Protests erupt nationwide following Trump’s transgender military ban announcement

iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Hundreds of demonstrators gathered Wednesday in New York City, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco to protest President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender service members in the military.

The protests came just hours after Trump announced the ban on Twitter.

The president did not specify what the ban would mean for currently serving transgender soldiers.

Below, a round-up of the protests across the country.

NEW YORK CITY
Hundreds of protesters — many carrying signs that read “Resist!” — descended upon the U.S. Armed Forces recruiting station in Times Square to denounce the ban.

LIVE: Protesters gather in Times Square to rally against the ban on transgender people in the military. https://t.co/3AM6xwvDsy pic.twitter.com/ZIRs6zbuBX

— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) July 26, 2017

 

SAN FRANCISCO

Protesters assembled in at least two locations in San Francisco Wednesday evening to speak out against the ban.

Several hundred protesters gathered at the city’s Harvey Milk Plaza — named after the gay rights icon and the country’s first openly gay elected official — and urged those in attendance to “stand up” and “fight back.”

Some demonstrators waved pink and blue flags, while others held signs.

LOS ANGELES

Protesters, including transgender veterans, gathered at the Los Angeles LGBT Center in Hollywood. Some carried signs that read “Proud Trans Vet” and “LGBT Solidarity.”

The ACLU of Southern California said it will sue the Trump administration to stop the ban if it actually becomes policy.

“Everyone is heartbroken!”

Transgender vets speak at @LALGBTCenter after @realDonaldTrump tweets they should be banned from the military. pic.twitter.com/ySIJsy02kU

— Elex Michaelson (@abc7elex) July 27, 2017

.@ACLU_SoCal says if @realDonaldTrump turns his tweets about transgender people into actual policy, they’ll sue to stop it. pic.twitter.com/mQHzoLHcfC

— Elex Michaelson (@abc7elex) July 27, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C.

More than a hundred people gathered at the White House, including some transgender service members and veterans who said they were “shocked” and “angry” when they first heard about the ban.

“I was actually really shocked and angry. I don’t know how he came to that conclusion so fast,” Kara Zajac, a transgender woman and a Navy veteran, told ABC affiliate WJLA-TV.

“The previous administration came up with a sensible plan for allowing transgender people to openly serve, and that plan needs to be openly respected,” Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, director of external relations for the National Center for Transgender Equality, told the crowd.

Protesters chant “no hate, no fear…trump’s values aren’t welcome here.” #transmilitaryban pic.twitter.com/83urhutBOo

— Anna-Lysa Gayle (@ABC7Annalysa) July 26, 2017

Copyright © 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

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