“No Kings” protests take place in multiple Northern California cities
By Jose Fabian
Protests took place in several Northern California cities as part of the “No Kings” movement on Saturday.
The rallies, similar to the ones in June, were to protest against President Trump, his administration and policies, organizers say.
“I hear very few people are going to be there, by the way,” Mr. Trump said, in response to the protests. “But they have their day coming up, and they want to have their day in the sun.”
Back in June, Mr. Trump also commented on the protests.
“I don’t feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved,” said Mr. Trump. “A king would say, ‘I’m not going to get this … he wouldn’t have to call up [House Speaker] Mike Johnson and [Senate Majority Leader John] Thune and say, ‘Fellas, you’ve got to pull this off’ and after years we get it done. No, no, we’re not a king, we’re not a king at all.”
In June, protests took place in Sacramento, Roseville, and Bay Area cities, such as San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, and protests are again expected in those cities.
San Francisco
In San Francisco, people were taking part in a planned art demonstration at Ocean Beach on Saturday morning. Demonstrators spelled out “No Kings” and “Yes on 50.” Proposition 50 would replace California’s current congressional districts map to be more favorable for Democrats during the 2026 midterm elections.
Thousands gathered later in the day near the Embarcadero, across from the Ferry Building, and they will begin to march down Market Street toward Civic Center Plaza at 2 p.m. A rally will then take place at the plaza.
One protester at the Embarcadero told CBS News Bay Area they were there for education, the environment and immigration.
Sacramento
A protest near the Capitol was held as part of the “No Kings” protests. Police said part of the area was closed to traffic as crowds gathered for the demonstration.
Around 12:30 p.m., protesters began marching in the streets of downtown Sacramento.
Oakland
Protesters in Oakland were marching in the city’s streets, chanting, “whose streets? Our Streets.” Part of the route led marchers down 13th Street, past the Alameda County Courthouse, and onto Lake Merritt Boulevard.
They then gathered at the Lake Merritt Amphitheater for a rally. Organizers said they estimate around 10,000 people gathered for the march and protest, which they said is more than the demonstration in June.
Mayor Barbara Lee and Rep. Lateefah Simon were also present at the rally. Simon spoke about the protests and described those who attended as “American as apple pie.”
“We have a responsibility as Americans to rise against totalitarianism. We have a responsibility to call truth truth, and folks want an America where healthcare is basic, where the rule of law is basic,” Simon said.
San Jose
St. James Park in San Jose saw hundreds go to the park to rally for the “No Kings” protests.
Roseville
Thousands of people gathered in Roseville at the Galleria for the protest, and others who pushed back against it.
Among the thousands who gathered across Placer County were teenagers, like 15-year-old Andy Jimenez-Regalado, who says this moment is about speaking up.
“We got to show the people out in Capitol Hill that we won’t be silenced, that we’re here and we have rights,” Andy said. “My grandparents immigrated from Cuba to America, my dad’s an immigrant from Mexico, and we’re just here to make a living. We’re not here to do anything—no harm.”
Eighteen-year-old Mason Dutra doesn’t share the same view as many in the crowd, but still says getting young people involved matters.
“I think we need to get more youth out here, like my buddies right here,” Dutra said. “Supporting Trump, trying to get a positive mindset through these people, where they wake up. And Trump is there in their life.”
Fathers like Joseph King say they brought their children out to show them that civic engagement matters, no matter their politics.
“For me as a dad, showing that we should care about our country, we should care about other people, and that’s what a lot of this is about,” King said. “It’s showing that it’s not just for Democrats. This is for Republicans, this is for everybody.”
“I’m out here to show what I stand for,” King’s daughter, Regan, said.
Others, like 12-year-old Nina Jimenez-Regalado, say there isn’t a better time than now to do so.
“We should protest while we still have the chance,” Nina said.
The common message from many young people in Placer County was that they just want to be a part of the conversation.
