Long Beach, Calif — Thousands of demonstrators flooded downtown Long Beach on Saturday, lining Ocean Boulevard before marching through the city as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump and his administration.
The crowd quickly grew from hundreds into the thousands, spilling into nearby Bluff Park and Bixby Park, as demonstrators chanted, banged drums and carried signs reading “No kings,” “ICE out” and “Impeach the mad king.”
Participants said they were driven by a range of concerns, including immigration enforcement, the ongoing conflict involving Iran and broader civil rights issues.
“We’re going to send a message to Trump that we don’t like what he’s doing. We hate what he’s doing. He’s ruining the country,” protester Ruth Chao told Long Beach Post News.
Others said recent immigration raids were a key reason they showed up, expressing concern about people being detained in their communities.
The demonstrations in Long Beach mirrored similar scenes across the country. In Washington, D.C., crowds marched past the Lincoln Memorial toward the National Mall, while in New York City, civil liberties advocates spoke out against the administration’s actions.
Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, called Trump the nation’s “Bully in Chief” during a news conference, warning against what she described as efforts to discourage public protest.
“They want us all to be afraid,” she said, according to Long Beach Post News. “But they are wrong — dead wrong.”
The White House pushed back on the demonstrations. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed the rallies as being driven by “leftist funding networks” with little genuine public support, adding that coverage was amplified by the media rather than widespread backing.
Organizers, however, say the movement continues to grow. More than 3,100 events were registered across all 50 states, with projections that participation could reach into the millions, potentially making it one of the largest coordinated protest efforts in U.S. history.
They point to expanding turnout beyond major cities, with increased participation reported in suburban and rural areas, including traditionally conservative states.
The movement has also extended internationally. Demonstrations were reported across Europe, including in Paris, London and Rome, where protesters raised concerns about war, far-right politics and human rights.
Back in Long Beach, the energy remained steady throughout the afternoon, with marchers filling downtown streets and continuing chants as they moved through the city.
For many, the message was simple: show up, be counted and make their voices heard.
