A series of protests taking place nationwide Saturday against Trump administration policies will include several gatherings in San Diego County, including one that organizers expect to attract more than 10,000 people to downtown San Diego.
The "Hands Off" protests will rally against the administration's handling of federal programs and mass federal employee firings, as well as Elon Musk's involvement through the Department of Government Efficiency.
Organizers of the national movement call it an effort "to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history. Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights..."
Joining the action will be 88-year-old Anne Wemple and her 95-year-old husband Don.
“We never had too much reason to march around before 2016,” Anne said of the former Trump administration.
The couple are lifetime San Diegans and longtime KPBS volunteers. They plan to take to the streets downtown and make their voices heard.
“People who are opposed to the current plan of things — the only way to do it is to march. It's people power, and I think it works,” said Don.
Some locals have another plan to show their dissatisfaction with the current federal administration.
“People here just felt the need to get out and do something,” said Casa de Mañana Retirement Community resident Judy Sowder.
The 87-year-old organized a demonstration for her complex with dozens of other residents taking part.
Those who are physically able will march in downtown San Diego, but others will rally at their complex, like 105-year old Alice Yee.
“We are not going back,” Yee said. “And the man in the White House is determined to attack the very programs that we've worked so hard to put into place.”
Professor Emeritus of Political Science at San Diego Mesa College Carl Luna said we've seen these types of protests before.
“You had the Women's March, which started big then fizzled because of internal debate about what they were really arguing about. The Black Lives Matter movement got a lot of national attention but ultimately didn't change a lot of policy,” he said.
Luna said these new rounds of protests need a clear unifying message.
“My optimism for protest movements in general is that they make the people in power have to pay attention, and can mitigate behavior of the public turning against them. My fear is, unless you have a really determined message, you're just gonna get lost in the noise,” the professor said.
The Casa de Mañana residents said they have one top concern.
“I'm asking Congress, I say, ‘We elected you to protect democracy, and that's what you should be doing. So that's what I'm going to have on my sign,” Sowder said.
Yee agrees.
“I don't remember in my lifetime ever having democracy so much challenged as it is right now,” the 105-year-old said.
Trump has yet to comment on what organizers are calling a "mass mobilization day," but the White House announced it is rescheduling one of its annual spring garden tour dates Saturday due to the large anti-Trump demonstration expected to take place near 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
"Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits, and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock for the past several years," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to USA Today. "President Trump will not be deterred from delivering on the promises he made to make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers across the country who overwhelmingly re-elected him."
Perhaps the largest local demonstration will happen at noon at the Civic Center Plaza just outside San Diego City Hall.
Local elected officials and community activists are expected to attend the rally, which will culminate with a march towards the Hall of Justice.
Along with local leaders, organizers of the downtown protest say residents affected by the administration's policies are expected to participate.
"San Diegans who are veterans, who are postal workers and teachers, who rely on Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare, and who are horrified at the Trump-Musk billionaire takeover of our government are coming together to protest the Trump administration's attacks on the rights and services they depend upon, many of them for survival" said Angela Benson, a member of the organizing coalition.
Other "Hands Off!" rallies set to take place throughout the county on Saturday include:
- Borrego Springs, at Christmas Circle Community Park, starting at 10 a.m.;
- Carlsbad, at Tamarack Beach, Carlsbad Boulevard and Pine Avenue, starting at 10 a.m.;
- Encinitas, at Encinitas Boulevard and El Camino, starting at 11 a.m.;
- Oceanside, at North Coast Highway and Pier View Way, starting at 9:30 a.m.; and
- Rancho Bernardo, outside the Rancho Bernardo Town Center at 16861 Bernardo Center Drive, starting at 12:30 p.m.
