Editor’s Note: In the interest of personal privacy and safety, some individuals in this story have chosen to be referred to by their first names only.
“We are the voice of America, we are the voice of democracy,” said Peaches Lopez, a Santa Cruz local, at the No Kings Rally in Downtown Santa Cruz on Oct. 18. “We are the people and we have to express disdain for what’s been going on.”
Lopez was one of nearly seven million Americans last week who marched through city streets in protest of the Trump Administration. This is the second rally of its kind, the first having taken place on June 14 — coinciding with President Trump’s birthday. The initial event drew a historic participation of five million, with the second being even larger.
More Numbers, Same Fight
In Santa Cruz, more than 15,000 protesters of all ages gathered to protest the Trump administration’s implementation of policies that have affected the lives of many Americans. Attendees walked along the streets of downtown marking one of the largest marches in Santa Cruz history.
Thousands of protestors gather at San Lorenzo park with signs, flags and art pieces critiquing the Trump Administration. Photo 1 by Arzu Azeem. Photo 2 by Apurva Krishnamurthy. Photo 3 by Dave Ordoñez.
The rally was arranged by Indivisible Santa Cruz County, a grassroots organization committed to “electing progressive leaders, resisting authoritarian and regressive agendas, and advancing bold, inclusive policies,” according to their website.
The event featured five speakers who inspired resistance prior to the march. One was Daniel Sheehan, president and co-founder of the Romero Institute, a nonprofit law and policy center in Santa Cruz. He spoke to the growing threat the current administration poses to the Latine community.
“This is going to call for a major mobilization and a rising up of the people in revolt against this administration, and we’re going to have to start contemplating direct action,” Sheehan said. “Direct action against the ICE agents that they sent into this community to take away our sisters and brothers in the Latino community … we’re going to have to take steps to interfere … because they are attempting to put the tools of the legal system against the people in this country.”
President Trump has executed an increased number of ICE raids in workplaces and homes in an attempt to detain undocumented people, often without due process. Biden-era legislation protected these areas from immigration enforcement, but have since been overturned.
Americans are experiencing the repercussions of these measures firsthand. Cities such as LA, Chicago and Portland have been targets of large scale attacks. Chicago recently faced ICE agents kicking down residential doors, setting off flashbangs in the streets and detaining children in zip ties.
While some attendees showed up to stand against policies targeting communities of color, others came to protest decreasing resources for women and the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as the attacks on DEI policies.
“I feel not heard,” stated UC Santa Cruz student Sarah. “The whole point of an official in office is to represent the people and you don’t really see that happening.”
Wildlife biologist and former National Park Service ranger Shannon “SJ” Joslin spoke about their firing from their federal position earlier this year. This came after they hung a trans flag on El Capitan, a famous rock formation in Yosemite National Park. According to their termination letter, Dr. Joslin was cited as “failing to demonstrate acceptable conduct.”
“I was fired for practicing my First Amendment right, a right that is intrinsic to all of us in America,” Dr. Joslin said, addressing the crowd. 
Former National Park Service Ranger Shannon “SJ” Joslin speaks in front of thousands of protestors at San Lorenzo park, speaking against their recent firing and the effect it has had on their livelihood. Photo by Dave Ordoñez.
In August, the administration announced that gender affirming care would no longer be a part of federal workers health care plans. The administration has also overtly dismissed non-heteronormative gender identities by only recognizing male and female as legitimate genders.
Creative Resistance
Marchers overtook Soquel Avenue and Water Street once speeches commenced. As the swarm of participants moved onto Pacific Avenue, spectators on the sidewalk banged drums, blasted music on speakers and cheered as the procession continued down the road.
Thousands of protestors march through Downtown Santa Cruz on Pacific Avenue. Photos 1 and 3 by Dave Ordoñez. Photo 2 by Arzu Azeem. Photo 4 by Apurva Krishnamurthy.
Inflatable costumes — axolotls, unicorns, frogs and more — stood as their own form of protest after an incident in Portland on Oct. 2, in which ICE agents shot pepper spray directly into the air vents of their costume. Now, in solidarity with the victim, marches nationwide have seen an increase in a similar outfit choice, Santa Cruz being no exception. 
Protestors outfitted in inflatable cat and frog costumes march across the Santa Cruz Riverwalk bridge during the demonstration. Photo by Dave Ordoñez.
Though this nontraditional attire created an uplifting mood, it didn’t detract from the gravity participants felt in joining the event.. A march attendee, Christine, felt she had to take extra precautions out of concern for her own safety.
“I’m a second-generation Mexican American … I made a copy of my birth certificate in case something goes wrong here.”
Although many at the rally expressed fear of the administration and anger at how it affects their community, Dr. Joslin, who was fired from the National Park Service, emphasized the rally served as a reminder of one thing:
“When people are trying to oppress us we stand up, we defy their hate with compassion, and we fight for a better tomorrow.”
