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Donald Trump impeachment: Thousands protest in dozens of cities across the US

Demonstrators chanted "lock him up" as rallies took place in 46 cities

Chris Baynes
Monday 03 July 2017 12:46 BST
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Anti-Trump supporters rally in Austin, Texas
Anti-Trump supporters rally in Austin, Texas (AP)

Thousands of demonstrators have staged rallies in dozens of US cities to urge Congress to impeach Donald Trump.

Protestors hoisted signs branding the President an "illegitimate corrupt puppet" and chanted "lock him up" at the largest march, attended by 10,000 people in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday.

Smaller demonstrations were held in 45 other cities across the country, with organisers claiming the President had violated the US Constitution and obstructed justice.

Trump supporters staged counter-rallies in many cities, with police arresting three people after rival groups clashed in Philadelphia.

Protesters in San Diego, California (EPA)

In LA, protestors carried a black coffin topped with red, white and blue flowers and a hand-written sign reading: "The Presidency 1789-2017."

A Democrat politician was among speakers at the rally calling for Mr Trump to face impeachment. Congressman Brad Sherman told crowds: "We have to act now to protect our country from abuse of power and impulsive, ignorant incompetence."

Protestors cheered and chanted "lock him up" as Mr Sherman accused the President of attempting to thwart an FBI investigation into sacked national security advisor Michael Flynn's links to Russia.

Anti-Trump demonstrator John Meranda, 56, told the Los Angeles Times he was also frightened by the Republican proposal to cut billions of dollars from the Medicaid programme.

He said: "Every day when I wake up, something is more terrible than it was yesterday."

A smaller group of pro-Trump protesters gathered nearby outside LA police headquarters. They told media they were unconcerned about allegations Mr Trump had pressured FBI director James Comey to drop an investigation into Mr Flynn.

Rallies calling for Mr Trump's impeachment were also held in Chicago, New York, Washington and Austin, Texas.

Demonstrators faced off against supporters of the President in Austin and New York, where the rival rallies met outside a Trump hotel.

It came as the President was branded "cowardly", after it emerged he could visit the UK at less than 24 hours notice in a bid to evade protests.

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