Throughout 2025, activists have held multiple “music festival” events in cities across the United States protesting the actions of President Donald Trump in his second presidential term.
As reported by Politifact, President Trump ordered the United States National Guard into the city of Washington, D.C on August 11, 2025. “It’s becoming a situation of complete and total lawlessness,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
Trump’s actions sparked massive controversy around the country and ignited multiple protests in both major cities and small towns. These protests, often organized online as “music festivals” for the safety of the protesters, have faced significant opposition, including reports of tear gas and excessive physical force by police. TikTok users in Los Angeles and Portland have posted videos of police using physical force to push back a line of protesters, firing rubber bullets at a crowd, and even slamming protesters to the ground (TikTok). Some protesters have resorted to making their own safety “equipment” such as homemade body armor and protective coverings.
Public opinion about the effectiveness of the protests are mixed. Some protesters say these “music festival” protests are becoming too violent and actually hurting the cause, while others say they don’t go far enough.
The physical damage caused by these protests has been significant. Protesters have damaged roads and blocked off major traffic arteries. Many highways and street corners have been flooded with people holding signs and flags. Abandoned police and ICE vehicles have been spray painted and burned by protesters.
For Jake F.C., who participated in recent “music festivals” in Los Angeles, causing a commotion is the point.
“Real change only comes when the system feels it. Too many protesters get ignored… If it is not disruptive, it does not get to be heard, and we need to be heard,” said Jake.
Jake witnessed first-hand some of the tactics that officers have been using in response to the crowds of protesters. He described seeing officers using pepper spray, projectile-launchers, flashbang grenades, and rubber pellets against crowds of protesters.
“One thing I had never seen before was pepper spray being deployed from a helicopter, and that stood out to me as really unusual,” Jake said. “I also noticed the police seemed understaffed and overwhelmed by the size of the crowd. Their response looked sloppy at times.” Jake also mentioned that he saw some National Guard members present at these protests, but the majority of interactions were with local police and federal officers.
Jake said he chose to participate the protests because of his disillusionment with the current president and his administration. “Life at home felt calm, but I wasn’t questioning anything. The change for me wasn’t the protests itself; it was realizing everything I was taught was propaganda,” Jake said.
While the choice to participate wasn’t easy, Jake said his eldest sister has been one of his biggest supporters through these difficult times. He explained how his parents’ and sister’s story of immigration to the United States have motivated him and given him strength to continue. “It reminds me that at any moment it could be us next, even as citizens, even as natives of this land,” Jake explained.
It seems likely that similar protests will continue to be held around the country. Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles have sued the Trump administration over the deployments of National Guard troops to their cities, calling them unlawful. On August 26, 2025, President Trump announced his plans to order the National Guard to other major cities around the country, including Chicago, New Orleans, New York, and Baltimore. This has marked much controversy and decisions all over many states. The people and communities in these places are making plans and preparing for whatever may come.
Jake’s advice to other people struggling in this current political climate and considering protesting themselves? “Stay safe, keep your head up, and don’t forget that your voice matters even when you feel like nobody’s listening.”
