I can’t imagine why anybody would want their music used or associated with something created with the sole purpose of dividing us,” he said.

Earth, Wind & Fire issued a brief, to-the-point statement after the house band at the 2016 Republican National Convention — where Trump formally accepted his nomination as the party’s candidate — played “September” without authorization. “Another unauthorized use (September) at the Republican Convention, against our wishes,” the band tweeted.

Organizers said some 2,600 protests were planned in the U.S. on Saturday. The protests were largely peaceful, as demonstrators united in their stated aim to safeguard the country's democratic values.