A demonstration against the Trump administration took place last Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.in front of the Tesla store at Stanford Shopping Center, filled with singing, chanting, and honking from cars driving by.
At around 1:30 pm, the group marched through Stanford Shopping Center. The protest’s main objective was to oppose current U.S. immigration enforcement, military involvement abroad, and rising living costs.
The event was organized by The Wolves, a self-proclaimed independent progressive group based in Menlo Park that regularly protests at the Stanford Shopping Center. The group describes its mission as challenging the influence of billionaires in government decision-making through nonviolent protests.
Scott Herscher, the group’s founder, said the demonstrations began earlier this year with minimal participant turnout.
“When I first started doing this in March, I think two people showed up,” Herscher said. “And then it just kept growing and growing.”
Herscher said the protests began as a personal outlet for frustration during the beginning of the second Trump presidential term.
“At first, this was my way to channel my anger because I was super pissed off,” Herscher said. “I had no outlet, and my wife and daughter were getting sick of me opining at home, so I came out here.”
Molly Schumer, a scientist, said she attended the protest out of concern for both her children and the country’s direction.
“I’m really concerned about our democracy,” Schumer said. “I am a mom, and I’m a scientist, and I’m worried about the future for my kids and the future for democracy and science in America.”
Schumer said she sometimes brings her children to protest when her schedule allows, adding that participating feels like a moral obligation.
“I don’t know how effective individual protests are,” Schumer said. “But there’s research that they do make a difference on a global and national scale. For me, it feels like something I have to do when so much is going wrong.”
According to Herscher, he estimated Saturday’s protest turnout reached as many as 300 people. Despite the growth, he emphasized that the Wolves organization intentionally remains small and unaffiliated with national organizations.
“Unlike other groups, we do not aspire to grow large,” Herscher said. “It becomes a painful process organizing that many people, so we intentionally stay small.”
Herscher said the group does not follow a rigid structure or a long-term blueprint. Instead, it adapts its goals in response to current events.
“Our goals are very dynamic,” Herscher said. “They keep evolving as new events unfold.”
Herscher continued by sharing the sentiment that he believes brought the community together to protest.
“What do we all want?” Herscher said. “I mean, I hope we all want a president who’s not a maniac and a moron. We want government institutions that don’t murder U.S. citizens. The bar is pretty low, right? I don’t think we’re asking for too much, but how do we make that happen?”
He added that much of the group’s ongoing discussion centers on how protest can translate into meaningful change, even when clear answers are lacking.
“How do you translate that rage into something that actually affects policy?” Herscher said. “I don’t know the answer to that, and I don’t think anybody here does, but we are always talking about it.”
Other protesters echoed Herscher’s concerns, emphasizing fears about democracy and the future for younger generations.
Another protester, who asked to remain anonymous, said historical perspective and concern for younger generations motivated his participation. He compared the current political climate to the moments of unrest he experienced growing up during the Vietnam War era.
“You can’t just follow and do what your government tells you, just blindly go,” the protestor said. “You have to question authority. You have to make your own decisions. You have to see what’s really happening.”
The protestor argued that current undocumented immigrants are just as important to society as past immigrants who contributed to American history.
“[My father] worked in the steel mill, like our immigrants today that are supposedly illegal, and you know, somebody’s got to do that work,” the protestor said. “Do you want to work in a factory? Do you want to pick vegetables? My kids don’t want to pick vegetables. Somebody’s got to do it. Who’s going to do it?”
They also urged young people to stay informed and participate civically when they are able.
“When you get the chance, register to vote,” the protestor said. “You have to question authority.”
Schumer later also encourages young people to stay engaged, saying decisions made now will shape the world they inherit.
“We are at a critical moment in our democracy,” Schumer said. “For young people, it’s about choosing the future that you want to live in.”