Protesters gathered in downtown San Diego Saturday morning for “No Kings” rallies, part of a nationwide protest against President Donald Trump’s policies.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests, the federal government shutdown and California’s Proposition 50 were at top of mind for many attendees.
Leticia Rodriguez came from Chula Vista to the Waterfront Park rally.
“There’s people being taken without due process, people being sent — quote-unquote ‘deported’ — to countries where they don’t belong,” she said. “It’s a scary time.”
She said she was happy to see American flags waving in the crowd.
“We are all American. We are all here for the same reason. I think it shows a lot of the unity that we actually have,” she said. “Being out here today gives me hope.”
Mark Grace works for the federal government at a military base. He said he was furloughed on Oct. 1, and he’s gone without a paycheck.
“Twelve out of 13 people in our section were furloughed without pay,” he said. “Luckily my wife and I were in a stable financial situation, but many people aren’t. And those are the people that I’m worried about.”
San Diego City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, who represents downtown San Diego, spoke to attendees before the march. He said he’s been going door to door in his district talking to voters about Prop 50. If passed, it could give Democrats an advantage by redrawing some congressional districts. It’s a response to Texas redrawing its districts to give Republicans the advantage.
“We have to stop Donald Trump from turning our country into a dictatorship,” Whitburn told the crowd. “The most important thing that we can do right now is to make sure that Proposition 50 passes on Nov. 4.”
San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre, who represents District 1, also spoke before the march at Waterfront Park.
“We cannot continue to accept that our constitutional rights continue to be eroded and taken away from us,” she said. “We have the right to free speech, we have the right to free press, we have the right to have our families not be separated in the dark of night and dragged away.”
Another group of protesters marched from Civic Center Plaza to Waterfront Park. Parents and caregivers with young children also had a “No Kings” event at Ruocco Park near Seaport Village.
Several other events were planned throughout San Diego County on Saturday, from Carlsbad to Chula Vista.
