{"id":314876,"date":"2025-10-19T02:07:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-19T02:07:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/314876\/"},"modified":"2025-10-19T02:07:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T02:07:17","slug":"thousands-bang-the-drum-for-democracy-at-no-kings-rallies-across-san-diego","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/314876\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands bang the drum for democracy at ‘No Kings’ rallies across San Diego"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a>A man shared his message, \u201cI Love America,\u201d at a No Kings rally in San Diego County Saturday Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Calista Stocker\/Times of San Diego)<\/p>\n

The second round of \u201cNo Kings<\/a>\u201d protests proved to be a party on Saturday in San Diego.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Though Republicans in recent days have labeled the events across the country as \u201cHate America\u201d rallies<\/a>, thousands of San Diegans, bearing signs and donning costumes, sought to tell a different tale.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Kings\u201d organizers refer to the protests<\/a> as a nonviolent day of action against the Trump administration. Approximately 25,000<\/a> people showed up in downtown San Diego alone, according to police estimates, with thousands more gathering at events across the region. <\/p>\n

An estimated 7 million people turned out in cities and towns across the nation Saturday, organizers said, 2 million more than the last \u201cNo Kings\u201d protest on June 14. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been protesting my whole life for America. Everything. Back to the \u201860s,\u201d said resident Bob Begin, who attended \u201cNo Kings\u201d in El Cajon. \u201cToday\u2019s the most important one, because it matters to our grandkids, to our children. It\u2019s up to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

In late September, President Donald Trump referred to Portland as \u201cwar-ravaged\u201d and \u201clike living in hell<\/a>.\u201d In response, Portlanders dressed in inflatable animal<\/a> costumes while protesting against the federal government\u2019s deployment of the National Guard.<\/p>\n

That response quickly went viral on social media, and San Diegans were apparently inspired by Portlanders Saturday.<\/p>\n

Marchers (and their pets!) also donned costumes \u2014 ranging from animals to mermaids to the Statue of Liberty.\u00a0And music was a part of the day, with participants playing instruments and dancing, lending a festive atmosphere to the rallies despite their serious purpose.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>The crowd in San Diego Saturday Oct. 18, 2025, at the downtown \u201cNo Kings\u201d rally. (Photo by Adrian Childress\/Times of San Diego)<\/p>\n

There were 16 \u201cNo Kings\u201d events in San Diego County alone. Times of San Diego visited four of them to observe and share protesters\u2019 thoughts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Civic Center and Waterfront Park<\/strong> <\/p>\n

In downtown San Diego, people spread across three locations and converged to march up Pacific Highway. A purple hippo and blue shark set the tone, dancing in Waterfront Park to the beat of a drumming circle.<\/p>\n

Along the way, protesters enjoyed a DJ, one-man band and even bagpipes. Some of those without instruments improvised, slapping out a beat on upside-down buckets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lashaan Crane and her husband brought their percussion instruments. \u201cWe are both musicians, so it felt right to bring the pulse and the drum to the march. And to spread the love.\u201d<\/p>\n

A father-son veteran duo marched alongside each other. Mario Posada Sr. served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a 17-year-old, I volunteered to risk my life to serve my country and defend our democracy,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m here today \u2014 to defend our democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

His 27-year-old son served in Yemen with the U.S. Air Force. As a queer Latino veteran, Mario Posada Jr. is concerned about Trump\u2019s attacks on marginalized service members.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>Eileen Johnson shares her message at the downtown \u201cNo Kings\u201d rally on Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Sophia Sleap\/Times of San Diego)<\/p>\n

\u201cI did not serve my country for this,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to trade a democracy for a dictatorship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eileen Johnson had similar concerns. She came out for her first protest, at 82 years old.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the first time I felt like I really had to do something,\u201d she said. \u201cI can\u2019t stand what Trump is doing to our democracy. I\u2019m seriously worried that we\u2019re losing our rights and our democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ruocco Park <\/strong><\/p>\n

The protest drew people of all ages, even little ones. Children rallied alongside their parents at a kid-friendly addition to \u201cNo Kings\u201d in Ruocco Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Children played at the park until the larger protest met them on Harbor Drive. Approximately 60 children and parents lined the street chanting, \u201cThis is what democracy looks like!\u201d<\/p>\n

The event was organized by San Diego Families for Justice<\/a>, which provides meet-ups for parents and kids to take action for progressive causes.<\/p>\n

\u201cBig marches can be overwhelming for kids. Little legs can\u2019t always go that far,\u201d said Lisa Riggs, who co-founded the group with Nancy Behm earlier this year. \u201cWe wanted to create a space where we can show up and invite others to join us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parents with babies as young as 7 months old showed up, alongside toddlers and big kids.\u00a0<\/p>\n

El Cajon<\/strong><\/p>\n

Along Fletcher Parkway, an estimated 3,000 people staked out spots in lawn chairs and truck beds, many of them older East County residents continuing their civic engagement.<\/p>\n

Bob Begin may be in his 70s now, but said he stays politically active for the sake of his children and grandchildren.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s our country \u2026 We cannot let this happen,\u201d Begin said. \u201cWe won\u2019t let this happen because we\u2019ve got children and grandchildren who are still growing up and going through the ranks. And if we don\u2019t do it, nobody will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many protesters treated \u201cNo Kings El Cajon\u201d like a family reunion, bringing music, waving American flags and donning signs with slogans such as \u201cI Love America\u201d and \u201cHate Never Made Anything Great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mary Utley was one of many in costume, but she didn\u2019t dress as an animal or character. She donned Revolutionary War military attire and played 18th-century music.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy symbolism is democracy, quite honestly, and what the (forefathers) wanted this country to be, which I feel the current regime is not following,\u201d Utley said, explaining her costume.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also come from ancestors from the Revolutionary War. We\u2019ve been here since the 1600s, so I kind of wanted to represent that as well. And just get out here and let our voices be heard, that it is \u2018We the People of the United States,\u2019 not \u2018I, a wannabe dictator.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

College Area<\/strong><\/p>\n

A slightly smaller, but mighty bunch also showed up for \u201cNo Kings College Area\u201d at the intersection of Montezuma Road and College Avenue.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kiersten Ciallella considers herself politically active, having attended protests before, but the solidarity she felt Saturday left her emotional.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gives me some hope and something to hold on to, quite frankly,\u201d Ciallella said. \u201cBecause I feel as though there are so many times we\u2019re in isolation from each other. And when we come together, we feel united, and we feel more powerful and strong, especially when there is so much overt attempt to silence people.\u201d<\/p>\n

For second-year history student Pau\u02bbu Vaipula, this was her first-ever protest.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI was kind of scared to come, seeing the brutality of it all and how serious that it could get,\u201d Vaipula said. \u201cBut honestly, nothing\u2019s more brutal than the actual outcome of [the administration].\u201d<\/p>\n

For other young people like her who may be hesitant to attend a protest, Vaipula suggests bringing a friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo some deep digging and think of all the people that have impacted your life, because that is where people start to care about things, when it affects them. Even though it shouldn\u2019t be like that,\u201d she said. \u201cThink about your teachers, your friends, your parents, your relatives, everybody. This affects everyone. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo I think just digging down, finding that empathy and being able to extend it to others is the biggest part.\u201d<\/p>\n

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