Protesters gathered on Saturday to speak out against the Trump administration’s recent actions, including the U.S. military operation in Venezuela and oversteps of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), at the corners of Jefferson Avenue and El Camino Real. They settled in to protest with political signs, flags, music, and chairs.
Set to begin at 11 a.m., the protest grew quickly to over 200 attendees by 11:30 a.m.
People of all ages showed up to voice their opinions. “I can’t stand what’s going on in our country. I’m 94, and I have to do something, and this is something I can do,” Portola Valley resident Jennifer Harris said.
“We’re here, we’re strong, and we support people just being here and being themselves,” Sacred Heart Schools senior Sophia Thibault said.
Many in attendance emphasized the need to protest for those who cannot speak due to fear of retribution. “It’s really important for me to be out here—for me to have my name out there—because we have to fight this, and if we don’t fight this, we are going to lose,” protest organizer JoAnn Loulan said.
“I’d like to see everybody get out there, stand up for our Constitution, what it stands for,” protester Ray Barri said. “This is really going to the future for our young people.”
Protesters also passed out blue butterfly pins in solidarity with the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking endeavors and cards with instructions on what to do if one encounters ICE.
Harris had a final message for the community: “Educate yourselves as to what the law says and what laws are being violated, and take action. You can write letters, write postcards, and join demonstrations like this.”
Standing strong for Democracy is imperative!
The rule of law is being violated.
We’ll stand with and for our neighbors!
We’re all immigrants!
NO WAR IN VENEZUELA!
Impeach Trump!!
I’m JoAnn Loulan [email protected] (from Indivisible Portola Valley) who creates these protests at the corner of El Camino and Jefferson in Redwood City. This is what democracy looks like–regular people showing up and being able to fight against the current administration. Thanks Alli and Hailey for coming to the event and writing such a great article. We need youth–so many of us are older (I’m 77) and we have been protesting since our teens…so please come and join us. Email me if you’d like to be on the list. I write a newsletter twice a week about what is happening and what to do. We will win, and it will take anyone 18 to join us!