Millions took the streets in cities across the country on Saturday for the fourth so-called “No Kings” protest. Dozens of Bay Area cities held rallies, with San Francisco holding one of the largest locally.
The National Coalition said the events were meant to be nonpartisan and aimed to increase voter participation, but the crowds at most had a clear tilt against the current administration.
The crowds were full of demonstrators carrying anti-Trump and No Kings signs, along with an atmosphere of a rolling block party.
There was music and dancing, with organizers saying the focus was on voting rights and early voting.
“Early voting matters in this political climate so much because you never know what is going to happen next, there is so much things popping up that is coming from the federal level or other areas that it is just safer to vote earlier. Also, you never know what is going to happen with yourself life happens with yourself and also the ballot is pretty long as you may have noticed,” Adam Sheehan with Indivisible San Francisco said.
Some demonstrators here say their concern was on what’s happening other states as opposed to California, defending democracy and election integrity.
Critics of these protests, including several Republicans, have denounced the rallies as staged and misguided in the past. They said organizers should be looking to bring people together rather than stoking division.
Back at the rally, several demonstrators brought their completed ballots to drop off at an official drop box after the event, reinforcing their vote, and vote early message.
