Quick Take
Organizers of the “No Kings” protests expect large numbers on the streets of Watsonville and Santa Cruz on Saturday to decry the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops in American cities and other federal policies. Labor leader Dolores Huerta is among those expected to speak at the South County gathering.
Thousands are expected to fill the streets of Santa Cruz County on Saturday as a sequel to the “No Kings” protests and marches in June. The local rallies will be part of a nationwide effort organized by several activist groups to protest the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops in American cities and other federal policies.
“No Kings” 2.0 rallies will take place in both Santa Cruz and Watsonville. Organizers in Santa Cruz plan to march through downtown following a rally at San Lorenzo Park starting at 10 a.m. In Watsonville, the protest will take place at the downtown Watsonville Plaza starting at noon, with speakers and performers.
Olivia Millard, one of the organizers of the Watsonville event on behalf of Indivisible Pajaro Valley, told Lookout that dozens of volunteers have stepped up to help organize this weekend’s rally.
With every protest, Millard said that the group is getting better at figuring out its safety plans. It now has a safety captain and several safety monitors who have received deescalation training — to break up a tense situation — in case they encounter counterprotesters or federal law enforcement agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), she said. Millard added that the volunteers will be positioned around the plaza and surrounding areas.
“Watsonville is a peaceable community, and our events are joyful and filled with community spirit,” said Millard. “So we want to make sure that people feel safe and able to celebrate that community spirit without any worry.”
The expectation is for a large gathering, she said, but it’s hard to tell since there weren’t a lot of people registered as of Friday afternoon – around 300 – which is common. At the first “No Kings” rally, nearly 1,500 community members showed up despite only 400 signing up, Millard said.
Longtime labor leader Dolores Huerta and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, whose district includes Watsonville, are both slated to speak at Saturday’s rally. Millard said Huerta can provide a voice and a perspective that will help the community recognize the power people have in creating change.
Amanda Harris Altice, an organizer for the march on behalf of Indivisible Santa Cruz County, told Lookout she expects a larger crowd than the first rally in June, which brought in more than 10,000 people to San Lorenzo Park.
“I think given the way things have been politically across the country, and there being an even bigger push, there’s an even bigger coalition nationally,” Harris Altice said. She added that other groups in the area have also been spreading the word about the rally.
Indivisible Santa Cruz County has also been coordinating with the Santa Cruz Police Department to ensure Saturday’s march, starting at San Lorenzo Park and moving to and through downtown via Soquel Avenue and Pacific Avenue before heading back to the park via Water Street, doesn’t disrupt any ongoing traffic or local businesses, Harris Altice said.
The Santa Cruz rally will have between 40 and 50 safety volunteers on hand trained in deescalation and nonviolent practices to ensure the experience is safe for everyone.
Nationwide, Oct. 18 is being advertised as “Day of Defiance,” with some organizers claiming it will be the largest peaceful protest in American history. Similar protests are expected to take place regionally in Sunnyvale, San Jose, Monterey, Salinas, Boulder Creek, Gilroy and Hollister.
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