This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

About 200 Utahns celebrated Monday as "Not My President's Day" by marching from Salt Lake City's federal building to Washington Square and rallying against Donald Trump and his administration.

A handful of speakers and those gathered raised concerns over the environment, immigration, free speech, fascism, equal rights and Russia.

The crowd chanted, "This is what democracy looks like" and carried banners and placards that proclaimed slogans such as, "Walls will never stop us" and "Fake President Trump."

Reg Brookings told the crowd that Trump was creating false enemies — such as immigrants, people of color, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals — to divide the country.

"People need fear to keep power," he said.

Brookings also asked the demonstrators not to turn their backs on Trump supporters.

"Poor white people have been hoodwinked, bamboozled and conned" by the president, who appears to be looking out for the rich and powerful, he said.

Breanna Reams held a sign that said, "Impeach."

"Donald Trump is doing real damage to this country," she said of the president's first month in the White Houser. "And we have to get him out of office as soon as possible."

Susan Silva drove to Salt Lake City from Summit County's Woodland to protest for a number or reasons.

"Our president is a liar," she said. "And it really upsets me when he goes after the press. I hope the free press will continue to do its job. I don't trust Trump to tell the truth."

Many in the crowd were angry as well as fearful.

Tom King said Trump is a threat to the nation's future.

"I see that our federal republic of the United States of America is in danger," he said. "There is a clear and present danger to the structure and values of our nation."

Taylorsville resident Jazmine Ribe carried a handmade placard that said, "Early warning signs of fascism" and wore a red cap embroidered with, "Make Donald Drumpf Again." She explained that the president's forebears, from Germany, had Americanized the name.

She brought her 8-year-old son to the rally. "I'm showing him how to stand up against things you don't believe in," she said. "And how to stand up for things you do believe in."

One man paced around beyond the edge of the crowd, yelling, "Illegals are criminals." He got little notice from those gathered to protest Trump's stance on immigration. Among them was Emma Zevallos from Peru.

"I'm here [at the rally] because I'm an immigrant," she said. "I was undocumented, but I'm not anymore."

The president's policies, Zevallos said, are striking fear into immigrants, whether or not they have clearance to be in the country.

Juan Perez struck a similar note. "I'm not happy with the decisions the administration is making right now, especially with immigrants," he said. "It's bad for the country."

Others were curious about what is going on with the U.S. intelligence community and the administration's connections with Russia.

Trump's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin is troubling, said Debra Grimes.

"I'm concerned about the Russia thing," she said. "Trump and his advisers — there's something going on there."

Corrine Gutierrez organized the event because she believed it was necessary. Officially, she said, it's called the "Not My President's Day Sister March and Rally."

Similar demonstrations were held in other U.S. cities.

Later Monday, a small handful of residents returned to the federal building to continue their show of resistance by holding a candlelight vigil.

"We're grieving the loss of the presidency," said Mary Phillips as she stood in the wind downtown, holding a battery-powered electric candle. "We will survive, we are America."

Reporter Taylor W. Anderson contributed to this story.