Thousands returned to the streets of Orange County on Saturday for a fresh series of “No Kings” demonstrations, holding handmade signs that reflected various grievances against the Trump administration.
In Huntington Beach, a notable group featured cardboard cutouts representing the heads of several public figures, which captivated the crowd. Each figure was accompanied by a brief phrase identifying the individual.
President Trump was tagged with the phrase, “The enemy within.” FBI Director Kash Patel was described as a “corrupt, lawless fool,” and a celebration of the end of former Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem’s term included the playful nod to Trump’s catchphrase: “Kristi, you’re fired!”
“This is a president who is disregarding the Constitution,” stated Gary Holtz, who played a key role in organizing the event with HB4Democracy, part of the Orange County Indivisible Coalition. “He’s ignoring the courts and acting as he pleases, which is reflective of a dictator or a king. This is America, and we won’t accept that.
“We, the people, must rise up, or we, the people, will lose our democracy, and that’s why we’re here. It’s becoming larger. We had about 5,000 participants in June of last year and an even greater turnout in October.”
Huntington Beach is known as a conservative bastion in Orange County, yet there was limited pushback against the protest, consisting mainly of a few disparaging remarks from passing drivers in the late morning. One driver at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street yelled, “There is no king, you … idiots.”
On the ocean side of PCH, the crowd extended across most of the sidewalk leading to Sixth Street to the west, with more protesters lined up toward First Street to the east.
The pier remained the focal point of the gathering, with some protesters leading anti-war chants. Recurring messages included concern over immigration enforcement actions, while others criticized the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.
Gail Richards, from Anaheim, expressed strong opposition to the decision to carry out military strikes against Iran, especially without Congressional approval.
“[Trump is] potentially on the brink of wrecking the world economy, with rising gas prices and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” Richards remarked. “It’s uncertain how we’re going to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. If he damages their infrastructure, it could lead to a domino effect where other nations damage each other’s, and we might all end up needing electric cars due to the scarcity of gas.
“Moreover, this initiative to SAVE America with his restrictive voting act poses a significant threat to our democracy,” he added, referring to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. “I worry for my great-grandchildren, considering they might not experience the same world I did, one without fear, concern, or heartache for the safety of our democracy.
A smaller group of protesters gathered at Pacific Coast Highway and Jamboree Road in Newport Beach. Similar to the rally in Huntington Beach, the honking horns indicated support for those demonstrating.
