WASHINGTON 

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday called on Americans to "peacefully" exercise their constitutional right to protest at upcoming "No Kings" rallies and to rally opposition to what he called the Trump administration’s threats to democratic norms.

"In America, we do not have dictators. And we cannot allow presidents to transform the presidency into some form of dictatorship. And now, more than ever, for that reason, it is vital that Americans from one end of the country to the other stand up for our basic freedoms, because Donald Trump is eroding our democracy day by day by day," Schumer said on the Senate floor.

Organizers of the "No Kings" protests say they expect millions to rally nationwide on Saturday, in an event that Republican lawmakers have condemned as a "hate America rally," a claim Schumer firmly rejected.

"These are not hate rallies, as some of the right-wingers try to say. These are love America rallies, care about America rallies," Schumer said.

The Democrat announced he will personally join demonstrators this weekend "to celebrate what makes this country so great."

He emphasized the importance of non-violence and civic unity during the demonstrations.

"I urge Americans to speak out, use your voice, exercise your rights to free speech, and of course, there should be no violence from either side," the leader added.