Protesters crowded downtown Bloomington over the weekend, calling for resistance to President Donald Trump’s war in Iran and immigration crackdown.

The gathering Saturday was during the third “No Kings” day of demonstrations across the United States since Trump returned to office last year.

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“I wanted to be here because I feel like we all have to stand up for our democracy,” said Karen Watkins, of Bloomington. “Over the past few years, it seems like the desires of the everyday people are not being met by our current government.”

Watkins waved a sign depicting a gold crown crossed out by red marker, which she said she planned to keep “recycling” for future anti-Trump events.

“There are plenty of people — in this city, statewide, nationwide — that really want to defend our country and defend our democracy,” she said.

A large group of protesters left the square later in the afternoon, briefly stopping traffic on main streets, including Walnut and Kirkwood avenues.

Others remained in the square, including a small group of musicians singing songs about peace and protecting immigrants.

 Kate Steger, a global healthcare consultant who lives in Bloomington, said she was affected by the administration's elimination of USAID, the government agency that funded humanitarian projects around the world.

“It's been deeply painful for me to see the destruction of some of the good that we were doing,” Steger said. “I really needed to express resistance to that and show that we are a country that cares about other people — not just ourselves.”

She added: "We can turn ourselves around. I believe that."

More "No Kings" demonstrations took place Saturday in hundreds of other U.S. cities, including several dozen in Indiana.

Read more: Thousands join No Kings protest in Indianapolis

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson called them the product of “leftist funding networks” with little real public support.

The “only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them,” Jackson said in a statement.