Protests in various parts of the US met Donald Trump’s oath taking as the 47th US president on January 20 in Washington, DC. Democratic organizations of Filipino-Americans such as the Malaya Movement, Bayan-USA and Anakbayan-USA participated in these protests. There was also a protest near the US embassy in Manila on January 21.

“Bayan-USA stands firm in condemning the return of the fascist administration under Trump and the capitalist elite,” Bayan-USA said. “These capitalists, who continue to goad Trump, serve only themselves, while pretending to side with the working class.”

The group also condemned Ferdinand Marcos Jr who openly supported Trump to strengthen his loyalty to the new imperialist state chief.

Other than in Washington DC, there have been actions in Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Chicago, Detroit, New York City and Philadelphia. Various organizations under the International League of Peoples’ Struggles participated in these protests.

“As Trump returns to the White House, Malaya USA remains steadfast in building an organized movement against fascism,” according to Malaya USA. It called on the Filipino-American community to join its fight against the fascist Trump and Marcos tandem in order to protect the welfare and safety of the Filipino community, and to defend democracy, human rights, and sovereignty for the Philippines.

On top of Trump’s agenda is the deportation of millions of undocumented citizens from the US, including Filipinos.

“He promised to intensify this (deportation).., including ordering the US military to carry out raids targeting work places with migrant workers,” according to Malaya. Filipinos in the US naturally fear this.

Philippine ambassador to the US, Jose Manuel Romualdez, cousin of Ferdinand Marcos Jr, stated that Filipinos should “self-deport”. The group called this statement “cruel” and “devoid of compassion”. “This ignores the fact that more than 7,500 Filipinos are leaving the Philippines daily due to the Philippine government’s refusal to invest in quality jobs, which in turn increases the number of undocumented Filipinos in the US.” An estimated one in four Filipinos in the US is undocumented.

They call on the Philippine embassy for protection, not deportation.

In the Philippines, various groups led by Bayan and Makabayan Coalition marched to the US embassy. They called for the closure of US military bases (EDCA sites) in the Philippines and the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country. Democratic groups believe Trump will be no different from his predecessor Joseph Biden in war provocations against rivals Russia and China.

“We already know Trump’s notoriety – stupid, macho-fascist, chauvinist,” Makabayan senatorial candidate Liza Maza said. “Trump brings severe danger to the national interest of the country and the rights of our countrymen.”

“Thousands of our countrymen are forced to become undocumented migrant workers in the US due to the serious employment crisis in the Philippines. They strive to live with dignity. Trump’s inhumane criminalization of them is unacceptable,” she said.