Overhead, the sun shone, and on the sidewalk, the smiles shone as some 8,000 turned out on the Peninsula at Saturday’s No Kings protest against President Donald Trump’s policies — a protest now augmented by opposition to Trump’s undeclared Iran war. The peaceful crowd lined eight miles of El Camino Real from Palo Alto through Sunnyvale.

The local demonstrations were part of the 3rd No Kings Day, now being described as the largest political demonstration in U.S. history, with some 8 million participants.

“We were thrilled with the turnout and more importantly, the incredibly positive energy from protestors on the sidewalk and riding by in vehicles,” said event organizer IdaRose Sylvester.  “Our event was very diverse, with people of all ages and backgrounds, truly representative of the Bay Area, and we are grateful for the time people spent strengthening our community.”

Protest is “one of the fundamental rights that we as Americans have, when we see what’s going wrong in the country,” said Sal, for whom this was his third No Kings protest. “What President Trump has done is fundamentally against everything that this country is about. The country was founded so that one person would never have the ability to do what he’s doing.”

This is also the third No Kings demonstration for Kathy and Doug, who don’t see themselves as political activists. Instead, they see a need for people to stand against what Kathy described as “too much ugliness and hatred.”

“That’s how bad it is,” said Doug. “People like us are coming out. This is something we can do before the election.”

Randy was blunt about why he came out despite severe medical problems from his years with CAL FIRE.  

“I have grandsons. This s**t has to stop now,” said Randy.

Randy’s concern was echoed by a self-described Gen-X mother.

“I’m afraid of a draft for my children,” she said.

Three friends, Kathy, Jan and Kathie, who described themselves as “over 70,” were there because “there is too much wrong going on,” said Kathy. “The government is not working for the people.”

At the other end of the age spectrum were high schoolers Eleanor and Olivia, who were attending No Kings for the first time.

“I don’t like what Trump is doing,” said Eleanor. “It’s not fair. He’s doing the same thing to Mexicans that the KKK did to people.”

She previously participated in a school walkout over ICE raids.

To those who question the usefulness of mass demonstrations, Kayla, a millennial, had this answer.

“Numbers matter. Virality is very powerful,” she said. “We’re out here in California and someone in Mississippi sees me and thinks, ‘I’m not alone. I have hope.’”

The day wouldn’t be complete without the whimsy that’s now become a signature of anti-Trump demonstrations. Creative signs included “You can’t bomb your way out of the Epstein files,” and “Let me guess: Barron has bone spurs.” And of course, there were several costumed frogs adding to the party atmosphere.*

High school teacher Christianne had a message that extended beyond current events and politics: Kindness Matters.

“Kindness matters because it could fit with any of the protest topics,” she said. “It’s the opposite of what’s been happening, and it’s the basis of human dignity: treating everybody with fairness and equality. We can judge all of our actions based on that, and not just personal actions, but governmental actions and choices.”

Carolyn Schuk can be reached at carolyn@santaclaraweekly.com.

*Ever since Portland, OR anti-ICE protestors began donning inflatable costumes, a form of activism that’s been called Laughtivism.

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