14 Jun Protesters Rally in Hercules for ‘No Kings Day’ Demonstration
People gathered in Hercules and other towns big and small in all 50 states as part of “No Kings Day” to protest President Trump.
Story and photos by Denis Perez-Bravo
Protesters gathered at a busy Hercules intersection Saturday to voice opposition to President Donald Trump as part of a nationwide demonstration known as “No Kings Day.”
More than 2,000 protests were held across the U.S., according to CNN. They were intentionally scheduled on the same day as a military parade in Washington, D.C., that itself coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday and Flag Day and celebrated the Army’s 250th anniversary.
Protests were held around the world — called “No Tyrants” in some countries — and in all 50 states, in both big cities like Los Angeles and Dallas and smaller towns like Hercules.
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- Hundreds of East Bay residents took to Hercules’ Sycamore and San Pablo avenues intersection to protest President Trump, many holding homemade signs during “No Kings Day” on Saturday.
The local protest, organized by Indivisible North East Bay, drew residents from Pinole, Hercules, Crockett and Rodeo to the corner of Sycamore and San Pablo avenues.
There, they displayed signs and waved flags at passing motorists, officially launching the Indivisible group’s bimonthly protest series.
“If we just keep physically being out here, communicating face to face with each other,” said Amy Shaw, 71, of Rodeo, “I am convinced that our country won’t take this lying down.”
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- Amy Shaw, 71, protested the Vietnam War when she was young and said she was out there Saturday trying to protect democracy.
Shaw stood in front of the Safeway supermarket, waving an American flag, cheering when cars honked and smiling at passengers looking her way.
“I’m protecting — well, I feel like I’m protecting — our democracy,” she said.
A Vietnam War protester in her younger days, Shaw said she witnessed how smaller protests combined to create a powerful movement that made a difference.
“I lived through it, so I know it can work,” Shaw said.
According to organizer Julie H., 64, of Pinole, Indivisible North East Bay formed after an impromptu protest April 4 at the same intersection. Julie asked that her last name not be used.
During that gathering, the group decided to join the national Indivisible organization and create a local chapter. Saturday’s “No Kings Day” marked their first official event.
The group plans to hold protests at the intersection on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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- Hundreds of East Bay residents gathered at Sycamore and San Pablo avenues on Saturday during the “No Kings Day” national protest against President Trump. Indivisible North East Bay plans to hold demonstrations at the intersection the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We plan to build community and voice our discontent with what our government is doing and the honor of protecting democracy, protecting people, the environment, and the rule of law,” Julie said.
About 300 people participated in Saturday’s action, which began 10 a.m. at Refugio Valley Park with speakers rallying the crowd. Around 11 a.m., working alongside local police, protesters moved to the intersection, where a steady stream of cars honked in support.
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- A Hercules police officer looks on from his parked SUV at the Sycamore and San Pablo intersection. The peaceful demonstration organized by Indivisible North East Bay worked with the local police department to coordinate times and security.
Shortly after noon, Indivisible organizers began dispersing the crowd from the intersection, asking participants to return to Refugio Valley Park for a picnic.
The family-friendly protest drew many attendees with their loved ones, including Anya Fleischer, 38, of Hercules, who came with her husband, daughter, mother and friends.
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- Hercules resident Anya Fleischer grew up in the USSR and her family immigrated to escape an authoritarian regime, but she said the U.S. is slowly creeping toward it. That is why she protested at Sycamore and San Pablo avenues on Saturday during the ‘No Kings Day’ national protest.
Fleischer, whose family immigrated from Russia in 1997, said her personal history shaped her motivation to protest.
“I was born in USSR, and I know what oppressive regimes look like for our families. My grandfather was born in a political prison because they spoke out against communism and Stalin and authoritarianism,” Fleischer said.
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- These “No Kings” protesters want due process, not a dictator.
She said the United States is moving toward authoritarianism, citing the media, restrictions on basic human rights, and jailing people without due process, creating an inescapable feeling that erodes normalcy.
“The FIFA World Cup is coming up,” she said. “People are afraid to go because they think that they’re gonna be asked for papers, and it’s insane.”
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- The Trump administration’s aggressive anti-immigrant policies have prompted significant opposition.
Though speaking up might be inconvenient or scary, Fleischer said now is the right time to act.
“I think this protest is against that. It’s against people feeling like they can’t speak up and we wanna speak up for the community and the U.S.”
Residents interested in joining the Indivisible North East Bay chapter or subscribing to their newsletter can email indivisible.northeastbay@gmail.com.
Below are more scenes from Saturday’s protest in Hercules:
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