Outside Trump Tower in New York City, a brass band played while hundreds of protesters chanted, “Donald Trump has got to go!” Many held signs calling for a living wage and universal healthcare. Some called the president a fascist.
HAPPENING NOW: Protesters have gathered in front of Trump Tower chanting “Donald Trump has got to go!” (Video: @NJEGmedia) pic.twitter.com/284ABlMl0f
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) September 1, 2025
The demonstrations are part of a nationwide campaign called “Workers Over Billionaires.” Organizers expect more than 1,000 rallies across all 50 states. Protesters are calling for fair wages, fully funded schools, affordable housing, and an end to corporate corruption and attacks on marginalized communities.
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At the center of the anger is the federal minimum wage, which is still $7.25 an hour. It has not been raised since 2009. Tipped workers face an even harsher reality, stuck at a “subminimum” wage of $2.13 an hour, a number set in 1991. Advocates say this system enables wage theft.
Some states have higher minimum wages, but activists argue it still falls short of a real living wage. In New York City, the minimum is $16.50. According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a single adult in the city needs nearly $33 an hour to cover basic expenses. In Mississippi, one of the lowest-cost states, the living wage is $20.75—almost three times the federal minimum.
“Service workers in New York City are the backbone of this city,” said Giovanni Uribe of One Fair Wage. “The National Restaurant Association is our number one opponent that’s fighting to keep subminimum wage intact so they don’t have to pay their workers their full minimum wage to survive. So we’re just asking for a livable wage.”
The protests spread far beyond New York. In Chicago, thousands turned out downtown to resist Trump’s vow to send in federal forces, as he has already done in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
“This is the city that will defend the country,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told the crowd. His words drew loud cheers as protesters waved blue-striped Chicago flags.
“There is a crime problem,” said Yvonne Spears, 67. “But the National Guard is supposed to fight for us, not against us.”
Trump has repeatedly attacked Chicago, calling it “a mess,” “a hellhole,” and “a killing field.” But homicide rates have fallen in recent years, according to city crime data. A 2025 University of Chicago survey found roughly half of Chicagoans feel unsafe at night, but many at Monday’s protest said they felt secure in their own neighborhoods.
Trump, a billionaire real estate scion, rose to power on a platform that tapped into economic frustration. But his administration is filled with billionaires. The most famous was Elon Musk, who served as Trump’s top adviser before stepping down after a falling-out.
In the name of “efficiency,” Musk oversaw sweeping cuts to federal agencies. A congressional investigation in July found the changes cost taxpayers nearly $22 billion.
Featured image via X screengrab
