Thousands Rally Across Bay Area Protesting Trump Administration, Supporting Proposition 50
OAKLAND, CA – October 18, 2025 – Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the Bay area on Saturday, voicing opposition to the Trump administration and rallying in support of Proposition 50, a ballot measure concerning California’s congressional redistricting process. Rallies in Oakland, San Jose, Walnut Creek, and San Francisco drew large crowds, with organizers estimating 10,000 participants at the Oakland event alone.
The protests, dubbed “No Kings” rallies, reflected widespread concerns about the direction of American democracy under the current administration. demonstrators expressed fears of eroding checks and balances and a potential slide towards authoritarianism.
In San Francisco, activists created a “human banner” at Ocean Beach displaying the slogans “no Kings” and “Yes on 50,” referencing the November 4th election where voters will decide on the Democrats’ plan to redraw congressional districts in response to redistricting tactics employed by Texas Republicans.
The Walnut Creek demonstration saw hundreds gather near the downtown shopping center shortly before the scheduled start time. Pay Saye, a 78-year-old Concord resident, attended her first-ever protest, stating, “I’ve never felt more afraid of losing the America I grew up in…Trump is ruining everything we believe in-America and how it started.”
Oakland’s rally at Lake Merritt began with several hundred attendees and swelled as thousands marched from Wilma Chan Park.Oakland school board Vice President Valarie Bachelor, emceeing the event, estimated the crowd size at 10,000. Mayor Barbara Lee addressed the crowd, framing her speech around patriotism and the protection of civil liberties. ”We cannot let them shrink democracy while they shout freedom,” Lee said. “we cannot let them crown a king while they wave our flag.”
Demonstrators carried signs addressing a range of issues beyond the presidential administration, including union support and housing affordability. Jinsu Elhance, 26, urged fellow protesters to envision a future beyond the current administration, stating, “There’s so much more going on in the world than just this president…This moment is incredibly crucial, but if we can’t use our creativity to picture what it is indeed that we are moving toward, then we are going to trip over ourselves in the process.”
Republican response to the protests appeared muted. While the rallies drew important crowds, counter-protests were minimal. A spokesperson for California GOP Chair Corrin Rankin did not respond to a request for comment regarding Democrats’ portrayal of Trump as authoritarian, and calls to Republican officials in Santa Clara, Contra Costa, and Alameda counties went unanswered.
The protests come as Washington, D.C. grapples with efforts to prolong the ongoing partial federal government shutdown.
Bay Area News Group writer Martha Ross contributed to this developing story.
