Redding No Kings protest draws 2,000 as seniors and veterans show up and speak out
Community members gathered in Redding today to express discontent with the current federal administration. The event, which was organized as part of nationwide protest action, included dozens of veterans and numerous seniors, some of whom attended in wheelchairs.
Within California’s far north, Shasta is known as a conservative stronghold. But about 2,000 diverse people turned out in front of Redding City Hall today to protest the actions of the Trump administration as part of the nationwide No Kings protest movement.
Their signs called for protecting democracy and eradicating fascism. Protesters also expressed concern about the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the need for the rights of immigrants and people of color to be protected. Many signs specifically called out President Donald Trump, with frequent references to his appearance in the Epstein files.
The event was organized by Indivisible Redding Shasta, the Shasta Coalition, Redding Resistance, SEIU 2015 and the Shasta County branch of Democratic Socialists of America. Organizer Michael Thomas, a former Redding Police Department officer, said the group prioritized safety, following instructions laid out by the national movement that mirror techniques he taught to police academy recruits at Butte College.
The group’s biggest concern, he said, was traffic safety. A safety team was active during the event, standing in yellow vests at each street corner as they reminded protesters to follow crosswalk signs and stay out of intersections and street shoulders in order to protect the public and send a strong message of respect to the community.
“It is kind of like herding cats when there’s this many people,” Thomas said. “But for the most part it was working.”
No threats or violence were reported, Thomas said. Only a single counterprotester was seen on scene.
The crowd included dozens of veterans who gathered for a group photo toward the end of the three-hour event. One of them, Jason Amos, said he was an Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom who was injured overseas in 2003 returning home for back and knee surgery.
“It was 23 years ago that another Republican sent us to war,” he said. “And now we have one sending our men and women to war today. It’s terrible, it’s tragic and I can’t stand to see more of our men and women dying or coming back with PTSD.”
Many who showed up were senior citizens, including dozens who attended in wheelchairs. Protester Eileen said she’ll be 89 next month. She was among those who attended despite their advanced age and limited mobility carrying a sign expressing her concern about federal leadership.
“I’m very worried about my country,” Eileen said when asked why she was there. “I love my country and I want to see it back to good again.”
As the full sun shone on midday protesters, many gathered in the relative shade in front of city hall with friends. That’s where Shasta Scout found Clinton Kane and Brian Murphy seated in a circle with others playing bluegrass music in the dappled sunlight next to an American flag.
“We’re here to provide a distraction and some joy in times that could use more joy,” Murphy said as others nodded in agreement.
Indivisible Redding Shasta leader Andrew Jacobsen said the crowd turnout this time was smaller than at the last No Kings protest, by his count. “We had about 1,930 today,” he said, explaining the four-step process he uses to obtain a relatively accurate count amid crowd movement.
Jacobsen said big numbers at protest events are nice to see but what’s happening behind the scenes is even more important. He said the nonpartisan Indivisible Redding Shasta has been building what he referred to as a strong infrastructure of really good people so that if things worsen in the country they’ll be prepared to stand for those who might be targeted.
“We’re building systems outside of systems,” Jacobsen said, “a coalition of people for people that will fight going forward to bring back some semblance of normalcy to our country.”
3.30.2026 1:21 p.m.: We have updated the story to add two additional organizations and correct a reference to where law enforcement techniques were taught.
Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
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Why NO KINGS? A recent U of Massachusetts Amherst poll shows 32% approval, 62% disapproval for the adjudicated rapist, a 34-count felon, while 8 million protested the wannabe Fascist King, marking the largest protest in recent history; lower than Biden or Obama ever hit. Trump and his MAGA administration are fast-moving real-time car wrecks, inflicting direct and collateral damage on all of us.
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Economically, right now, in “rural” Shasta County, the adjudicated rapist’s white nationalist Neo-Christian Crusade is costing citizens between $250 and $500 more per month for groceries, gas, energy, utilities, rent, mortgages, and basic services. A typical working-class family sees an increase of up to $280–$560/month. Although inflation was rising before the war, economists now expect it to increase to 4% or more, and we’re just getting started. As unemployment in the U.S. has been edging upward recently, reaching 4.5%, most economists anticipate higher unemployment, long-term risks, slower growth, and tighter budgets. Worldwide, the Guardian has recently published several reports and opinion pieces warning of a potential global recession—or even a depression.
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Locally, as medical services are closing or at risk of doing so, approximately 37% of Shasta County’s population relies on Medicaid services, which were drastically cut under the MAGA control of Congress before the war. Today, Republican leadership is drafting a new budget bill that would use even more massive cuts to healthcare programs to offset the cost of at least $200 billion in funding for the war on Iran.
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Notably, Trump’s MAGA movement has inspired individuals like ROV Clint Curtis to use Trump’s Big Lie to sow distrust in our court and grand jury-approved elections, calling for the FBI to raid his offices (see the LA Times) to “get the records just like they did in Georgia!” And his loyal ROV employee, fellow election liar Hobbs, has sued Shasta County (at a taxpayer expense of over $140,000 so far), using her frivolous, losing lawsuits to divide and conquer Shasta County for MAGA. If it goes to court, the economic cost of the admittedly illegal Hobbs-Curtis Measure B could add millions to the already spent millions on replacing perfectly good voting equipment.
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From Shasta County to W.D.C., it’s MAGA, one hand washing the other. Register and vote them out!
Trump was voted in overwhelmingly because his competition in that election was the cast of Dumb and Dumber.
Gavin Newsome supporters. Too dumb to be helped.
Protest was held on Saturday. Not a regular work day. Don’t assume….
I think attendance was far higher. The lines along Cypress were not longer but they were much deeper. Hard to walk along the sidewalk unlike the past. More people on the grass side of the sidewalk. Hard to walk along the sidewalk unlike the past. Many more people than last time which I think was estimated at 3200.
When the elders use profanity to describe current polit events in ‘MeriKKKa you know its a shit show, XX.
Shit show meaning real?
People with jobs don’t have time for such nonsense.
It was Saturday. Duh.
Congratulations and Thank You to all who participated – especially the veterans. I am proud.
Sleep well sheep. Don’t let the orange boogeyman keep you up too late… Still your president!
All the wrongdoings committed by Trump and Co. and you still blindly follow him and call anybody against him “sheep”. If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black. The sad part is, you’re too ignorant/stupid/blind/stubborn to actually admit it.
That man would sell you out in a second without a care in the world what would happen to you, as many of his supporters have been finding out.
A MAGA dude referring to others “sheep” is hilarious. Trump’s approval rating remains above 90% among MAGA Repubs (not so with traditional Repubs). Regardless of how many promises Trump breaks, how much he damages our standing on the world stage, and how much economic turmoil he creates, MAGAs remain faithful to their orange savior. Lawrence proves with his fealty that he’s one of the true sheep—a member of a weird quasi-religious cult made up of people who are intellectually incapable of anything other than worshipful genuflecting.
When youre right you’re right!
The SS Facebook comment/debate page on this story makes this section here look like the empty dive bar across the street from the popular nightclub. Wow.
NC: You should see the Instagram comment section.
I think im too old for instagram?
Nobody forced you to read it.
With gas prices what they are, how can people afford to get to work ? and cost of goods get transported, Diesel price at 6.00 a gallon, Prices will keep going up!
This is what happens when people don’t VOTE! He said he would be a Dictator on Day 1!. PLEASE VOTE!!
This is what happens when people don’t VOTE!
NOT A SINGLE WORD about the ongoing war against Iran can be seen in this article.
Are you living in a STATE OF DENIAL?
This event supposedly was also to demonstrate against that war initiated by the PSYCHOPATH living in the White House; a war already killing US servicem and driving out of control gasoline prices.
Seems that people prefer to remain in their comfortable zone rather than openly talking about a geopolitical event that certainly is going to have SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS in their lives;
Gerard: You might want to read it again.
Oh dear–I don’t think you “got” the thrust of the article. I feel your anger, but dear citizen, you can’t live in the rage.
Useful idiot day
Idiot day… Trump as idiot, right?
So the MAGA and militia lunatics didn’t show up to roll coal? Gets expensive quick when diesel is $6. Hopefully today gave Crye and Curtis a cold knot in the pit of their stomachs. Sucks to be them.
Selah
We had a No Kings Protest in Red Bluff CA too. About 200 people showed up & we received a lot of happy honks and waves of support!
Pretty please remove me from this shit
I don’t believe anyone twisted your arm to show up. You came here willingly so you can leave the same.