Americans Walk Out of Jobs and Schools in Protest of Trump on 1-Year Anniversary of His Inauguration

Americans across the country took part in the “Free America Walkout” on Jan. 20, 2026, a coordinated day of protest aimed at President Donald Trump and his administration’s stepped-up immigration enforcement.

“On January 20 at 2 PM local time, we will walk out of work, school, and commerce. We will withhold our labor, our participation, and our consent,” the Free America movement’s website read.

Organizers timed the walkout to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Trump’s inauguration. In Washington, D.C., demonstrators gathered as the president remained at the White House, briefing reporters and highlighting what his administration described as its accomplishments.

The movement also posted a list of demands online, including “home and health care for all” and “an end to kidnapping by ICE.” Supporters were encouraged to call their elected officials, refrain from spending as a form of protest, and wear red, white, and blue.

In Columbus, one local organizer said the bitter cold didn’t change her view that opponents of the administration needed to show up publicly.

“We want to get more people to wake up, and we want to make sure we’re visible,” Martha Davis told The Columbus Dispatch. “It’s too easy to go about your day if it’s not really impacting you, so hopefully, we’re creating impact.”

Free America is also planning a mass “what comes next” call on Thursday, Jan. 22, ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8.

The walkout comes amid heightened national tension around immigration enforcement. In recent weeks, anti-ICE protests have occurred in multiple cities following the fatal Jan. 7 shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.

Organizers framed the Jan. 20 action as part of a broader wave of demonstrations similar to the “No Kings Day” rallies held in July and October 2025, which supporters described as a response to Trump’s perceived “abuses of power.”

During the October “No Kings” effort, more than 2,500 protests were planned in major cities and smaller towns nationwide, with large gatherings expected in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta, New York City, Houston, Honolulu, Boston, Kansas City, Bozeman, Chicago and New Orleans.