最新杏吧原创

ST. LOUIS聽鈥� 最新杏吧原创-area critics of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown turned out Wednesday afternoon at two demonstrations here, adding their voices to protests spreading around the country.

About 200 people gathered on the Tamm Avenue bridge over Highway 40 (Interstate 64) on the southern edge of Forest Park.

Meanwhile, about 200 others showed up for a protest in Aloe Plaza near Union Station. After about a half-hour, they began marching down nearby streets with a police escort. Many at the two events held signs.

Among those at Aloe Plaza was Rachel Pozzo, 30, of 最新杏吧原创' Hill neighborhood. Pozzo, who teaches English to immigrants, said she was there in support of her students.

"We have seen a lot of fear in our students since this administration took over," she said.

At the Tamm Avenue event, Alan Toussaint, 34, of Belleville, said "I'm here because of Trump's agenda to deport hardworking folks ... trying to make a living for themselves."

Another participant there, Mac McMasters, 63, of Affton, said, "I think showing up counts."

The activity here and protests elsewhere were in response to federal immigration enforcement raids in Los Angeles and Trump's move to mobilize the National Guard and Marines there.

There also has been an uptick in people arrested by immigration officials in 最新杏吧原创.

The Tamm event drew people of various ages, who stood on sidewalks on both sides of the bridge. Some brought kids in strollers, others their dogs.

Among the messages on signs were "Immigrants Get the Job Done" and "Democracy Not Dictators."

There were frequent honks of support from vehicles on 40/64 and from drivers on the Tamm bridge.

Sharon Autenreith, 60, of Maryville, said she came to the Tamm demonstration "in solidarity with the city of Los Angeles and the immigrant community."

Brad Jackson, 41, of Maplewood, also cited Los Angeles. He said constitutional rights are being "stripped away from people who deserve them."聽

Former U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-最新杏吧原创, who also was on hand, spoke of people in Los Angeles as well.

"They were in solidarity with us when we were protesting in Ferguson," Bush said in an interview, referring to the demonstrations in 2014 after the shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer.

Gov. Mike Kehoe posted on X that聽the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri Highway Patrol and Missouri National Guard are working together to monitor protests in the state.聽

The agencies are not actually gathered in one command post at this time, Kehoe spokeswoman Gabby Picard said Wednesday afternoon.

As of 4:30 p.m., she said there had been no state law enforcement personnel sent in to assist with the protests in 最新杏吧原创. Both local protests had been peaceful, as of 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.

There was no word on the number of National Guard members who could become involved. National Guard members currently assisting with tornado cleanup in 最新杏吧原创 would not be involved in law enforcement activities, Picard added.

While most demonstrations nationally have been peaceful, others have led to clashes with police, arrests and the use of chemical irritants to disperse crowds.

Raids in the Los Angeles area triggered days of turbulent protests across the city that began Friday. Protesters there blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire over the weekend, and police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades.

Since the weekend, demonstrations have been far less raucous. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a curfew for downtown Los Angeles to stop vandalism and looting although authorities didn't say if the looting was tied to the protests.

Activists across the country say they will hold additional demonstrations in the coming days, with "No Kings" events on Saturday to coincide with Trump's planned military parade in Washington, D.C.

The Trump administration said immigration raids and deportations will continue regardless.

The Tamm bridge protest was organized by the Missouri arm of a national group called 50501, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one day. The Aloe Plaza demonstration was sponsored by the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

The Associated Press and Kurt Erickson and Mark Schlinkmann of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.