Demonstrators gathered in Mendocino County and across the United States on Monday to protest what they describe as executive overreach under President Donald Trump. Chanting “No kings, no crowns, we the people won’t back down,” protesters in Ukiah and Fort Bragg joined a nationwide movement voicing concerns over presidential authority and policy shifts.
Since taking office, Trump has signed 65 executive orders, prompting criticism that his administration is departing radically from past governmental norms, affecting civil service, foreign policy, and domestic governance.
In Mendocino, families and friends spanning generations assembled at the courthouse in Ukiah and on Main Street in Fort Bragg. Among them was Emrys Scott and his daughter Saoirse who carried a sign reading, “Dump Trump and his muskrat!”
“Always like to come out and show our faces and support democracy,” Scott said. “To voice our dissent against the powers that be right now.”
Asked what concerns him most about the administration, Scott responded, “Trump is a fascist oligarch and is going to run the government as his own plaything. It will cost everyone a lot of money and hurt many people, their jobs, and their livelihoods.”
Rebecca Daun-Widner likened the current political climate to a coup. “I believe our government needs to represent the people, and I don’t think the coup that’s happening right now is representing all of us. We need to support American citizens, including trans and queer people, refugees, and minorities, not just white male Christians,” she said. “We need to stand up and make some noise.”
Similar demonstrations took place in Sacramento, where Lily, a resident of Natomas, expressed concern for trans rights. “It’s a very, very unfortunate situation that’s happening. Trans people are humans, too,” she said.
Talia from Carmichael, holding a sign reading, “They want 1939 Germany, let’s give them 1789 France,” said she was protesting as a student, mother, wife of an immigrant, and granddaughter of someone on Social Security. “We have a crisis on our hands because the judicial system is telling Trump and Elon [Musk] what to do, and they are not listening,” she said. “History has shown us that marginalized communities are targeted first, and then everyone else suffers. People need to wake up.”
Counter-protests also emerged, with a group waving American flags across from the courthouse in Ukiah. Gabe Santa Coloma, a counter-protester, said the issue of trans rights was a significant factor in his participation. “That’s a big thing weighing heavily in this election, and I think it’s gone too far,” he said.
Santa Coloma also defended Trump. “I’ve never been that political until the last five years when I saw what happened to Donald Trump—he’s been persecuted,” he said, referencing the former president’s legal battles. “It’s absurd.”
Despite the stark divisions, Santa Coloma emphasized unity. Wearing a shirt featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Trump shaking hands with the word “Unity” printed across it, he said, “That’s really my mindset. I don’t want to say anything bad to them. I’m not flipping them off. I’m blowing them kisses,” he said of the protestors across the street.
Despite ideological rifts — there was one thing protesters on both sides agreed on and that is the fundamental importance of democracy. And that common ground remains a sign of hope in a polarized political landscape.