Emotions ran high as demonstrators took to the streets in Victorville as part of a nationwide series of “No Kings Day” protests, coinciding with a military parade in Washington D.C., the 250th anniversary of the U .S. Army and President Donald Trump’s birthday.
About 1,000 protestors carried hand-painted signs and chanted “No kings in America,” and “No kings, no Trump” as they lined the streets at Bear Valley and Amargosa roads, and crowded along the entire length of the Bear Valley Road bridge spanning the 15 Freeway.
Many passing drivers honked their horns in support, drawing cheers from the group. Some waived their Donald Trump baseball caps in the air in a sign of counter-protest. A convoy of seven to 10 pickup trucks drove passed the demonstration.
But the event remained peaceful, and even polite.
Despite the crowd, demonstrators kept out of roadways and obeyed traffic signals, being careful not to impede traffic.
Several California Highway Patrol cruisers could be seen keeping watch over the area from a distance.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials estimated the crowd size at about 1,000 people, according to agency spokeswoman Gloria Orejel.
No issued were reported, she said.
Demonstrators speak out
Protester Hope Marriott of Victorville said she has been “opposed to 47 since he was 45.” She described Trump as “malignant narcissist.”
“He can’t represent anyone but himself,” she said. “He’s created so much division in our nation, in our community of Victorville, in our families.”
The Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants was the primary issue that drew Victor Sanabria of Victorville to the demonstration.
“My parents are immigrants, so this hits home,” he said. “My parents are scared to go to work, scared to leave the house. The stories are true. People are being taken.”
Sanabria said he took issue with Trump’s characterization of immigrants as dangerous and harmful.
“I served six years in the Army,” he said. “Just because you’re not born here doesn’t mean you can’t make America great. We can all make something great happen in America.”
Laura Quigley, a longtime political activist and founding member of High Desert Progressive Democrats, which helped organize the event, said she was thrilled by the large turnout on Saturday.
“This is amazing,” she said. “It means that people are waking up and taking note of what we’ve got to lose: our democracy.”
(This story has been updated with additional information.)
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Roughly 1,000 join ‘No Kings Day’ protest in Victorville
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
