SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Tens of thousands of protesters in Southern California joined others in cities across the U.S. Saturday for marches and rallies against what they call the autocratic immigration policies of President Donald Trump.
The San Diego Police Department said approximately 40,000 protesters attended the county's largest rally and march in downtown San Diego at Waterfront Park next to the County Administration Center. It was one of more than 20 protests held across the county.
"Today's march concluded safely. No arrests were made, no crimes were reported, and all downtown road closures have been lifted," the SDPD said in a statement posted shortly after noon Saturday on social media. "Thank you to our community for helping make today a safe and successful event."
Downtown road closures were lifted by early afternoon.
Protesters chanted "No kings in the U.S!" as they marched, fighting against the use of executive power, cuts to social programs, the war in Iran, and immigration enforcement.
"San Diego residents are mobilizing over concerns about immigration enforcement, cuts to social programs and the administration's use of executive authority," organizers said in a news release. "They point to increased ICE arrests, cuts and reductions to healthcare, Medicaid, and school nutrition programs, and the treatment of detainees at the Otay Mesa Detention Center as issues affecting local San Diego families."
Speakers at the Waterfront Park rally included Bobby Wallace for a Kumeyaay land acknowledgement, San Diego County Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre, Pastor Manuel Retamoza of The Border Church, and Lorena Gonzalez, the California Federation of Labor Unions President.
"We're not going to stand idly by while the president and the White House destroys our country," Lawson-Remer said.
Christian Ramirez with the Service Employees International Union also spoke to the crowd.
"We reject illegal wars and we reject the masked men who are creating so much chaos in black and brown communities across this country," Ramirez said.
According to organizers, the march was "a direct confrontation with escalating state violence, from deportations carried out with little to no due process to military aggression abroad." The organizers called for the impeachment and removal of the Trump administration, and the abolition of ICE.
Protesters walking alongside the march shared why they felt compelled to show up.
"I think that this country is falling apart, and if, if we don't stand up and do things, then nothing is going to change," Melissa, a protester, said.
"We have to start caring, get ICE. Out demolish ICE we have to make things better. We have to people have to be able to survive and take care of each other," Leslie Guerrazzi said.
The downtown crowd included people from out of state. Charles Meyer, who was visiting from Las Vegas, said this was his third "No Kings" protest.
"We have. Friends and family in Minnesota and when we saw what was going on in Minneapolis with, you know, 2 shootings, 2 murders in Minneapolis, that kind of thing, the, the time to do something is now," Meyer said.
"I think it's gonna motivate people to vote, which is the most important thing in November to vote. You know, because that's where real change will happen," Meyer said.
A total of 22 rallies were planned across the county. Events were scheduled in Downtown San Diego, Ocean Beach, La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Mira Mesa, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, Fallbrook, Temecula, Valley Center, Rancho Bernardo, Ramona, La Mesa, El Cajon, Chula Vista, Otay Mesa, and Borrego Springs.
The No Kings National Day of Nonviolent Action is expected to see more than 3,000 communities hold simultaneous demonstrations. The rally is being supported locally by more than 30 organizations. In October, more than 80,000 turned out for a similar rally across San Diego County.
