'He Has Lost All Moral Authority': Rep. Pressley Protests Trump's Emergency Declaration

Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley was in Harvard Square in Cambridge on Monday protesting President Trump's declaration of a national emergency to fund a wall along the United States' southern border.

The demonstration, titled a "Presidents Day Protest to Fight Trump's fake Crisis and Racist Deportation Forces," was organized by the liberal advocacy group Cambridge Area Stronger Together and drew a crowd of several hundred people. It was one of multiple rallies held across the country.

Speaking to protesters, Pressley said Trump's impeachment is still on the table and the real national emergency is the humanitarian crisis underway at the border.

"I think he has lost all moral authority to continue to serve in this role," Pressley said. "I took an oath of office to defend the American people and the Constitution against all threats, foreign and domestic — and he is a hell of a threat."

Norman Doust, a Cambridge resident who attended the protest, said there is no emergency like the president says.

"One person wants to devote $5 billion for something that is not needed," he said. "There are a lot of ... other important things that we could be devoting that money to."

He added: "This doesn't make me any more fearful than I've been for the last two years, no, because I think by seeing a lot of people rising up and saying we are not going to put up with this, that gives me hope.

"I'm an optimist."

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported the group who organized the protest. We regret the error.