Massive Anti-Trump Protests Expected in New York City this Week

Some of the largest anti-Trump protests this campaign season are expected to be in New York City this week. Trump, Cruz and Kasich are the special guests at a New York state Republican gala at the Grand Hyatt on Thursday. Plates at the black-tie dinner start at $1,000.

The Facebook page organizing a protest of Trump on Thursday is hosted by two groups, Come Together Against Hate and Jews Against Trump. They write that, "On this day we will come together, and say no to his thirst for hatred, and violence."

Over a thousand people have signified they are attending. There are over 30 other organizations in the city pledging to disrupt the gala, including Fight for $15, Make the Road Action and Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ), a national organization with nearly 200 chapters that was founded in response to the anti-Obama backlash after his election.

Andy Smith, 30, a local leader with SURJ, protested against Trump in Cleveland where he said there were more than 30,000 supporters and about 50 protesters.

"It was really scary. I felt like a Jew at a Hitler rally," he said, at a training for the anti-Trump rally. "I would be shocked if it wasn't flipped with the amount of people protesting Trump, vs. the supporters."

Smith led a session on civil disobedience, which included guidance on how to link arms and make it difficult for police to break up a group, as well as how to behave once you're arrested.

"When someone like Trump is having a successful moment, it's just a representation that white supremacy is alive and very well in the United States," said Hannah Lucal, 25, one of the SURJ members, who plans on attending the anti-Trump rally. "I think it's the responsibility of white people who have created white supremacy to also work to dismantle it."

On Long Island last week, several dozen anti-Trump protesters stood outside of his rally in Bethpage.

"I haven't felt so strongly about an issue before, so this was prime time for me to come out and make my voice heard along with people who think along the same lines as I do," said Matt Giaquinto, 30, a taxi driver who said he's never before attended a protest.

"There's a lot of people out here who feel very passionately. People see this going on, they say, 'Maybe I should register to vote, maybe I should get out to the polls, maybe I should make a difference,' and I think that's a good thing, no matter what side you're on," he said.

If the New York City protests of the recent past are any indication of how disruptive civil disobedience can be - think Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter - New York could see some of the largest anti-Trump rallies of any around the country.