BAYAN-USA Mobilizes #FilipinosAgainstTrump and Joins Millions of People Protesting Inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the U.S.

 For Immediate ReleaseJanuary 23, 2017Reference: Rhonda Ramiro, BAYAN-USA Vice Chair, vc@bayanusa.orgBAYAN-USA Mobilizes #FilipinosAgainstTrump and Joins Millions of People Protesting Inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the U.S.In the largest demonstrations the US has seen in decades, BAYAN-USA led contingents of Filipinos and allies in two days of actions in 10 regions of the country to denounce the inauguration of U.S. imperialism’s new commander in chief, Donald J. Trump.  Speaking to hundreds of thousands of demonstrators during the January 20 Inauguration protests and the January 21 Women’s Marches, BAYAN-USA protesters rallied communities to forge a unified resistance to the increased fascism, racism, Islamophobia, sexism and homophobia promised under the new Trump regime.  Speakers also pushed for the building of the broad anti-imperialist movement within the U.S. as the only way to ultimately defeat the militarism and exploitation inherent to capitalism. At the same time, speakers urged the crowds to support social and national liberation struggles worldwide that are lighting the way toward a brighter alternative society that values people and the planet over profit. Specific calls made by BAYAN-USA included the defense of Filipino and other immigrant communities from Trump’s threats of mass deportation, as well as for the U.S. to withdraw its military from the Philippines and stop using the Philippines as a pawn in its power play with China.On the eve of Trump’s inauguration, BAYAN-USA’s Secretary General Jessica Antonio also joined the protest organized by BAYAN in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines.  Antonio addressed the protesters, saying “Many people are afraid of what will happen next, who Trump will put in his cabinet, what his foreign policy will be. But US imperialism is US imperialism. And people are overcoming their fear and linking arm in arm together to fight against US imperialism in order to crush it, from all sides--including the inside.”###(Photo Caption:  Portland, Oregon - Member organizations of BAYAN USA in the Pacific Northwest protested on Inauguration Day, including member organizations Portland Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Anakbayan Portland, and Gabriela Portland)(Photo Caption: San Francisco, CA.  BAYAN USA marched with Gabriela USA, Migrante NorCal, the National Alliance of Filipino Concerns, and the International League of People’s Struggle)(Photo Caption: Washington D.C.and New York members mobilizing for the Women’s March D.C.) (Photo Caption: Portland, Oregon.  Women’s March Portland)(Photo Caption: Los Angeles, CA.  On January 21, 2017, members marched and protested from Pershing Square to LA City Hall in Downtown LA.) (Photo Caption: Oakland, CA.  On January 21, 2017, member organization, Gabriela SF led chants and protests in Oakland, CA.)(Photo Caption: San Francisco, CA. BAYAN USA, Migrante NorCal, and ILPS US Organizations mobilized at Anti-Trump protests and the Women’s March in San Francisco. Photo by Jack Stephens.)(Photo caption: Queens, New York. Bayan USA and ILPS-US organizations lead a march and rally in Diversity Plaza) (Photo caption: Jersey City, New Jersey. Bea Sabino of Filipina Women’s Organizing Committee speaks to crowd at People’s Inauguration at Journal Square on January 20) (Photo caption: Seattle, WA. Bayan USA and ILPS-US organizations lead a contingent of over 200 womxn of color, LGBTQ identified people, children, and their families, at Seattle’s Women’s March.) (Photo caption: Seattle, WA. Rhondalei Gabuat of GABRIELA Seattle and Sharlyn Santiago of Anakbayan Seattle represented BAYAN USA, speaking to a crowd of over 130,000 at Seattle’s Women’s March as they passed through the streets of Downtown Seattle.)(Photo caption:  Chicago, IL.  Anakbayan Chicago members mobilized to protest the Trump inauguration.)