A massive crowd of approximately 5,000 people lined the stretch of Dublin Boulevard from Interstate 680 to Dougherty Road on Saturday, participating in the Bay Area’s only No Kings Protest, a global movement sparked by ongoing concerns over immigration enforcement and authoritarian leadership.
Organized by Indivisible Tri-Valley, the demonstration was a loud and visual statement against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), President Donald Trump’s policies, and symbols of unchecked power. Colorful protest signs with messages such as “ICE Melts Under Pressure,” “No Throne, No Crown, No King, No Clown,” and “If There’s Money for a Parade, There’s Money for Medicaid” stretched down the boulevard. The signs referenced both immigration crackdowns and excessive federal spending on military pageantry. The protest was part of the international No Kings movement, with more than 1,800 demonstrations taking place worldwide in response to a planned U.S. military parade, seen by many as an emblem of rising authoritarianism.
Speakers at the event struck emotional and urgent tones. Laura Brown spoke on behalf of Miguel Angel Lopez, a Livermore man deported just hours before a judge ruled he should stay. “We are not against the law, we are against the abuse of the law,” Brown told the crowd. “We are against deportation without due process. We are against fear replacing fairness.”
Reverend Jennifer Murdock of Lynnewood United Methodist Church in Pleasanton added, “We believe in justice, even when the system tries to silence us, even when they try to erase names, stories, and rights.” The rally also featured Vietnam War veteran Rion Causey, who received loud applause after predicting, “I see next summer a 10 million-person march on Washington, D.C.”
A piece of political theater saw a person dressed as the Statue of Liberty symbolically imprisoned and then released after the crowd chanted for freedom and justice a powerful visual condemning the treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers. The protest coincided with another large demonstration in downtown Walnut Creek, drawing thousands more, signaling a growing sentiment across the Bay Area in support of immigration reform and against perceived government overreach.
In contrast, nearby Don Biddle Park hosted a military celebration of the U.S. Army’s birthday organized by the City of Dublin and Camp Parks, featuring live demonstrations. While the official city event honored military service, just blocks away, thousands protested what they view as the misuse of military force and authoritarian symbolism.
Kyoko Takayama, a lead organizer with Indivisible Tri-Valley, emphasized that the rally was peaceful and community-focused, uniting people of all ages and backgrounds under a common cause. “We don’t need kings, parades, or fear,” she said. “We need fairness, dignity, and compassion.”
Many of the protest speeches were uploaded to YouTube, offering a chance for those who could not attend to participate virtually and share the movement’s message. The protest in Dublin marked one of the largest demonstrations the Tri-Valley has seen in recent years, with organizers already discussing plans for future actions, including voter outreach and national mobilization ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
