Sierra Club was a proud partner in the October 18 No Kings mobilization and we urged all our members and supporters to show up to protest the anti-democratic actions of the Trump Administration. In an October 31 email, Loren Blackford, Sierra Club Executive Director, described her reaction to this mobilization: “I’m proud of the significant presence the Sierra Club helped inspire and mobilize at this month’s No Kings protests. With 7 million people turning out across all 50 states, it was the largest single-day demonstration in American history since Earth Day in 1970! We not only made sure our issues were front and center, we helped highlight the truth that protecting our environment and communities requires a strong democracy.”
In San Luis Obispo County, rallies were held in three locations - downtown San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach, and Cambria. Here are reports from two of those rallies.
San Luis Obispo
By Carole and Alex Mintzer
During these dark times, it would be so easy to fall into despair and wallow in helplessness. But on October 18, about 5000 people held signs and shouted “No Kings” on Monterey and Osos streets in San Luis Obispo. The crowd was peaceful while protesting the attacks on our democracy that we see every day.
The event started with music, including a sing-along to “We Do Not Want a King.” Several speeches followed from elected officials, college students, a Trump voter (trying to make amends?), and a high school student who is too young to vote. All encouraged us to be resilient and persistent in resisting the anti-democratic actions of the Trump administration. We used our first amendment right to speak out loudly as a community against the creepy crawl toward authoritarianism.
The signs were creative, and some were profane, but all expressed opposition to the rise of fascism. Thanks to a trend started in Portland, OR, inflatable animals added levity and made fun of the notion that it was anything other than a peaceful protest.
Although little was said about the administration’s embrace of fossil fuels and disdain for renewable energy, we all understood that a strong democracy and environmental protections go hand in hand. Maybe next time…
Grover Beach
By Judith Bernstein
The Grover Beach No Kings Protest spanned two towns and more than 4 blocks. We gathered at the crossroads of Oak Park Boulevard and Grand Avenue and by noon, numbered at least 400. Every kind of costume and sign, age and gender, ethnic group and ability as well as wheelchairs and walkers were present. There was cheering for the No Kings movement and jeering at everything Trump and his cronies represented.
Although protesters were fed up with the many executive orders and the brazen cruelty of mass firings of Federal employees and roundups of supposed “illegal aliens” by ICE, for some reason no sign indicated anger over the damage Trump has done to the Biden and Congressional efforts to deal with climate change. That seemed to be a less visible concern compared to the damage to democracy by the Trump administration. However, I am sure that other members of the Sierra Club are well aware of the setbacks: eliminating funding for clean energy projects, cutbacks to staff who monitor carbon emissions, declarations of support for not only fossil fuel but re-opening coal mines, and other tactics to undermine progress.
Despite what was not protested, almost 400 signs certainly indicated that a lot of people were fed up. And did I mention all the horn honking in support of the demonstration? I went home feeling solidarity with the crowd and the millions of Americans who felt as we did.