Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace will host a "Democracy Not Fascism" march Saturday in Downtown Santa Monica, the latest in a series of anti-government demonstrations that have swept Southern California since President Donald Trump's return to office.
The march begins at 11 a.m. at Santa Monica City Hall and will conclude with a rally at the 3rd Street Promenade near the Metro Station. Organizers are demanding pathways to citizenship for immigrant communities, an end to what they call "government by and for the wealthy," and dismantling of the military-industrial complex.
"This is our moment to stand against the American oligarchy that profits from division, war, and oppression," said Rebecca Arvizu of CODEPINK LA and ICUJP. "They're attacking immigrants, workers, and our planet—all while lining their pockets."
The event is endorsed by CODEPINK, the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice, the ANSWER Coalition and other coalition partners. It will feature speeches from faith and labor leaders, cultural performances and community art.
The planned demonstration comes as Southern California has experienced sustained anti-government protests since Trump's inauguration in January. The region became a flashpoint in early June when federal immigration raids in Los Angeles sparked five days of protests that prompted Trump to deploy approximately 1,700 federalized California National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines to the city.
Local authorities imposed nightly curfews downtown, and by June 10, Los Angeles police were conducting mass arrests to clear the streets. Images from the period showed National Guard soldiers in military gear guarding federal buildings while crowds continued demonstrating for immigrant rights.
The protests culminated in the nationwide "No Kings Day" demonstrations on June 14, Trump's 79th birthday. Organizers estimated over 5 million Americans participated in more than 2,000 locations, with Southern California contributing several hundred thousand protesters.
Santa Monica hosted its own No Kings Day protest at Palisades Park, where thousands of participants formed a visible line along the bluff above Pacific Coast Highway. The event remained completely peaceful, with families, seniors and diverse community groups gathering in what local media described as a "joyful and peaceful" atmosphere.