Second ‘No Kings’ Rally draws hundreds for protest in Merced
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Hundreds gathered in Merced for a 'No Kings' protest opposing Trump policies and cuts.
- Organizers registered voters.
- Protest dispersed by 12:30 p.m.
Hundreds of people gathered at Courthouse Park and along M Street in Merced on Saturday for an anti-President Donald Trump “No Kings” protest. The lively crowd stretched along M street, from 21st to 23rd streets. Protestors on foot and in lawn chairs lined both sides of the sidewalk holding signs, ringing bells and cheering for cars that honked as they passed.
“It’s important to come out and protest peacefully against the present administration because they are not following the Constitution and are trying to take away healthcare and other benefits for Americans,” said Lorraine Nelson, 67, of Merced. “I do believe that it’s important to be out here for those who can’t fight for themselves,” Jesse Cruz of Atwater said. Cruz, who works in aging services, said many of his clients receive Medicaid and are frightened of losing their healthcare.
Indivisible Merced, the group that helped organize and facilitate the event, set up tables in Courthouse Park, where their volunteers helped people register to vote. “I’ve been putting it off for a while …because it’s been a lot,” said Christopher, who declined to provide his full name, but “now that the group is out here, I’m like ‘Why not?’” Christopher also registered to vote on Saturday and will vote in Fresno. He came with Stacy, who also chose not to share her last name, but said she was “here today to protest for my parents …they’re immigrants and I’m really afraid for my dad. They’re from Mexico and we live in LA. My dad, he’s a street cleaner and … I’m just really afraid that one day he’s going to get deported.” Heike Hambley, a volunteer for Indivisible Merced, said, “I’m concerned about whether we’ll still have an election and a democracy and laws we can rely on.”
Hambley noted that while Indivisible Merced organized the event, the agency had endorsements from other groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the 50501 Movement.
Many protesters echoed Hambley’s fear about the state of democracy. Other people said the reasons they were participating in the protest included federal cuts to education and healthcare. Some said they were at the protest because of the actions of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the deployment of the National Guard to democratic cities. “I’m here for my son and the communities we represent,” Valerie, who only provided her first name, said. “My son has autism and is nonspeaking, and they’re defunding special education and that’s going to affect a lot of his peers and his community.” Valerie stood to the side of the main protest with tears running down her face.
The “No Kings” demonstration was one of many held in cities across California and the United States on Saturday in opposition to President Donald Trump’s administration. “In June, we did what many claimed was impossible: peacefully mobilized millions of people to take to the streets and declare with one voice: America has No Kings,” wrote organizers on nokings.org.
“Now, President Trump has doubled down,” they wrote, “His administration is sending masked agents into our streets, terrorizing our communities. They are targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting and detaining people without warrants. Threatening to overtake elections. Gutting healthcare, environmental protections, and education when families need them most.” Some of the signs held during the protest in Merced read:
- “Imagine being scared of DIVERSITY BUT NOT DICTATORSHIP”
- “A king is only a king if we bow down, RESIST”
- “You have more in common with an undocumented immigrant than you ever will with a billionaire!!!”
- “Vietnam Vet for Democracy”
- “HANDS OFF”
Throughout the morning there were a handful of cars that drove by waving Trump flags, but there were few, if any, counter-protestors present. One driver shouted, “You have three more years,” from his car as he drove by.
There did not appear to be any instances of violence during the protests or any clashes between protesters and police. Signs posted on lampposts in the park and along the street reminded protesters of their rights and emphasized nonviolence.
The crowd had mostly dispersed by 12:30 p.m.
This story was originally published October 18, 2025 at 2:52 PM.
