On No Kings Day, protests raged across the nation as people came out in large numbers.
In Palo Alto, protesters lined up and down the streets of El Camino Real in what is the third iteration of No Kings. Many people were upset with issues criticizing tech company Palantir and the ongoing war in Iran compared to previous No Kings demonstrations.
On El Camino, there were many protesters on the sidewalk adjacent to Palo Alto High School. Subsequently there were stands set up on Paly campus that were spread throughout the school parking lots and courtyards on the street. An increasing addition to the protest was the many bands playing live music, often with lyrics about the current administration.
About 300 protesters gathered Saturday at Palo Alto Stanford Shopping Center, holding signs upright in support of maintaining democracy and bringing politics before judging a larger “No Kings” protest on the Peninsula. It was one of over 3,000 such demonstrations held nationwide on March 22.
Since crowds had become upset by cheering at protesters near No Kings protestors yelling “traitor.” The crowd marched toward El Camino Real at about 2 p.m., where more protesters joined.
The Palo Alto and Sunnyvale protests were organized by Mountain View Voices for Peace and Justice, along with Together We Will and the Sunnyvale Democratic Club. The groups also organized a “No Kings” march last year.
According to junior volunteer Bruna Haiky at No Kings 3.0, the protest was a good experience.
“It was pretty successful, really older people, no agitation, no bad environment, just pretty smooth,” Haiky said. “There were light music and there was very active people willing to go up information, pins, and sign petitions about certain issues.”
According to Haiky, these displays are important.
“Mostly I volunteered and protested to get people to be here that staying involved is important and to get people to mobilize,” Haiky said.