In concert with scores of protests, marches and rallies around the globe on May Day—or International Worker’s Day—Watsonville and Santa Cruz took to the streets in solidarity with workers, and to show displeasure with the Trump administration.
Waving signs and chanting theirdisapproval of the president’s broad layoffs, defunding, cuts and illegal deportations as well as attacks on education and libraries, more than 200 people swarmed Watsonville Plaza for a string of speeches and to line Main Street to show their signs to the passing rush hour traffic.
“I am here because I am proud of Watsonville for showing up and I want us to hang together,” said Patty Reed of Pajaro as she waved her homemade sign reading ‘Americans Don’t Need Overlords.’ “I made a bunch of signs and I gave them away for free. They refer to Project 2025 message.”
Colleen Scobbe of Capitola said she has also been to several recent protests against the current White House.
“I am out here to represent all of these people who have lost jobs, the laws that have been broken, the truths that have been told that are lies, to regain our democracy and our Constitution,” she said. “We just have to show up over and over and over again and help our representatives and senators to get a backbone. You have to keep showing up. I’ve been to all of these protests; I’m going to keep showing up as much as I can.”
In Santa Cruz, about 100 people gathered at the Town Clock downtown and waved similar signs and heard speeches over a bullhorn honoring labor and at the same time denouncing Trump’s policies. The group eventually marched through downtown Santa Cruz to carry their message along Pacific Avenue.
Why aren’t these people working or going to school? Most of those shown in protesting photos are able bodied working age individuals. Why? Because they are fearful that Freeloading California is in deep trouble. Did you know that 99% of Medical funds come from federal dollars? That means that taxpayers and businesses across the US pay for Medical which California uses as a slush fund.
The thing is that after the budget is passed and the cuts are made it will be up to Sacramento to make up the funds that they decided to distribute for instance free medical for the undocumented. Newsome wants it Sacramento pays for it
Also no one outside of California cares if you protest and bash Trump so put your signs away and GET A JOB.
Explain to me why the young people of Santa Cruz are still wearing surgical masks? That’s SUS.
I agree with you, all these fellas need to get a JOB, strawberry picking season is around the corner.
The rally started at 430 pm. some people were off work at that time. and some of us are retired. and i will pick strawberries that i grow in my own backyard.
and although i am retired, my sense of responsibility includes STANDING UP TO A FASCIST DICATOR AND SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY. I get paid NOTHING for my work as a trustee for our community college, but trump, vance and musk HATE PUBLIC EDUCATION. and i will not sit by and watch them try to destroy it. I was so proud to stand with hundreds of my fellow Watsonville residents to say “HANDS OFF our democracy, our lives, our system of laws and courts.” the banner that i held up for an hour and a half reads : WE THE PEOPLE : OUR NATION IS FOR EVERYONE !
and for the millionth time, i say to those commenting above: do you not realize that protesting is work and our naiton was FOUNDED in protest ? THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE !!
Steve
Glad you were out protesting! Enjoy yourself but facts are that Donald J Trump will be your president for the next 4 years! He will dictate policy and undue everything Dimentia Joe did in his four years. Word and protests mean nothing for the next four years so just layback and enjoy it. Nothing you or your protests will change.
Steve
Just layback and enjoy it! Make American great again for 8 more years!