Multiple significant political events and large-scale protests have occurred across the United States, addressing various administration policies, federal actions, and broader societal concerns. These events include the January 6, 2021, incident at the U.S. Capitol, widespread "No Kings" rallies, and large demonstrations in Minneapolis and other cities on January 23, 2026.
January 6, 2021: U.S. Capitol Incident
On January 6, 2021, the U.S. Congress convened to certify the Electoral College votes for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Following a rally, several thousand individuals marched from the White House to the U.S. Capitol.
Events at the Capitol
Participants, including members of groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, breached police barricades and entered the Capitol building. Over 140 police officers were reported injured during the incident. A gallows was erected outside the Capitol. Then-Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were evacuated from the building. Prosecutions stemming from the event have resulted in convictions for seditious conspiracy and other felonies related to efforts to prevent the certification of election results.
Investigations and Context
Investigations, including a House impeachment report, documented then-President Donald Trump's actions in the months preceding January 6. These actions included efforts to pressure state officials to alter certified election results, notably in Georgia. These efforts, combined with calls for supporters to gather in Washington, D.C., and march to the Capitol, were cited as factors contributing to the day's events.
The objective of the actions on January 6 was identified as preventing the certification of election results and blocking the transfer of power.
Special Counsel Jack Smith reportedly stated to the House Oversight Committee that evidence indicated then-President Trump planned, caused, and exploited the January 6 events, and that these outcomes were foreseeable to him.
Official Responses
During the incident, Democratic leaders issued appeals for calm and urged then-President Trump to call upon his supporters to disperse. The deployment of the D.C. National Guard experienced a delay, with reports indicating a roughly 3-hour-19-minute gap before their arrival at the Capitol. Following January 6, political leaders emphasized the importance of a functional Republican Party and sought bipartisan cooperation on matters such as foreign policy and national security, including aid packages for Ukraine.
"No Kings" Rallies (Undated)
Mass protests, referred to as "No Kings" rallies, took place across the United States at an unspecified time. Organizers estimated eight million participants in over 3,000 events.
Protest Focus
The rallies expressed opposition to various actions attributed to the Trump administration. These included attempts to abolish birthright citizenship by executive order, arrests of legal residents for protest participation or op-ed writing, deployment of federal agents to cities, and the initiation of a war in Iran.
Senator Bernie Sanders' Address
At a protest in St. Paul, Minnesota, Senator Bernie Sanders delivered a speech. Sanders stated he connected the administration's actions to economic oligarchy, and was quoted as saying:
"This moment is not just about one man’s greed, one man’s corruption, or one man’s contempt for our constitution. This is about a handful of the wealthiest people on earth, who, in their insatiable greed, have taken over our economy, have taken over our political system, have taken over our media in order to enrich themselves at the expense of the working families of our country."
Sanders also linked the administration's actions to militarism domestically and internationally, criticizing the war in Iran as unconstitutional due to a lack of congressional consent. He cited figures related to the conflict, including 13 American soldiers killed and hundreds wounded, thousands of Iranian civilians reportedly killed by bombings, 1,000 killed and a million displaced in Lebanon, and reported actions by Israeli settlers against Palestinians on the West Bank, with allegations of government approval, and a government accused of "genocide in Gaza."
January 23, 2026: Minneapolis and Nationwide Protests
On January 23, 2026, over 100,000 individuals demonstrated in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, despite sub-zero temperatures. The protests were organized as a "Day of Truth and Freedom."
Reasons for Protest
The demonstrations were held in response to the death of Renée Nicole Good during an interaction with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, the ongoing federal presence in the city, and the alleged abduction of five-year-old Liam Ramos. Participants included healthcare workers, educators, postal workers, students, and other residents. Demonstrators carried signs calling for ICE to leave Minnesota, demanding prosecution of the ICE agent involved in Good's death, and denouncing the alleged abduction of Liam Ramos. Some banners referenced ideals of the American Revolution. Smaller, localized demonstrations also occurred across Minneapolis neighborhoods.
Nationwide Scope
Protests took place in over 100 cities nationwide, including high school student walkouts in Georgia. The concept of a general strike gained popularization as a demand for mass coordinated action.
Government Responses
President Trump and his administration criticized the protesters, referring to them as "insurrectionists" and "terrorists." On January 24, federal agents killed a man observing ICE operations in Minneapolis. Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis prior to the demonstration to defend ICE and address concerns about military intervention. The administration reportedly considered invoking the Insurrection Act. Up to 1,500 active-duty soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division were reportedly on standby, and ICE raids continued daily.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a memo that one article claims asserted powers to override the Fourth Amendment and conduct warrantless home raids. A statement attributed to Trump in Davos, "Sometimes you need a dictator," was cited in one article in connection with these actions.
Responses from Unions and Democratic Party
One article stated that the trade union apparatus, including the national AFL-CIO, did not publicly support the January 23 action. State and local federations, such as the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, nominally endorsed the protest but advised workers to remain on the job due to "no-strike clauses." Union officials, including AFT President Randi Weingarten, SEIU President April Verrett, and CWA President Claude Cummings Jr., delivered speeches.
One article criticized the Democratic Party for allegedly working to contain opposition to Trump, noting they helped pass appropriations bills, including funding for DHS and ICE, in the week leading up to the protests. Senator Bernie Sanders' warnings about authoritarianism were noted, with one article stating they offered no political strategy beyond appeals to courts and preparations for the 2026 election.
Socialist Equality Party (SEP) Perspective
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) stated it views the January 23 protests as the beginning of a working-class movement against the Trump administration's policies.
The SEP advocates for this movement to develop independently of the Democratic Party or union bureaucracy, through new forms of struggle.
The party promotes building rank-and-file committees in workplaces to coordinate mass action and establish a general strike. This approach is linked to the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), aiming for a global counteroffensive. The SEP encourages forming these committees and preparing for a sustained struggle against what it terms the capitalist system, advocating for socialism.