This past weekend, the Bay Area became a major part of a massive political movement. Over 220,000 protesters filled the city streets from San Francisco to San Jose as part of a nationwide “No Kings” protest. Nationally, the protest drew nearly seven million people across 2,700 cities and pushed back against what many people see as growing authoritarianism as President Donald Trump has been in office since January 2025.
One of the largest Bay Area protests took place in Oakland, where thousands of protesters marched peacefully starting from 8th and Madison, passing Oakland City Hall and the Oakland Museum, and ending at Lake Merritt. The protest stayed peaceful and positive, displaying homemade signs with witty slogans such as “No Thrones. Just the Golden Rule” and “We Have a Constitution not a King”, drum circles, and numerous American flags. “There were thousands of people calmly defending democracy. Many wore yellow, the international color of peace. I would happily attend again,” parent Lisa Gaiser said. The protest focused on defending human rights while opposing the government’s immigration and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) policies.
According to Mercury News, “every single time [protesters in the U.S.] do this, it’s a flex … What we’re communicating with the world is that we’re here and we care about the country and we’re not giving up,” Nancy Latham, journalist for Mercury News, said. When the government sees people going out to support their values and fight for what they think is right, it shows they haven’t given up and will continue to pursue the fight for democracy if need be.
Even with a huge attendance, the protest remained peaceful. Attendees described a sense of solidarity and purpose, with people engaging in chants, carrying signs, and showing support for each other. The mood was one of determination rather than anger.
The protest drew in a mix of young and old participants. Parents attending with their children, grandparents, groups, and large families all coming together to support one another and the U.S.
The weekend’s events were a continuous wave of nationwide protests over the past several months. In June of this year, a “No Kings” protest drew in more than 140,000 participants across the Bay Area. A smaller “No Kings” protest followed just two weeks later. Many similar protests have been completed in the past to empower the democratic voice.“This movement isn’t about a single protest; it’s about a growing chorus of Americans who refuse to be ruled. Trump may want a crown, but in this country, there are no kings,” National Protest Organizers Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg said in a statement for Mercury News.
