Thousands expected at ‘No Kings’ rally and march in San Diego

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Thousands of people are expected to gather at Waterfront Park on Saturday for another “No Kings” rally and march — an event organizers say could be even larger than the one held in June.

More than 60,000 people took part in the first “No Kings” protest in downtown San Diego earlier this year, one of many demonstrations nationwide on June 14 that organizers say drew millions of participants.

“We weren’t surprised at the size of that crowd,” said Dane Culbreath, a spokesperson for Saturday’s event. “When Americans feel that our rights are at risk, we show up.”

Culbreath said the rallies are a response to policies under the Trump administration related to immigration, tariffs and what critics describe as attacks on constitutional rights.

“It’s the bottom up coming to tell billionaires and the political elite that we are in charge — that democracy is for the people, by the people,” Culbreath said. “We are not a monarchy. We are a democracy.”

On Capitol Hill, House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the nationwide demonstrations, calling them “hate America rallies.”

“You’re going to bring together the Marxists, the socialists, Antifa advocates, the anarchists, the pro-Hamas wing, the far-left Democratic Party,” Johnson said. “That is the modern Democratic Party. That’s where they’ve gone.”

San Diego police said they will have officers monitoring the event to ensure it remains peaceful.

“In June’s ‘No Kings’ protest there were no arrests, and we hope to see the same this Saturday,” said Lt. Travis Easter of the San Diego Police Department. “For those who break the law, you will be held accountable.”

Culbreath said organizers are also using volunteers as security and stressing nonviolence among participants.

“We do not tolerate instigators or people trying to provoke violence,” he said. “We are a nonviolent protest, and that’s what we are going to be here for.”

Speakers are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a march through downtown starting at 10:30 a.m. Culbreath urged attendees to arrive early, bring plenty of water and use public transportation due to limited parking near the park.