Thousands gathered Saturday evening at Anaheim’s La Palma Park in protest against the Trump administration. 

The ‘No Kings’ demonstration sprouted in direct opposition to President Trump’s planned military parade in Washington D.C.  It also coincides with days of protests across the nation, particularly in Los Angeles, against President Trump’s immigration crackdowns.

Local congressmen, lawmakers, and activists spoke to a crowd of hundreds as flags, cheers, and car horns littered the streets of Anaheim.

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Romero

Protests emerged nationwide in Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle, Philadelphia, Chicago, and rural areas against Trump’s scheduled military parade. The planned parade in Washington D.C., coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday, celebrates the Army’s 250th anniversary. Amidst potential protest of the parade. President Trump threatened “very heavy force” against any opposition.

The ‘No Kings’ protests come after Los Angeles faced severe backlash from the administration this past week over anti-ICE rallies in the city’s downtown district. The administration deployed California’s National Guard to quell the protests, a move that California Governor Gavin Newsom called “illegal”. A federal judge reaffirmed Newsom’s position but an appeals court temporarily blocked the order, allowing Trump to keep California’s National Guard in Los Angeles.

Protests sparked shortly after in cities like Chicago and New York City, demanding an end to mass deportation raids targeting immigrant communities.

President Trump has rolled back on deportation raids within the agricultural and hospitality industry this past week despite U.S. Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller’s call to boost immigration crackdowns to 3,000 per day.

“We’re going to have to use a lot of common sense on that,” Trump said in a press briefing Thursday.

California Representative Lou Correa gave a speech alongside Fullerton Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shana Charles and Anaheim District 2 Councilman Carlos A. Leon.

“This current administration that works for us can get fired by us,” Dr. Shana Charles said in a speech. “In this time of darkness, the sun shines again starting right here… and we all, right here, light the way.”

‘No Kings’ drew crowds across the nation, marking one of the biggest anti-Trump protests of his second term. Several anti-ICE protests have spurred all across Orange County.

Several ‘No Kings’ events in Minnesota were canceled following the targeted shooting of two Democratic State legislators. A manhunt is currently on the way. Despite this, crowds amassed across the state despite Minnesota State Patrol urging people to stay at home.

There were no reported clashes or incidents between protesters and the Anaheim Police Department.