Santa Barbara shows up for No Kings Day

Over 1,000 protestors flooded the streets of downtown Santa Barbara at noon on Saturday, marching from Alameda Park to City Hall in a bold display of opposition to President Trump and and his federal policies. 

“We got to throw these bums out,” Former State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson said in a speech. “He’s been a lunatic, an incompetent, lying felon since the time he was born.”

The demonstration was one of hundreds across the nation Saturday, a part of the “No Kings” network in opposition to President Trump and his administration’s actions. In Santa Barbara, the event was put on by Indivisible Santa Barbara. Organizers said the event was non-partisan and avoided promoting any specific campaign.

With midterm elections only a few weeks away, protestors urged early voting. Ballot boxes lined the march, with people sending in their votes along the way. At the starting point in Alameda Park, Indivisible Santa Barbara leaders Myra and Ian Paige spoke on the importance of voting.

“It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in our democracy,” Myra Paige said in a speech. “Make sure that your voice is heard and that your vote is counted.” 

Many protesters took a stance against ICE, and the Trump administration’s attack against undocumented immigrants. They carried “ICE OUT OF 805” signs and chanted along. Ian Paige delivered a speech on behalf of 805 UnDocufund executive director Primitiva Hernandez, who was unable to attend, instead attending to active ICE threats in Santa Maria.

Former State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson also spoke at the event, which featured Spanish and ASL interpretations.

“This is more than an immigration issue,” Ian Paige said, reading a speech written by Hernandez. “It is a humanitarian crisis that threatens our community’s safety, dignity and stability.”

The rally was led by a local brass band and flag carriers. When protesters turned the corner onto De La Guerra Plaza, they danced, chanted and waved flags.

Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, joined the march, as well as local politicians.

As the march advanced down Anacapa street, protestors filled around five blocks. From “Dump Trump” to “No Faux-King Way” their handmade signs expressed their escalating anger with President Trump.

“We all know that he has tried to dismantle our democracy,” Jackson said.

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