Thousands Rally in New York, Los Angeles, Other U.S. Cities in Support of Muslim Americans

Thousands of people of multiple faiths gathered in cities across the country to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, and to show support of Muslim Americans.

In one of the largest rallies, music mogul and entrepreneur Russell Simmons headlined the “I Am A Muslim Too” rally in the heart of New York’s Times Square, where he called for an end to Islamphopia and hate crimes directed at Muslims.

“We have to acknowledge there’s a change in our country. We have been fighting Islamophobia for many years, but there is a shift towards more hate crimes and more hate,” Simmons said Sunday. “But at the same time, we have to recognize there’s also an acknowledgement of that hate and a connectivity that it brings, and a partnership and unity that it brings, so we can have this lovefest today.”

Joining Simmons at the rally included Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, and Imam Shamsi Ali of the Jamaica Muslim Center, who organized the rally.  New York mayor Bill de Blasio, actress Susan Sarandon activist Linda Sarsour, rapper Q-Tip, and Chelsea Clinton were also in attendance.

Protests against Donald Trump’s policies were also held in Boston, Chicago and Salem, Oregon.

In Boston, hundreds of scientists, environmental advocates and their supporters held a rally to protest what they see as increasing threats to science and research in the U.S. The “Rally to Stand Up for Science” in Boston’s Copley Square was held outside of the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting.

About 1,000 protesters gathered at Trump Tower in Chicago for a rally that ended with a march to the Federal Plaza.

Hundreds of people demonstrated on Sunday in front of the Oregon State Capitol to support immigration right.

And in Los Angeles, about 2,500 people demonstrated near City Hall Saturday to protest President Trump’s immigration policies.

Watch full video of the New York “I Am Muslim Too” Rally in New York below.