Latest news with #IndivisibleSF
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bay Area prepares for ‘No Kings' day of protest
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Following a week of protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Trump administration, more action is planned for this weekend across the Bay Area. Indivisible SF is helping to organize Saturday's 'No Kings' protests around the Bay Area. The grassroots group said it is alarmed by recent actions by the Trump administration, ICE, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and is planning these events to push back. 'The trump administration wants to suppress dissent and snatch community members off the streets, and we are non-violently saying no to that,' Peter Hosey, who is with Indivisible SF, told KRON4. Over the past week, thousands of people have attended rallies across the Bay Area. While these protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful, there have been some acts of violence and vandalism, with hundreds of people being detained or arrested. Hosey said that organizers of this weekend's rallies have been in contact with law enforcement and city leaders to ensure that the protests remain peaceful, and they are discouraging violence and vandalism. Throughout the past week, city leaders and law enforcement around the Bay Area have said they will allow people to express their free speech rights, but that vandalism and violence will not be tolerated. Hosey says they do not know how many people will attend this weekend, but they are expecting a large turnout, and they are optimistic that things will go smoothly. 'We want to have a nice, empowering vibe,' Hosey said. The San Francisco rally is set to start at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Dolores Park, the Oakland rally begins at Wilma Chan Park at noon, and the San Jose protest begins at noon at St. James Park along North First Street. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
No Kings protests set to draw thousands across Bay Area on Trump's birthday
Thousands of protesters are expected to gather at No Kings demonstrations Saturday across the Bay Area — and the rest of the United States — to register opposition to President Donald Trump on his birthday. The demonstrations, which will coincide with Trump's military parade in Washington, D.C., follow days of increasingly tense protests in cities across the country over immigration raids and Trump's deployment of military troops to Los Angeles. 'We just chose the same date (as Trump's military parade) to show the world a counter image,' Liliana Soroceanu, an organizer with Indivisible SF, said. Massive crowds are expected to gather in San Francisco, Oakland and across the Bay Area for the demonstrations — possibly causing traffic delays in some areas. Here's what readers should know about the No Kings protests. Why are people protesting on Saturday? 'The protest is a manifestation of our displeasure — the American people — with the Trump regime, and Trump specifically,' Soroceanu said. Indivisible SF and 50501 are working alongside other local activist organizations to organize San Francisco's No Kings protest. Organizers called Trump a 'would-be king,' and hope to draw a contrast between protesters voicing concerns and the military parade Saturday, which marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, as well as Trump's 79th birthday. 'We're not gathering to feed his ego,' the event's website said. 'We're building a movement that leaves him behind.' Soroceanu said the protest also falls on Flag Day and offers protesters a chance to bring American flags to celebrate the country and the right to protest. 'The flag doesn't belong to Donald Trump. It belongs to us.,' the event's website said. Soroceanu said organizers from various organizations involved in planning San Francisco's demonstrations have received more than 4,000 RSVPs to the event, which she expects will be bigger than the Hands Off rally in April, which brought thousands to Civic Center Plaza. Demonstrations are planned in many Bay Area cities, with large gatherings anticipated in Oakland and San Francisco. Protesters in Oakland will meet at Wilma Chan Park at 12:30 p.m. before marching to Frank Ogawa Plaza. 'The narcissist-in-chief is throwing a ridiculous military parade for himself in DC — everywhere else we rise up to say NO KINGS!!' the No Kings East Bay event website said. San Francisco protesters will gather around 11:30 a.m. at Mission Dolores Park before marching to Civic Center Plaza, where there will be speakers from community organizations, Soroceanu said. Soroceanu said protesters in San Francisco can expect a short speech at the park before a truck of organizers will lead chants and play music while leading demonstrators to the plaza for speeches beginning around 1 p.m. Soroceanu said speakers will include Alex U. Inn of The People's March, Tanisha Humphrey of the ACLU of Northern California, Mauni Jalali and Sanika Mahajan of Mission Action. Other protesters in San Francisco will gather at Ocean Beach at 10 a.m. to create a 'human banner' spelling out 'No Kings.' Dozens of other protests are planned in the East Bay, the South Bay and in Marin, Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties, a map on the No Kings website showed. What roads could be closed? Soroceanu said organizers will be blocking roads as the march in San Francisco proceeds from Mission Dolores Park to Civic Center Plaza, though only for as long as pedestrians are in the streets, not for the whole length of the event. Demonstrators are expected to leave the park walking up Dolores Street around noon before turning right to walk up Market Street. Traffic delays and transit rerouting is likely to happen at roads that cross or run on Dolores and Market Streets. Protesters will then turn left onto Polk Street before stopping at Civic Center Plaza, where traffic will likely see delays throughout the rally. What safety measures are in place? Soroceanu said organizers have gone through safety training in anticipation of the protests, and worked on deescalation tactics, particularly in light of seeing violent encounters between police and protesters in Los Angeles in recent days. 'We have everything in place to avoid any sort of disruptions,' Soroceanu said. Soroceanu also said organizers received a permit for the protest and march. San Francisco police said they will be 'prepared with staff and resources to help facilitate First Amendment expressions of free speech, while also maintaining peace and safety for residents and visitors and protecting property,' officer Robert Rueca said in a statement. 'The Police Department asks that everyone exercising their First Amendment rights be respectful and mindful of the safety of others,' Rueca said. 'Individuals are always free to exercise their First Amendment rights in San Francisco but violence — especially against SFPD officers — will never be tolerated.' San Francisco firefighters have also been preparing in advance of the large gatherings, including forming task forces to deal with any injuries to demonstrators or public safety workers, Lt. Mariano Elias said. 'SFFD wants to maintain its mission to protect the people and visitors of San Francisco at all times,' Elias said. Tips for those planning to come Soroceanu advised protesters planning to come to bring water and sunscreen — in case 'we ever see the sun in San Francisco this summer' — and a 'good spirit.' 'We want this to be a joyful event for the community to bring us together,' Soroceanu said.
