Demonstrators gathered in cities across the U.S. on Wednesday to protest the Trump administration’s early actions, decrying everything from the president’s immigration crackdown to his rollback of transgender rights and a proposal to forcibly transfer Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

Protesters in Philadelphia and at state capitols in California, Minnesota, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana and beyond waved signs denouncing President Donald Trump; billionaire Elon Musk, the leader of Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency; and Project 2025, a hard-right playbook for American government and society.

In downtown San Jose, more than 100 people protested outside of City Hall. They congregated on the edge of the sidewalk or sat on top of parked cars and trucks, waving Mexican flags and colorful, handpainted signs denouncing Trump and Musk. Dozens of passing cars honked in support, eliciting cheers from the demonstrators.Standing on the sidewalk dressed in bright blue, Stephanie Silva balanced her 5-month-old on her hip while holding a sign that read “Keep families together.”

Silva came out to support her teenage daughter, who had walked out of nearby Abraham Lincoln High School with dozens of classmates earlier that afternoon to join the protest.

“What we’re seeing gives me a lot of hope for the future,” Silva said.

With Trump in office and pushing anti-immigration orders, the San Jose residents said she’s worried about her partner, who is from Peru, and their extended family who immigrated to the U.S.

“It’s a part of my life,” she said, her voice breaking. “It’s not a one-time protest.”

Farther down the sidewalk, San Jose resident Kai Gallagher walked with a broomstick handle in each hand. Secured at the top of the sticks were cardboard squares and the words, “Arrest musk” and “Resist fascism” painted on.

Gallagher, who said it was important for him to protest against an increase of racism, bigotry and fascism, joined the City Hall protest at the last minute and was surprised to see such a large turnout.

“I didn’t expect anyone to be here,” he said. “But it’s an encouraging sign. I hope we can keep the momentum going.”

In Concord, hundreds of students, including from nearby Mount Diablo High School, marched through Todos Santos Plaza downtown protesting mass deportations. They carried signs denouncing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and shouted “Viva Mexico!” as a group of cars waved Mexican flags out of windows and honked in support close by.

The protests were a result of a movement that has organized online under the hashtags #buildtheresistance and #50501, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one day. Websites and accounts across social media issued calls for action, with messages such as “reject fascism” and “defend our democracy.”

Outside the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, a crowd of hundreds gathered in freezing temperatures.

Catie Miglietti, from the Ann Arbor area, said Musk’s access to Treasury Department data was especially concerning. She painted a sign depicting Musk puppeteering Trump from his outraised arm — evoking Musk’s straight-arm gesture during a January speech that some have interpreted as a Nazi salute.

“If we don’t stop it and get Congress to do something, it’s an attack on democracy,” Miglietti said.

Demonstrations in several cities piled criticism on Musk and DOGE.

“DOGE is not legit,” read one poster on the state Capitol steps in Jefferson City, Missouri, where dozens of protesters gathered. “Why does Elon have your Social Security info???”

Members of Congress have expressed concern that DOGE’s involvement with the U.S. government payment system could lead to security risks or missed payments for programs such as Social Security and Medicare. A Treasury Department official says a tech executive working with DOGE will have “read-only access.”

Trump has signed a series of executive orders in the first couple of weeks of his new term on everything from trade and immigration to climate change. As Democrats begin to raise their voice in opposition to Trump’s agenda, protests have multiplied.

Staff writers Stephanie Lam and Luis Melecio-Zambrano, as well as the Associated Press, contributed to this report.