'No Kings' rallies Saturday in Santa Cruz County: Where to go and how to vote early

Quick Take

Political organizers across Santa Cruz County are hoping to draw large crowds this weekend for a fourth round of “No Kings” protests that will focus on getting people to vote in the November midterm elections.

Earlier this year, thousands filled streets across Santa Cruz County as part of a nationwide effort by several activist groups to protest the Trump administration. Local organizers are hoping to draw large crowds again this weekend with a different focus: encouraging people to vote early in the Nov. 3 midterm election.

A fourth round of “No Kings” rallies will take place across the county, from Boulder Creek to Watsonville, on Saturday. Organizers in Santa Cruz plan to line up on Ocean Street following a brief rally on the steps of the Santa Cruz County courthouse starting at 10 a.m. In Watsonville, the protest will take place at the downtown plaza starting at noon, with performers and voting-related activities.

“This ‘No Kings’ is very much focused on getting out the vote with the election coming up,” said Olivia Millard, one of the organizers of the Watsonville event on behalf of Indivisible Pajaro Valley. “This is our best chance to stop the tide of harms that are being done to us by this current administration.”

Millard added that another goal of this weekend’s events is getting community members to recognize the importance voting has on their daily lives.

At the Watsonville event, there will be a representative from the Santa Cruz County Clerk’s Office who will help people register to vote and learn how elections work. Millard said there will also be a separate table where attendees can learn more about the statewide propositions on the ballot this November, without advocating for a particular side.

“We’re just hoping to make it into as festive an atmosphere as possible,” Millard said.

She added that there will be a performance by youth folklórico dance group Estrellas de Esperanza.

Millard told Lookout that she hopes people will take the opportunity to cast their ballots at either of the two ballot drop-offs near the downtown plaza: at the Watsonville Public Library or the ballot box near Romo Park. She added that there are plans to parade to the polls at the library starting at 1:30 p.m.

In Santa Cruz, the brief rally will allow attendees to register to vote and drop off their ballots at the county’s drop box, according to Indivisible Santa Cruz County’s website.

Nationwide, there will be nearly 3,000 rallies scheduled across the country with the goal of getting people to vote. Similar “No Kings” rallies are expected regionally in San Jose, Monterey, Salinas and Hollister.

In the Santa Cruz Mountains, there will be a rally starting at 10 a.m. in Boulder Creek at the intersection of Highways 9 and 236. Rallies in Scotts Valley and Felton are scheduled in the afternoon.

Previous “No Kings” events have drawn large crowds — nearly 12,000 in Santa Cruz and 3,000 in Watsonville. Millard told Lookout that she has no idea how many people she expects will show up on Saturday in Watsonville.

“We’re hoping that by branding this as ‘No Kings,’ by emphasizing early voting and by providing this opportunity for people to come together and feel that sense of community that people will come for that reason,” Millard said.