Greenlandic organizations said Saturday they had mobilized thousands of demonstrators across Denmark and Greenland to protest U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to take over the Arctic island, framing the rallies as a defense of democracy and self-determination.

The demonstrations were organized by Uagut, the National Organization for Greenlanders in Denmark, together with the citizens initiative “Hands Off Kalaallit Nunaat,” the Joint Association for Greenlandic Local Associations in Denmark (Inuit) and the NGO Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke, according to a joint statement from the groups.

In Copenhagen, protesters gathered at City Hall Square chanting “Greenland is not for sale” before marching toward the U.S. Embassy, waving Greenland flags and holding banners reading “Hands off Greenland.”

Parallel demonstrations were held in Aarhus, Aalborg and Odense, while a protest in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, was scheduled for later Saturday, with marchers set to head toward the U.S. consulate, organizers said.

“We are demonstrating against American statements and ambitions to annex Greenland,” Camilla Siezing, chairwoman of the Inuit Association, said in a statement. “We demand respect for the Danish Realm and for Greenland’s right to self-determination.”

Organizers said the protests were peaceful and open to anyone wishing to show solidarity, and were timed to coincide with the visit of U.S. senators to Denmark amid mounting transatlantic tensions.

Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security and has refused to rule out coercive measures to acquire it, triggering a diplomatic crisis with Denmark, a NATO ally.

Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which retains control over defense and foreign policy, while the island’s elected parties broadly support independence but disagree on timing.

The protests come days after Denmark and several European allies announced plans to expand their military presence in and around Greenland through increased exercises and deployments, moves officials described as defensive.