On October 18, 2025, all four corners of the La Jolla intersection at Girard Avenue and Pearl Street were filled with people. About 650 people came out with signs, including ones reading “Too Much Evil for A Single Sign” and “Veto the Cheeto,” costumes, and chants. Attendance grew significantly, from 200 participants in June to 650 in October, and the demonstration lasted about two hours. There was an overload of support from honking cars, people walking by, and police officers thanking the crowd for peacefully protesting.
From North County stretching down to Chula Vista, San Diegans showed up all morning with the largest demonstration in Downtown San Diego. San Diego County Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, along with County Supervisors Paloma Aguirre and Monica Montgomery Steppe, and other political activists addressed the crowd beforehand. Their speeches included mentions of Proposition 50, which passed in California’s November 4th special election, and motivational calls to the “No Kings” cause.
The day concluded with crowds thinning out peacefully and feelings of “collective hope” from locals, according to NBC San Diego. These local demonstrations of activism and civic engagement reflect the bigger worldwide “No Kings” movement, showing the collective uprising against the ongoing activity of the current administration.
June 2025 witnessed mass demonstrations unfold across the nation, protesting against what organizers describe as authoritarian policies and corruption within the Trump administration. Over 200 grassroots organizations, including the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, partner with “No Kings” to mobilize Americans.
The first wave of No King protests occurred on June 14, 2025, the same day as the U.S Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade and Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. More than 2,000 events were organized in all 50 states, in U.S territories, and in 20 foreign countries. An estimated 4 to 5 million Americans protested, with 60,000 people marching across San Diego.
Four months later, the nation saw a second wave of uprisings, estimated to be 14 times larger than both of Trump’s inaugurations combined. On October 18, over 2,700 events in all 50 states, with over 7 million Americans in attendance, spread across the country. Involving over 1,500 cities, including San Diego, which hosted rallies in El Cajon, La Mesa, Del Mar, Pacific Beach, Rancho Bernardo, and La Jolla, among other cities.
The urgency of these protests comes as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to carry out violent raids in major cities, including neighborhoods in San Diego, targeting immigrant communities. At the same time, the militarization and deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and other major cities have intensified fear amongst Americans. While federal agents have responded to these mass protests with tear-gas, flash-bangs, and pepper balls, the “No Kings’ organization emphasizes peaceful movements and demonstrations. On October 18, SDPD also released a statement supporting the right to peacefully assemble and exercise freedom of speech, supporting both demonstrators and the surrounding communities.
