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As honking cars zoomed down El Camino Real in Mountain View on Saturday, a person wearing an inflatable unicorn costume danced and waved. Around the corner, a trio of musicians strummed a Buena Vista Social Club tune as a person in an inflatable hippo costume salsa danced.
These were not scenes from an early Halloween party – they were part of the second round of “No Kings Day” demonstrations on the Peninsula, which drew thousands to protest at events in cities including Mountain View and Palo Alto on Oct. 18.
Protests were reportedly planned for over 2,500 locations across the U.S., and called for people to peacefully stand up against the Trump administration. The first No Kings Day, a national day-of-action that countered a military parade through Washington D.C. on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, drew millions of protesters on June 14.
Silliness was a big theme in this round of protests on the Peninsula. Mixed among homemade signs and American flags were colorful tutus, pet costumes and frog stuffed animals. Reverend Julie Nelson, who serves at Christ Episcopal Church Los Altos, wore an inflatable unicorn costume to protest at the intersection of Castro Street and El Camino Real in Mountain View. Nelson said she was inspired by protesters in Portland who have started a trend of protesting in frog and other animal costumes.
“ It reminds us that we are all human and we all need to laugh and we all need to smile even when things are really, really hard,” Nelson said.
Event organizers and volunteers sing freedom songs on stage at the close of the No Kings Day Democracy Fair at Rinconada Park in Palo Alto on Oct. 18. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney. 
Young protesters wave flags at their first No Kings Day protest in Mountain View on Oct. 18. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney. 
Clark, left, and Cathy Akatiff, right, of Palo Alto hold up their signs at the No Kings Day Democracy Fair at Rinconada Park in Palo Alto on Oct. 18. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney. 
One protester at the No Kings Day Democracy Fair at Rinconada Park in Palo Alto on Oct. 18 donned a polar bear costume. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney. 
A bicyclist waving a flag laughs as a protester in a tutu crosses the street at the No Kings Day protest in Mountain View on Oct. 18. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney. 
David Menestrina, right, helps his 5-year-old son Kian pick out a pin at a No Kings Day rally in Mountain View on Oct. 18. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney.
IdaRose Sylvester, who helped organize a No Kings rally at 16 major intersections along El Camino Real from Sunnyvale to Palo Alto, was thrilled to see both frogs and American flags on display, and emphasized that the rally was an action-oriented event aimed to get people of all ages into activism.
In Palo Alto, protesters participated in a parade from the intersection of El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road to Rinconada Park, followed by a “Democracy Fair” complete with speakers, music performances and activity stations. The event spread across half of a mile of Rinconada Park, and included workshops on immigration and youth organizing at the nearby Lucie Stern Center.
U.S. Rep. Sam Liccardo, who attended and spoke at the Democracy Fair, said protest events like this one continue to be important because they reassure people that they are not alone in their concerns.
“ There’s a moment when it’s so imperative that Americans stand up against everything we’re facing together. I think as we see more people standing up, it gives courage to others,” Liccardo told this publication. “ People get more engaged and they start volunteering.”
Around 3:30 p.m., a group of about 10 counter-protesters waving American flags joined the Democracy Fair. Max Hsia, a counter-protester who carried a pro-Trump flag reading “Make America Greater Than Ever Before,” described the group as a small, organized group of conservative patriots who wanted to represent the minority vote in California.
“ We are here to say that there is no king in America. It’s a duly elected president,” Hsia said. “Trump won the popular vote, the electoral college, all seven swing states, 86% of all counties. He is our president.”
During a speech by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, the counter-protesters walked up the center aisle of the seated audience chanting “still no king” over a megaphone. A few musicians stepped on to the stage and, alongside Cordell, led the crowd in singing the freedom song “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” as the counter-protesters exited the crowd surrounded by volunteer safety monitors in yellow vests.
The contrast of the president’s response taking a dump on protesters is remarkable. Not only does he not care, he has great contempt for the folks. This also shows his remark about the military practicing on Chicago was meant in earnest, just like the intent to fire live artillery rounds across a busy I5. I get that message loud and clear. It was meant as a “warning shot across the bow”.
I loved seeing all the bicyclists with protest signs riding the protest route too. We’re all in this together!