Bay Area Presidents Day protests among dozens across U.S. cities against Trump administration
Rallies and protests in Oakland and San Francisco mirrored other nationwide Presidents Day protests against the Trump administration, the mass deportations underway, and the moves by billionaire Elon Musk to gut federal agencies.
The protests were among multiple demonstrations in U.S. cities as part of a nationwide effort to denounce the administration's policies. Organizers of the 50501 Movement - which stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement - began with dozens of protests on Feb. 5 in all 50 states, according to organizers.
Monday's "Not My Presidents Day" protest in Oakland began with a rally in Fruitvale Plaza and a noon march to Lake Merritt was planned. In San Francisco, protesters gathered at noon at City Hall calling for limits to what they call the executive's branch overreach.
Leading the charge in San Francisco was organizer Patty Modelmog.
"I'm very terrified of what's to come, and I think we need to get Elon Musk out of government," she said.
Modelmog wants to accomplish three things: encourage shareholders to dump Tesla stock, keep Musk's influence out of government, and get him out of the White House period.
"We don't need billionaires telling us how to live our lives, taking away services," she explained.
Modelmog led hundreds of protestors to a Tesla dealership, where she hoped the crowd discouraged people from supporting the brand.
Other demonstrators said that recent actions by DOGE and Trump threaten vulnerable groups like the trans community. Lindsey Collins, a San Francisco school teacher, said visibility was important.
"What's happening is wrong and morally dangerous. And it threatens democracy and everyone, regardless of your race, religion or status here," Collins said. "And I'm hoping this is the beginning of a lot more people feeling empowered to physically put themselves outside and say this is not acceptable."
In Washington, D.C,, protesters gathered Monday morning outside the U.S. Capitol and at the National Mall.
Also dubbed "No Kings on Presidents Day," the latest protests also denounced Trump's billionaire adviser Elon Musk, the leader of Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency, an outside-government organization designed to slash federal spending.
Organizers of Monday's protests, which were focused on state capitals and major cities including Washington, D.C.; Orlando, Florida; and Seattle, said they were targeting "anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its plutocratic allies."
One sign at the rally that attracted hundreds in the nation's capital said, "Deport Musk Dethrone Trump."
Many demonstrations were slated for cities where temperatures were well below freezing as a polar vortex worked its way across the country.
The rallies followed a series of Trump executive orders and came just days after layoffs across federal agencies as part of an effort to reduce the government workforce.
Since the start of his second term, President Donald Trump has signed 65 executive orders, many of which have faced legal challenges.
On Monday, the presence of DOGE personnel at the Internal Revenue Service in Washington, DC sparked fresh concerns from Democratic lawmakers about the safety of taxpayer information, and whether the group's work could cause delays in taxpayers receiving their refunds.
The Washington Post reported DOGE is requesting access to the IRS' Integrated Data Retrieval System, or IDRS, which would provide the group with access to tax data for individuals and businesses.
The IRS didn't immediately return a request for comment.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
Kara St. Cyr contributed to this report.
