THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE across Mendocino County joined a wave of coordinated “No Kings” protests over the weekend, denouncing President Donald Trump’s policies and calling for democracy, immigrant rights and an end to government overreach. The demonstrations, among the largest locally since Trump’s term began, also drew criticism of U.S. support for the war in Gaza.
Ukiah
On what is usually a quiet weekend morning in downtown Ukiah, hundreds of protesters gathered Saturday in front of the Mendocino County Courthouse for the “No Kings” protest.
The event was one of about 2,000 demonstrations held nationwide to protest Trump’s administration, among the largest coordinated protests across the country since the beginning of Trump’s term.
While the president held a military parade in the nation’s capital to celebrate both his birthday and the Army’s 250th birthday, the “No Kings” actions took place across the country to emphasize the resistance to his administration’s actions. The nationwide demonstrations were organized by several groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Indivisible and the Service Employees International Union.
Spanning three city blocks along State Street, protesters, including veterans and teachers, held signs and flags with slogans opposing fascism and tyranny. Many of the signs also criticized the federal government’s policies on immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and the U.S. support of Israel’s war in Gaza.
Cars and motorcyclists drove down State Street honking their horns, waving and cheering in solidarity with the protesters standing on the sidewalks.
One sign said, “Stand for democracy,” while another sign said, “I like ICE in my drinks, not in my streets,” a reference to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
One younger protester, LilyAnna Gutierrez, a member of the Redwood Valley Rancheria, handed out “Know Your Rights” cards to demonstrators to share information about the constitutional rights of documented and undocumented immigrants in the country.
“I’ve had [the cards] at my house for a while, and we leave them at businesses and at work,” Gutierrez said at the protest. “Immigrants make [Mendocino County] the place that it is. Whether you’re a citizen or not, you have rights that you are entitled to. ICE is targeting people. It’s important for people to have these at all times,” she said of the cards.
Janet Rosen, a co-founder of Indivisible Ukiah, a chapter of the national Indivisible nonprofit organization founded in late 2016 in response to the first Trump administration’s actions, and one of the organizers of Saturday’s protest, estimated that about around 1,300 people attended the “No Kings” event in downtown Ukiah.
Rosen also explained why organizing these protests is crucial for the Mendocino County community.
“We realized that due to changes in the economy as well as the political situation, we needed to focus on community resilience,” she said. “We are doing a lot of grassroots organizing and reaching out to allies in the community. We are trying to figure out what support they need in these times.”
Vivianna Morfín, a Ukiah resident and social worker, shows her support for minority communities and immigrant rights at the “No Kings” protest along State Street in Ukiah, Calif., on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Morfín was wearing a bandana with the colors of the Mexican flag and a black T-shirt celebrating famous Black social justice advocates. (Sydney Fishman/Bay City News)
“We also need this kind of event to rally the community together. It’s the single best way to help people who would otherwise be at home doomscrolling,” she added. “To feel engaged with their community and to feel they aren’t alone.”
Vivianna Morfín, a social worker from Ukiah, wore a bandana with the colors of the Mexican flag and a black T-shirt with sayings such as “dream like Martin” and “lead like Harriet,” chanted with her friends. Their focus was particularly against the raids committed by ICE in recent weeks.
Morfín explained how protests can keep people informed of how to protect themselves under the Trump administration.
“It helps spread awareness of the resources that are available. It also shares resources for people that are struggling,” she said.
She also spoke about her desire to show solidarity at the protest and advocate for immigrant rights.
“We are trying to show up for basic human rights,” she emphasized. “As a person of color, we are being discriminated against whether we are U.S.-born or not. And we are showing up for every person regardless of race.”
The Ukiah protest was one of five official “No Kings” protests that took place in Mendocino County.
Fort Bragg
In Fort Bragg, an estimated 1,500 people turned out Saturday to protest actions and policies. Cynthia Gair, an organizer with Indivisible Mendocino, called it the largest protest the grassroots organization had hosted this year — a major feat in a year in which protests seem to be a weekly occurrence.
The “No Kings” event was one of about 2,000 nationwide. According to Gair, the demonstration was set to coincide with a military parade the Trump administration organized to celebrate Trump’s birthday and the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary in Washington, D.C., and Flag Day, which commemorates the adoption of the American flag in 1777.
“This is the Mendocino Coast rising up, saying we want our democracy,” Gair said. “We’re standing up for democracy and freedom.”
The event, which appeared peaceful, spanned about half a mile from Surf Motel and Gardens to Chevron, with protesters lining state Highway 1, including the Noyo Bridge, as drivers slowed and honked their horns.
Many protest signs simply read “No Kings,” while others were more specific. One protester held a sign reading, “$ for veterans and Medicaid, not vanity parades.”
Locals and visitors alike were in attendance, including one couple who said they had originally come to town for a car show taking place, but stopped to join the protest when they saw the crowd.
Fort Bragg resident Hendrik Idzerda said he was at the protest because he fears the country is descending into fascism.
“We have a man in the White House who believes he’s above the law, and the House and Senate won’t hold him accountable,” Idzerda said. “I believe the only thing we have left to do is get out on the streets.”
Police presence was minimal, with a sole police vehicle rolling by to remind protesters to stay on the sidewalk, a sentiment attendees passed on to one another. One protester said the group needed to follow the rules to avoid being disbanded by police. The group included people of all ages.
No counter-protest was apparent during the demonstration, although a few attendees said they saw some supporters of the president drive by with signs of their own.
Among the more notable signs “No Kings” demonstrators had was one that depicted a handmade drawing of a king salmon with the caption, “The only king this coast needs.”
Another homemade sign, worn in the style of a sandwich board on a young demonstrator, said “I’m only 8 and even I know this is a bad idea.”
Other topics addressed on signs included immigration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detentions, the war in Gaza, threats to democracy, and budget cuts, especially to Medicaid.
Gair said Indivisible is a grassroots movement that began in late 2016 after Trump’s first term began and has been growing steadily in recent months.
“On June 14, as Trump throws himself a lavish military parade in D.C., we’re going to be rising up with protests all across the country,” says a statement on Indivisible’s website.
Gair said Indivisible Mendocino will host more events in the coming months. The group will also have a float in Mendocino’s Fourth of July parade.
This story originally appeared in the Mendocino Voice.