Thousands rally for No Kings protest in downtown SLO. ‘Take action today’
San Luis Obispo County residents packed the streets of downtown SLO on Saturday to once again protest the Trump administration.
The anti-Trump, pro-democracy rally in downtown San Luis Obispo was one of several No Kings events in the county, along with protests in Atascadero, Grover Beach and Cambria on Saturday — and more than 3,300 other rallies across the country.
The San Luis Obispo protest drew an estimated 2,500 participants, SLO Police Department spokesperson Christine Wallace told The Tribune.
The downtown event was planned by Indivisible San Luis Obispo County, Estero Bay Indivisible, and San Luis Obispo 50501. It was the third No Kings rally to be held locally.
Local organizers said the protest was an act of resistance and solidarity in the face of mass deportations, new foreign wars and skyrocketing gas prices, according to a news release.
“Nothing is more important in America right now than getting together with your community,” Estero Bay Indivisible co-founder Joanne Coghlan told The Tribune.
Thousands assemble in downtown SLO for anti-Trump rally
In preparation for the crowds, the San Luis Obispo Police Department shut down Osos Street for two blocks from Palm to Higuera streets, as well as Monterey Street from Morro Street to Santa Rosa.
By 9:30 a.m., people had flooded into the downtown area, while local acoustic folk duo Bay Love played protest songs to the growing crowd.
At the corner of Osos and Monterey streets, there was also an “Action Alley,” set up with a slew of information booths hosted by local organizations, including 805 UndocuFund, the Diversity Coalition, Planned Parenthood, NAACP SLO, Gala Pride and Diversity Center and the League of Women Voters, among several others.
This was the first time No Kings had an Action Alley where info booths “give attendees an opportunity to take action,” organizer Jesse Hudson said.
The event officially kicked off at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Osos and Monterey streets with a rally featuring live music and a variety of speakers.
Morro Bay resident Sherry McBride said she came out to protest the Trump administration’s actions.
“I’m so unhappy with this administration,” McBride said. “I want to be a part of the masses. I hope we make a difference.”
Seventy volunteers roamed around the event acting as peacekeepers, traffic safety and chant leaders. Some also passed around bags of free ICE whistles to rallygoers.
Speakers tell attendees to ‘take action today’
After a gloomy Saturday morning, the sun came out for the start of the rally.
Protesters waved homemade signs that said slogans like, “Remember only you can prevent fascism” with a Smoky the Bear caricature, “Alexa, change the president,” “This is what democracy looks like” and “No crown for the clown” with a photo of Trump.
People also sat on the steps adjacent to Open Air Flowers on Monterey and Osos streets and others waved flags from second-story windows overlooking the intersection.
Coghlan said the theme for today’s rally is “take action today.” Several speakers seconded that message.
Rita Casaverde, the executive director of the Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo, urged the crowd to get to know their neighbors.
“Question what ‘No Kings’ means to you,” Casaverde said. “To me, ‘No Kings’ means no empire. ‘No Kings’ means no unchecked power. It means no one is above accountability.”
Other speakers called for an end to foreign wars.
Veteran Capt. Pete Pepper, who completed two tours in Vietnam, said Trump is “pulverizing Iran” and breaking the guardrails of our democracy.
“Especially as it pertains to Iran, good soldiers are dying there, and we will lose many more as I lost decades ago,” Pepper said. “Like Vietnam, this is another war of choice. It’s not my choice, maybe not your choice. It’s Trump’s choice, and it’s the choice of people that we expect to protect us.”
High school student says protesters must fight ‘tooth and nail’ to protect trans people
Trevor Norcross — whose daughter Lily is a junior at Arroyo Grande High School and transgender — lead the crowd in a “trans rights are human rights” chant and called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to protect trans children.
Lily Norcross spoke after him and said it was necessary to fight “tooth and nail” to protect trans individuals.
She told protesters to take small daily actions like calling elected leaders, asking people’s pronouns and standing up to transphobia.
After her speech, enormous cheers erupted from the 2,500-person crowd.
Thousands march in downtown SLO for No Kings rally
More than 2,000 attendees walked through downtown San Luis Obispo, in a path that wound from Boo Boo Records down to Mission Plaza before turning down Higuera Street and back onto Osos Street.
Marchers stayed on sidewalks and honored traffic signals as they chanted, “This is what democracy looks like” and “ICE out of 805.” Roadside volunteers passed out bottles of water to participants as the day grew hotter.
Some cars that passed by the route honked loudly in support of the protest as they drove by.
Los Osos mother and daughter duo Molly and Bridget O’Leary said they have been attending protests together ever since the 2017 women’s march.
Molly said they showed up Saturday because “this has to stop,” she said.
“There are so many things wrong,” Molly said, noting she’s a nurse at French Hospital and she lives in fear for the day that ICE shows up at her workplace.
Bridget, who just turned 18, said she already pre-registered to vote so she can vote in the upcoming midterms and be a part of the change.
As Mariko Kriege marched on the sidewalk with her two young children ages 3 and 5, she told The Tribune that she wanted to her kids to experience democracy in action.
“It’s important for them to be involved … supporting the right side of history,” she said.
Hundreds attend No Kings protest in downtown Atascadero
Elsewhere in the county, hundreds of people participated in a No Kings car rally and sidewalk march through downtown Atascadero.
Cars honked as they sped down Morro Road in support of the pro-democracy protest, while marchers raised signs that read “No King, No War,” “Hate does not make us great,” and “Fight for the things you care about.”
Other participants flew American and pride flags.
The march ended with a community gathering featuring live music at the Sunken Gardens.
This story was originally published March 28, 2026 at 9:51 AM.
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