Oakland ‘No Kings’ protesters say they are fighting for democracy: ‘The people have to show up.’
on October 18, 2025
Thousands of Bay Area residents gathered in Oakland on Saturday as part of a series of nationwide protests against President Donald Trump’s policies.
Many attendees tried to strike a balance between the serious issues they were protesting and a lighter, festive tone, wearing comical costumes and carrying humorous protest signs.
As the crowd marched down Eighth Street, Oakland residents Max Madame and Charlie Pain, both wearing clown makeup, handed out balloon animals.
“Absurdity breeds absurdity,” said Pain, when asked about the inspiration for their costumes. “And also, clowns breed happiness, and they’re trying to sow so much fear and anxiety and stress.”
“Joy is resistance. We should be pissed off but we should not let them steal our joy,” Madame added.
Organizers of the Oakland “No Kings” protest estimated that over 10,000 people attended the event. More than 2,600 protests were scheduled to take place across the country on Saturday. Asked about their reasons for protesting, many said they had so many concerns it was difficult to narrow down the list.
“There are so many reasons. I mean, you could write a book. I could write a book,” said Richard St-Pierre, of Oakland.
Common themes included Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in cities around the country, health care cuts and the state of democracy.
Virginia Keeler-Wolf, wearing a full-body chicken costume, said, “I’m here because I’m terrified for the future of America and I want there to be a democratic country left for my children and grandchildren to grow up in.”
As marchers slowly filled up the Lake Merritt Amphitheater, Jinsu Elhance handed passers-by colorful markers, encouraging them to write on a white board that bore the prompt: “We imagine Oakland….” Participants filled the white space with answers like “with strong, supportive community,” “save education,” and “leading the revolution.”
Elhance said he had been inspired to create the sign after attending a speech by activist Angela Davis on building solidarity between the Black and Palestinian movements.
The idea was to help people “think past just getting Trump out of office,” he said. “Trump is a symptom of a corrupt system.”
On a small stage set up on the edge of Lake Merritt, a series of public officials delivered short speeches.
“We refuse to be led by a tyrant,” said U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon, who represents Oakland and neighboring parts of the East Bay. “We refuse to bow to a rogue administration that has shown the world it does not care if we live or die.”
About a block away from the stage, Xochitl Jones stood in the shade of a tree with a group of protesters. Jones said they came because they “didn’t want to succumb to the fear.”
“All over social media, it was all these people saying, ‘Don’t go out, don’t go out if you’re Black, they’re going to do this or that,’” Jones said. “But, you know, fascists don’t leave power on their own. The people have to show up in their millions to force them out.”
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