Thousands gather for 'No Kings' anti-Trump protests in Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO - Dozens of protests got underway across the Bay Area and nationwide on Saturday as part of the "No Kings" movement in opposition of President Donald Trump. 

Video showed thousands of people at San Francisco's Mission Dolores Park Saturday morning. 

Protesters gathered across many cities in the Bay Area, from San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland to Walnut Creek and Santa Rosa.

Saturday's demonstrations coincided with President Trump's military parade happening in Washington, D.C.

In Marin County, organizers expected an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people to take to the streets.

"I think it’s important for us to all find ways to fight back against what we’re seeing in this country," said Angela Cerreta, an organizer with Indivisible Novato.

Her group was planning about 20 pop-up rallies with other groups throughout Marin County.

"The idea being that you can’t go about your day without seeing at least one of them," said Cerreta.

San Francisco

In San Francisco, the protest began at Dolores Park, where thousands gathered before marching nearly two miles to Civic Center Plaza. The crowd remained mostly peaceful throughout the day, waving signs critical of the Trump administration’s immigration policies and the deployment of the National Guard during recent protests in Los Angeles.

"This is not what we signed up to defend," said James, a Navy veteran handing out flags at the park. "If people don’t have the right to protest, why were we there? What we were doing, it’s all in vain. My eight years feels like it was in vain."

Ahead of the protest, in Union Square, some businesses were seen boarding up storefronts on Friday as a precaution. Police presence was visible at key intersections and freeway on-ramps but remained largely hands-off, allowing the demonstration to proceed peacefully.

"What’s happening right now is we’re ignoring everything that Lady Liberty stands for," said Stella Adelman, who walked the route on stilts dressed as Lady Liberty.

The march ended at Civic Center Plaza with a rally. 

Among the crowd was Jess, a first-generation Filipino American who shared her motivation for joining the protest.

"I just want everyone to be able to live and gain the American Dream like we were meant to be able to," said Jess.

While no further demonstrations were formally scheduled for the evening, police remained on standby amid concerns about potential late-night vandalism, which occurred at previous protests in the city last week.    

Oakland

Oakland's "No Kings" protest took to the streets across downtown Saturday afternoon. While authorities did monitor the protest for any issues, the demonstration did remain entirely peaceful. 

While the "No Kings" protests have slammed a number of Trump policies, most of the tens of thousands of people who crisscrossed the streets of Oakland Saturday say immigration is what has caused the most outrage. 

"This indiscriminate rounding up of people is just not the American way, said Eileen Flanagan of Oakland. "Seeing Alex Padilla brought down to his knees and being handcuffed behind his back, that really made me sick to my stomach."

"I always like to bring the flag. We need to reclaim that. It belongs to everyone."

The protest began at Wilma Chan Park early Saturday afternoon, with demonstrators then making their way to Frank Ogawa Plaza outside Oakland City Hall. 

"I feel like we need to show that we're unified in standing up against this, and standing up for democracy, standing up against fascism," said Amir Epstein of Oakland. 

There was some unease Saturday about whether the protest would remain peaceful, after a demonstration in Los Angeles following ICE raids turned violent in some cases. 

"I wish people would realize that if you torch a Waymo or spraypaint a building, that undoes hours and months of good work that everyone else has done," said Andy Knapp of Berkeley. 

"Oh, I think it's of the utmost importance that it remains peaceful," said Epstein. "There's no reason for violence. We can do this the right way."
 

San Jose

In San Jose, protesters gathered at St. James Park.

Video below shows hundreds marching on city streets around 12:30 p.m.

Walnut Creek

A large group of protesters were in downtown Walnut Creek on Saturday.

List: ‘No Kings’ Day Protests in the Bay Area

• Alameda: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., at Alameda City Hall
• Belmont: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m., at the Belmont Sports Center
• Benicia: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., at the 1st Street Gazebo
• Berkeley: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Bike and Pedestrian Bridge over Interstate 80, south of University Avenue
• Colma: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. at the corner of Serramonte and Junipero Serra Boulevards
• Dublin: 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. No location listed
• Fremont: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Fremont Courthouse, near the intersection of Walnut Avenue and Paseo Padre Parkway
• Fremont: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Social Security Administration on Mowry Avenue
• Half Moon Bay: 12 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. No location listed
• Hayward: 12 p.m. - 2 p.m., Historic Hayward City Hall, across from Hayward Heritage Square
• Hercules: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., at the intersection of San Pablo and Sycamore Avenues
• Kentfield: 10:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m. at College of Marin
• Larkspur: 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal
• Menlo Park: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the Menlo Park Bike and Pedestrian Bridge
• Mill Valley: 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Tam Junction on Shoreline Highway
• Mill Valley: 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Mill Valley Pedestrian Bridge
• Mill Valley: 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. The Depot Plaza
• Mill Valley: 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Corte Madera Overpass
• Milpitas: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Milpitas City Hall
• Novato: 10:30 a.m - 1 p.m. Novato City Hall
• Novato: 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Novato Rowland Overpass
• Oakland: 12:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. at Wilma Chan Park, with a march starting at 1:00 p.m.
• Pacifica: 12 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the entrance to the Mari Point Trail
• Palo Alto: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Clarke Bike and Pedestrian Bridge
• Palo Alto Banner over Highway 101: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the pedestrian Highway 101 overpass on West Bayshore Road
• San Francisco:: 11:30 a.m. at Dolores Park, 12 p.m. march to Civic Center Plaza and rally at 1 p.m.
• San Jose: 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. at St. James Park
• San Leandro: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at the City of San Leandro Root Park
• San Pablo: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at the corner of San Pablo Dam Road and Appian Way
• San Rafael: 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Irwin and 2nd Streets
• San Rafael: 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. at San Rafael Plaza
• Vallejo: 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at Vallejo City Hall
• Walnut Creek: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Broadway Plaza 

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