Tens of Thousands Expected at Bay Area’s “No Kings” Protests

Protests named “No Kings” are set to take over the streets of the Bay Area on Saturday, October 18, 2023, with organizers expecting attendance to reach tens of thousands. These demonstrations are part of a nationwide movement aimed at opposing policies of President Donald Trump, which participants argue are undermining American freedoms. Key issues include aggressive immigration enforcement, threats to healthcare access, and potential harm to election integrity and education funding.

In the South Bay, the San Jose chapter of Indivisible will host a rally at North 2nd Street and East Saint James Street from 12:00 to 14:00. Meanwhile, Contra Costa County organizers anticipate around 5,000 participants for a 90-minute rally at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek, with additional events planned in Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, and several locations in West County.

The Oakland coalition of the No Kings protests will don yellow during their noon march toward Lake Merritt. An estimated 10,000 people are expected to gather at Wilma Chan Park, located at 810 Jackson Street, across from the Lake Merritt BART Station. The procession will culminate at the amphitheater bordering the lake, where speakers including Mayor Barbara Lee and Representative Lateefah Simon will address the crowd at 14:00. Local dancers, poets, and musicians will also perform.

The upcoming protests follow the initial “No Kings” rallies that took place this summer, which attracted more than 5 million participants across the United States, as reported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). These rallies were noted for being among the largest single-day mobilizations in U.S. history, with over 140,000 participants in 50 protests across the Bay Area on June 14.

Organizers anticipate an increase in attendance this weekend, with approximately 12,000 to 13,000 people participating in San Jose’s previous No Kings protest. Rebecca Elliott, a member of Indivisible San Jose, highlighted that the heightened turnout is likely due to the Trump administration’s refusal to relent in the face of criticism regarding its policies. She stated, “I think more people are aware, and more people are afraid. I think more people have been impacted financially.” Participants are expected to voice concerns over the crackdown by ICE on immigrants, as well as Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to U.S. cities.

In addition to immigration issues, demonstrators will advocate for extending Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of negotiations to reopen the federal government. There will also be calls for support of Proposition 50, a ballot measure that could reshape California’s congressional map and potentially add up to five new Democratic seats in the U.S. House.

On social media, Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor and professor emeritus at UC Berkeley, underscored the significance of mass movements like No Kings in opposing Trump’s administration. “As we resist Trump’s tyranny through protest, as we gain in solidarity, we feel more courageous,” he stated in a TikTok video linked to the No Kings website, which lists over 2,500 protest locations nationwide.

Organizers emphasize that the protests aim to maintain a peaceful and uplifting atmosphere. In a nationwide Zoom meeting attended by over 5,000 participants, Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin expressed a desire for the event to be joyful, encouraging protesters to incorporate American flag symbols into their signs and attire, or even dress in inflatable animal costumes, a trend popularized by Portland protesters. He remarked on the collective power of millions coming together to declare, “No kings ever in America.”

Kathryn Durham-Hammer, who leads the Indivisible Resisters chapter in Contra Costa County, noted that such protests help build community around shared values. “Every time we come out and protest together, we build bonds with each other and we let new people know that we are here and that we care about liberty and justice for all,” she said.

For April Verrett, president of the Service Employees International Union, the No Kings Day protests are about reclaiming what communities across the U.S. have built. “Working people built this country, not billionaires,” Verrett stated. “We’re protecting what we’ve built, and we’re building what’s next. Let’s go get it.”

As the No Kings protests gather momentum, the impact of these demonstrations will resonate in communities across the nation, reflecting the collective voice of those advocating for democratic principles and social justice.