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Hundreds gather downtown before the start of \u201cNo Kings\u201d protests at San Diego Civic Plaza. (Phillip Molnar)<\/p>\nThousands of San Diegans flocked to streets across the county Saturday morning \u2014 brandishing picket signs and American flags \u2014 to join a movement of millions in a second round of \u201cNo Kings\u201d protests opposing the administration of President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
About 2,500 events worldwide were planned, including at least 14 in San Diego County. In addition to downtown, events were planned for locations including El Cajon, Chula Vista, Borrego Springs, Carlsbad, Ramona, Vista, Mira Mesa and La Jolla.<\/p>\n
Hundreds gather downtown before the start of \u201cNo Kings\u201d protests at San Diego Civic Plaza. (Phillip Molnar)<\/p>\n
The \u201cNo Kings\u201d protest had begun early Saturday at Civic Center Plaza in downtown San Diego, with roughly 400 people gathered by 9:30 a.m. The crowd had swelled to at least 800 people by 10 a.m.<\/p>\n
Many had signs criticizing President Donald Trump and wore colorful costumes.<\/p>\n
Jenny Driessen, 48, of Phoenix, was in town visiting friends and decided to come to the protest. She was wearing a pi\u00f1ata costume and holding a \u201cNo Kings\u201d sign with a drawing of Trump wearing a crown.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemocracy doesn\u2019t come for free,\u201d she said. \u201cWe can\u2019t expect some superhero to come save us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nate Kicklighter, 45, of Pacific Beach, said he disagreed with the Trump administration on most of its policies, including its military demonstration at Camp Pendleton that was set to close portions of Interstate 5 later that day.<\/p>\n
\u201c(It\u2019s a) military demonstration for absolutely no reason,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat is happening in our country is not OK.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another \u201cNo Kings\u201d protest was expected just outside Camp Pendleton on Saturday afternoon, which Vice President J.D. Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are visiting to watch an amphibious assault demonstration<\/a> called \u201cFrom Sea to Shore: A Review of Amphibious Strength\u201d on the base to celebrate the Marines\u2019 250th birthday.<\/p>\n CHP to close part of I-5 near Camp Pendleton due to live-fire demonstration<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Roughly 2,000 people marched down Ash Street from Civic Center to converge with thousands of protesters assembled at Waterfront Park. They chanted things like \u201cNo hate, no Fear, Immigrants are welcome here\u201d and \u201cHey Hey Ho Ho Donald Trump has got to go.\u201d<\/p>\n David Chambers, 64, San Diego resident and retired home builder held up a Bluetooth playing Woody Guthrie\u2019s \u201cThis Land is Your Land,\u201d as a crowd of protesters walked by.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you stand up to a bully, they back down,\u201d he said, when asked if he thinks today will make a difference.<\/p>\n \u201cI am an eternal optimist. I have hope for America, that the American spirit will rise up and will speak up and will stand up to those who are abusing their power for self gain, self enrichment, for the enrichment of their family members and their friends.\u201d<\/p>\n Bobby Wallace, a Kumeyaay leader and the man in front of the march, was directing the crowd as thousands prepared to begin marching down Harbor Drive.<\/p>\n \u201cThey need to do better,\u201d he said of the current administration. \u201cWe are here spreading the message of love, for all people, on every continent, everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre marched in front along with the Kumeyaay leaders.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should not be afraid,\u201d she said of the immigrant community in areas like Otay Mesa and San Ysidro. \u201cI have the privilege to be their representative, and I\u2019m going to fight tooth and nail every single violation, every single right that is proposed to be taken away.\u201d<\/p>\n No Kings protests held earlier this year \u2014 on June 14, Trump\u2019s birthday \u2014 drew millions of people to thousands of events nationwide, including multiple ones around San Diego County. At least 60,000 marched through downtown San Diego alone.<\/p>\n The widespread protests come as overall public approval of Trump appears to have gradually soured since his inauguration. His approval ratings dropped below 50% in May and have sunk further since, according to a New York Times<\/a> average of polls conducted by dozens of organizations.<\/p>\n His administration has continued his push to deport immigrants \u2014 since February, there have been more than 1,800 ICE arrests in the San Diego region alone, three times as many as last year \u2014 even as surveys suggest a majority of Americans believe it has gone too far.<\/p>\n Most voters, about 54%, approve of deporting immigrants in the country illegally, but most also disapprove of Trump\u2019s handling of immigration and believe the way people have been deported is not fair, according to a New York Times and Siena University survey<\/a> published this month.<\/p>\n\n
![\"Protesters](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SUT-L-NO-KIngs-Waterfront-1.jpg\")
Protesters hold signs at the start of \u201cNo Kings\u201d protests at Waterfront Park. (San Diego Union-Tribune\/ Meg McLaughlin)<\/p>\n