Americans and other interested parties are being urged to join a march in Paris on Thursday May 1 in protest at President Donald Trump’s policies both in the US and around the world.
The event is organised by the newly formed Paris Coalition for US Democracy, a grassroots alliance of long-time Paris-based activists who joined together following a demonstration at Place de la République on April 5.
The group is calling on Americans in the Paris area - along with anyone else interested in their cause - to take to the streets “in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands in France and around the world marching to defend democracy and workers’ rights.”
Anger and resistance
“Donald Trump’s method is to intimidate anyone he believes is in a weak position,” said Kent Hudson, one of the organisers, who has lived in Paris for 40 years. “This provokes anger and resistance around the world.”
Mr Hudson pointed to concerns about political intimidation, the erosion of US public service independence, and growing economic inequality.
“His nationalist rhetoric may appeal to some oligarchs in Europe, but his actual policies ruin business, devalue savings and cause inflation and unemployment,” he said.
The group says the Paris coalition serves as a resource hub for citizens and organisations who want to “take an active role in defending democracy”, particularly in light of recent developments in the US - in particular Mr Hudson points to the rise of Elon Musk’s DOGE as “mandated to end all worker rights.”
“He has eliminated tens of thousands of civil servants, with the aim of destroying the independence of institutions and paving the way for corruption,” he said.
The protest will take place on Thursday, May 1 with a rendezvous at 14:00 on 11 rue Pirandello, 75013 Paris.
The coalition says its message ties in closely with this year’s broader themes, linking workers’ rights with the health of democratic institutions.
“Labour rights are human rights,” it said in a statement. “When extremist oligarchs promote the authoritarian right, they stand to lose. On May 1, US citizens living abroad and their allies will stand together to bring them down.”
