Thousands of protesters fill the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as they participate in a Women's March Jan. 21 in Philadelphia. | Getty Protesters to greet Trump as he huddles with Republicans

PHILADELPHIA — Activists emboldened by the massive turnout at last weekend’s Women’s March are planning to descend on the downtown area here Thursday, when President Donald Trump joins Congressional Republicans to begin hammering out a policy agenda.

It’s Trump’s first trip away from Washington, D.C., since taking the oath of office last week, and it comes amid a torrent of action by Trump that has inflamed passions among liberals, from his early moves to repeal Obamacare to his executive orders to begin building a wall along the southern border — even as it's left many Republicans in the dark.


Already, a protest march against repealing the health care law is expected to draw at least 3,000 attendees to the foot of the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, where Trump will address House and Senate Republicans. Organizers include a slew of liberal advocacy groups based in the region, like the Center for Popular Democracy, and ONE PA, as well as local labor unions.

The effort got a push Wednesday from the official Twitter account of last weekend’s Women’s March: “We must continue to stand together & send a message to our new administration.” Organizers are hoping to capture some of the momentum from the weekend protests to drive up turnout.

City officials noted that “other demonstrations without permits are also expected to occur throughout the day.” The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that at least two other protests are planned: a “Queer Rager” dance party outside the Loews on Wednesday and an immigrant-rights protest on early Thursday.

The GOP retreat, which began Wednesday and ends Friday, is being secured jointly by the Secret Service and Philadelphia Police.

James Henry, the Secret Service Agent in charge of the Philadelphia Field Office, said the agency would establish a secure perimeter around the Loews beginning early Thursday morning. Outside the perimeter, security would be left to local police to monitor protests and any threats to the president or his motorcade route.

“We developed the entire security plan with the Philadelphia Police Department,” he said. “I’m very comfortable with our plan.”

A spokeswoman for Philadelphia Mayor James Kenney noted that the police also worked closely with the Secret Service and other authorities to secure the Democratic National Convention in July.

“They oversaw protests in the thousands over 4 days in the middle of a heat wave during the DNC – and made not a single arrest,” said the spokeswoman Lauren Hitt. “So while we are preparing, we are not unduly concerned.”

Lawmakers who helped organize the retreat said they anticipated demonstrations and expressed support for their right to protest.

“We welcome the dialogue, discussion and conversation,” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) chairman of the Senate Republican Conference “There are people obviously who feel strongly. There are people who have different views of the role of government and what they expect Congress to do. We … assume that people are going to register their strong opinions.”

Thune’s counterpart in the House, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, said she hoped “to see us come together as a country and unify.”

“Part of that is a commitment ensuring that we are listening to everyone,” she said.