A large-scale No Kings protest opposing Donald Trump’s immigration policies and potential election interference took place across Los Angeles and Southern California.
According to the Los Angeles Times and ABC News on the 17th, thousands of citizens gathered at Gloria Molina Grand Park in downtown LA to participate in the ‘No Kings’ demonstration.
This protest is part of the nationwide ‘No Kings: Vote Early’ campaign ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. It was organized to protest the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns and voter suppression concerns while encouraging voters to participate in early voting.
The LA rally started at 1 p.m. at Grand Park near City Hall. Participants held signs criticizing President Trump and chanted slogans, followed by a march of about 1.5 miles starting at 2 p.m.
Booths encouraging voter participation were also set up at the venue. Participants shared information on voting methods and voter rights.
Marlene McRae, a resident of LA for over 40 years, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the current administration’s policies in an interview with the LA Times, stating she joined the protest to voice her opposition ahead of the midterm elections.
Amid the protests, election-related conflicts between the Trump administration and the California state government are also escalating.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on the 15th asking to block the counting of ballots for approximately 20,000 California voters who may not be U.S. citizens. A significant portion of these voters is known to reside in LA County. However, claims that they are actually ineligible to vote have not been proven, and California election authorities are pushing back against the federal government’s assertions.
Protests continued in other parts of Southern California outside of LA. About 500 people participated in a rally in Temecula, Riverside County, and around 50 people marched along the coastal walkway connecting Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach to urge voter participation.
This event marks the fourth nationwide ‘No Kings’ protest held over the past year. While previous rallies focused on opposing the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and economic policies, this one centered on expanding voter participation ahead of the midterms.
