,200 local actions throughout the country. Participants were encouraged to leave workplaces, classrooms, and commercial settings to convey what organizers called a refusal to “give consent” to the current administration’s policies.
In Columbus, Ohio, demonstrators assembled along High Street outside the Ohio Statehouse between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Protest signs featured slogans criticizing federal immigration enforcement, executive authority, and the deployment of security personnel in major cities. Local organizer Kendra Cantrell said attendees aimed to “speak to the political climate and the consequences communities are facing.” Another participant, Pattie O’Brien, described the event as an encouraging show of solidarity and a reminder that advocacy efforts continue beyond election cycles.
Following the two-hour walkout period, participants joined a separate rally nearby that continued past 5 p.m. Attendees stated they were focusing on federal immigration raids, the presence of troops in urban centers, and concerns about due process protections.
Meanwhile, in Roanoke, Virginia, students at Patrick Henry High School and William Fleming High School staged their own walkouts, drawing sizable crowds of teenagers outside both campuses. The Roanoke City Public Schools district confirmed the demonstrations, noting they were student-organized and peaceful, and linked to the broader national observance. Students said their primary motivation was opposition to ongoing immigration enforcement operations targeting families and community members.
The coordinated actions represented one of the largest protest efforts connected to the anniversary of Trump’s return to office, with organizers portraying the walkout as a long-term organizing strategy rather than a single-day event. No significant incidents were reported in either city.
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