SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Demonstrators across the Bay Area walked out of school and work Tuesday in protest of the Trump administration. It’s was all part of the national “Free American Walkout” protests.
The protests mark the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration.
Hundreds of people gathered at San Francisco’s Civic Center Tuesday afternoon before marching to the Federal Building. They say they wanted to be seen and heard.
As many as 1,000 people walked down Market Street toward 7th.
Before the march, they rallied at Civic Center — turning out and showing strength in numbers. Protesters say they are upset with the Trump administration and its federal actions.
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Tuesday’s protest comes nearly two weeks after an ICE agents in Minneapolis shot and killed Renee Good.
Demonstrators say they’re unhappy with the ICE raids, national guard deployments, military operations in Venezuela, and moves to annex Greenland.
Lorrie Beeman came all the way from San Jose and she’s is celebrating her 64th birthday voicing her opinions.
“I think it’s really important to exercise our democratic rights for freedom of speech and let people know that we don’t agree with what our government is doing. The only way to do that sometimes is to be out in the public and doing it,” said Beeman.
“I’m not recognizing my country right now. I think it’s really important to show up. I think it’s important to turn things around,” said Lucy Irwin of San Francisco.
Tuesday night, the number of demonstrators at Civic Center grew exponentially. They took to the streets and marched to the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building on 7th Street.
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One of the organizers, Jane Martin with Bay Resistance, explained why so many people joined in on the day of action.
“Our communities here in the Bay Area have been under attack by this administration. We’re seeing more and more families being detained by ICE and separated. We are also marching in solidarity on Venezuela and the horrific attacks that happened on Venezuela recently. And all the other recent attacks on our community — the attack on trans health care, the attack on Medicaid, housing, education. It’s really devastating what this administration is doing to the people of the Bay Area,” said Martin.
Organizers say mass demonstrations send the strongest message to the Trump administration.
“This violence from ICE and this administration is not working because there’s hundreds of thousands of people marching all over the country. Look at streets of Minneapolis; see people showing up for their neighbors. It’s very inspiring,” said Martin. “That’s why we need to continue to march across the Bay Area.”
There were several protests in San Rafael and Oakland as well as in Belmont and Castro Valley on Tuesday.
The rally and march in San Francisco was the largest one in the Bay Area. It was one of 600 demonstrations planned nationwide.
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