On Saturday afternoon, thousands of protesters took to the streets across the Bay Area, waving American flags and demanding an end to what they described as “fascism” under President Donald Trump’s administration. The rallies, known as the “No Kings” protests, resonated nationwide, drawing supporters from California to Washington D.C. and New York. Organizers of the event emphasized their concerns regarding Trump's perceived violations of civil rights and the Constitution, including aggressive immigration policies, cuts to social security benefits, and significant reductions in federal government staffing.
These protests come on the heels of similar nationwide anti-Trump rallies that recently attracted thousands of participants. In downtown San Jose, approximately 2,000 individuals gathered at St. James Park, chanting slogans like “This is what democracy looks like” while displaying colorful signs that read “Remove the Dictator” and “Hands Off our Democracy.” The timing of Saturday’s protest was particularly poignant, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War, which many protesters found symbolic of their fight against perceived tyranny.
Sunnyvale resident Karen Hurst, a teacher at San Jose City College, attended the protest wearing a yellow craft crown with the word “King” crossed out. “Two-hundred and fifty years ago, we decided we weren’t going to have kings in this country,” she said. “It seems like right now we’re headed in the wrong direction towards someone who wants to be a king.” Hurst's motivation stems from her concern for her students, many of whom are immigrants or international students who fear attending class due to the current political climate.
Nearby, Santa Clara resident Tom Thomas waved a purple flag that read “Don’t Give Up the Ship,” a phrase rooted in American history from the War of 1812. For Thomas, the message is a rallying cry to preserve democracy in the face of rising authoritarianism. “This (dictatorship) has happened to other countries before, and to think that this can’t happen in the United States is just ridiculous,” the 53-year-old remarked. “We have to do stuff like this; we have to do more than this.”
In Santa Cruz, several hundred protesters gathered at Ocean and Water streets, near the county government center, holding signs that read “Hands Off Social Security and Medicare” and “Resist.” Many demonstrators, including seniors, displayed upside-down American flags to signal their distress, while motorists honked in support as they passed by.
Meanwhile, close to 1,000 people assembled at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, waving homemade signs criticizing the Trump administration. Andrew Hudlow, a newly minted lawyer, emphasized that the anti-Trump movement represents “all Americans.” “I’m here because I’m concerned about democracy,” he stated. “If nobody backs up the courts, then it’s just Trump, and that’s not the country I want to live in.”
Among the crowd was 72-year-old Hal Christiansen, who brought a sign that read, “Hands Off My Social Security.” Despite facing health challenges, Christiansen expressed his deep commitment to the cause, saying, “I really, really care about my country. My third great grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War, and I will lay down my life to fight against a dictator.”
In Berkeley, a few hundred people gathered at the North Berkeley BART station, holding signs and encouraging passersby to honk in support. Resident Darlene Wang attended the protest dressed in a Revolutionary War-era costume, carrying a sign that declared, “Time for Revolution.” She voiced her concerns about the current state of the nation, stating, “I think what is happening to the nation is deplorable. It’s time to show up, be loud, make your voices known, and put up a fuss. This is not normal and it is not right.”
With protests like these reflecting a growing sentiment against the Trump administration, it is clear that many Americans are committed to advocating for civil rights and democracy in a time of significant political upheaval.
— Staff writer Paul Rogers contributed to this report.
