Peaceful EC Protest

About 1,000 people gathered on San Pablo Avenue to protest of the Trump administration's policies and actions.

A lively crowd of about 1,000 people with protest signs and American flags gathered Saturday afternoon along San Pablo Avenue near the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station. They were there to join in a nationwide day of protests against the policies and actions of the Trump administration. The events were planned through the No Kings Day website.

The El Cerrito protest was one of many in the Bay Area. And thousands of protesters turned out in small and large cities ranging from Boise, Idaho, to Atlanta, Georgia.

The “day of defiance” was planned to coincide with a military parade being held in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. June 14 is also Donald Trump’s’ birthday.

"The flag doesn't belong to President Trump. It belongs to us," the "No Kings" website says. "On June 14th, we're showing up everywhere he isn't — to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings."

Police Chief Paul Keith said the El Cerrito protest was one of the two largest protests in El Cerrito in the last 20 years. The last protest that drew about 1,000 people took place in June 2020 after the killing of George Floyd, he said.

Keith was quietly watching the gathering along with a team of about a half-dozen officers. The goal was to respond quickly to any problem and keep everyone safe. Several protesters said they chose El Cerrito partly because they thought it would be safer than bigger protests in San Francisco and Oakland.

The peaceful gathering was at times like a big party with like-minded people enjoying each other’s expressions of protest. It was a diverse crowd that included adults of different ages and races. There was a young woman on stilts and an older person in a wheelchair. Some people brought their dogs and children while others said they got the grandparents to babysit. People admired the content and design of each other’s signs. At times there was a lot of honking and waving as drivers on San Pablo showed their support.

Most of the crowd lived in or near El Cerrito. They spoke with Livable El Cerrito with the understanding that only their first names would be used.

Why They Came

Kate, an El Cerrito resident, said she wanted to protest with people from her own city.

“I’m very distressed by what’s happening in our country,” Kate said. “I’m distressed with the lack of checks and balances, the implementation of Project 2025 and with treating Americans as enemies, not like fellow human beings.”

Rhonda, a Kensington resident, said she came out because “I see our democracy being destroyed. My first grandchild was born two months ago and I want a future where he can be proud to be an American.”

Kurt, who lives in El Cerrito, said: “I’m here to exercise my First Amendment right to gather peacefully, to submit that no one is above the law, and to protect the Constitution. We need to think carefully about where our country is headed. At some point a straight white man needs to stand up for what’s right. During Pride month that’s particularly important, so here I am.”

Karen, who came down from Kensington, said “It makes me sick to my stomach to see a senator manhandled.” (Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a room and handcuffed during a Department of Homeland Security news conference in Los Angeles on June 12.)

Carol, an Alameda resident, said the Trump administration’s treatment of immigrants makes no sense to her.

“We are a nation of immigrants so what do we do, throw everybody out?”

John, an artist from Richmond and a veteran, said the Trump administration might be holding a military parade, but Trump is “dissing veterans.”

El Cerrito Mayor Pro Tem Gabe Quinto said many Asian Americans who live here send money they earn to family members in other countries. Trump wants to tax remittances so it will cost more to send money to family, Quinto said. “That’s disgusting, and it could cost Filipino Americans $12 billion a year. It

would affect other people too.”

Josh, a resident of unincorporated Richmond, said the solidarity at the parade was heartwarming. “We really needed to show support for the folks that aren’t able to get out there to defend themselves. I’m a lifelong Californian and I want to defend California and to show solidarity with humans in other states.”