The streets of Santa Cruz and Watsonville were filled with protesters on Saturday for “No Kings” rallies against Trump administration policies.

The demonstrations, part of a nationwide “Day of Defiance,” featured distinctive scenes in both cities: a towering Lady Justice float and plenty of inflatable costumes in Santa Cruz and traditional cultural performances in Watsonville, where labor icon Dolores Huerta addressed the crowd.

Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud was on hand to capture the scene in both cities.

Santa Cruz

Thousands of people gathered at San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz during the second nation-wide No Kings protest on Saturday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
A young girl holds a sign reading “No Kings Yess Queens” during the No Kings protest that took place in Santa Cruz on Saturday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
Thousands of people carried a wide variety of signs during the second No Kings protest in Santa Cruz. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
A man holds up a sign depicting Trump and Elon Musk in a Cybertruck saying “Bye Earth”. This was one of a thousand signs that were on display during the second No Kings protest in Santa Cruz on Saturday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
Thousands of people marched from San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz to Soquel Avenue during the No Kings protest that took place on Saturday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
Thousands of people marched from San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz to Soquel Avenue during the No Kings protest that took place on Saturday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
Cabrillo College Trustee Adam Spickler holds a sign saying “No Kings unless they’re Drag Kings.” Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
Protestors hold up a banner that says “How Bad Does It Need To Be Before You To Protest” while walking down Pacific Avenue during the No Kings protest on Saturday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
A woman holds up a No Kings sign while walking down Pacific Avenue of Saturday during the No Kings protest. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
Over 15,000 people took part in the No Kings protest on Saturday. The protest started in San Lorenzo Park and made their way to Pacific Avenue, where they marched downtown. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
A woman carries a sign saying “Jesus was Undocumented” while marching down Pacific Avenue during the No Kings protest on Saturday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
A young girl hold up a sign saying “Save My Future. I’m Six” while sitting on her fathers shoulders. She was one of over 15,000 people that took part in the No Kings protest in Santa Cruz. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Watsonville

Hundreds of people gathered to hear numerous speakers talk in Watsonville City Plaza as a part of the No Kings protest that took place nationwide on Saturday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
A woman holds up the upside down American flag in downtown Watsonville on Saturday. It is estimated that more than 1,500 people took part in the No Kings protest that took place in Watsonville. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
Representative Zoe Lofgren speaks to a crowd of supporters during the No Kings protest that took place in Watsonville on Saturday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
Dolores Huerta, Co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America, speaks to a large crowd in Watsonville City Plaza during the No Kings protest that took place on Saturday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
A large crowd of supporters listened to Dolores Huerta speak during the No Kings protest that took place in Watsonville on Saturday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
A large crowd of supporters listened to Dolores Huerta speak during the No Kings protest that took place in Watsonville on Saturday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Kevin Painchaud is an international award-winning photojournalist. He has shot for various publications for the past 30 years, appearing on sites nationwide, including ABC News, CBS News, CNN, MSNBC, The...