This Sacramento-area ‘No Kings’ protest wanted to get out the vote. ‘Don’t be passive’

With the midterm elections less than three weeks away, the latest “No Kings” day of protests Saturday shifted from favoring large gatherings to small events around the Sacramento region that focused on direct action.

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So this meant no rally with thousands of people at the state Capitol, unlike the three previous “No Kings” events held June 14, 2025, Oct. 18, 2025 and March 28. Instead, many events occurred around both the Sacramento region and the U.S., where protesters waved signs and made their voices heard.

“The measure today of our success is not like with the big rallies where the measure is how many people turn out,” said Ellen Chapman, one of the leaders of Indivisible Sacramento, who helped promote the different “No Kings” events around the region.

She added, “Today, the measure of our success is: Are we going to turn out historic levels of early voters? And I think we’re going to do that because there are 3,000 events going on across the country.”

Here’s a look at, and some of the voices heard, at Saturday’s “No Kings” events here:

‘I think they’re all important’

One of the early events in Sacramento was on the I-5 overpass at Sutterville Road, where protesters unfurled banners.

There, Marilyn Miller stood dressed as the Statue of Liberty. She had bought the costume for $60 online, joining a group of roughly 15 to 20 people in the early going, earning honks from passing motorists and hoping that what she was doing would make a difference.

“This is a smaller crowd here, but I don’t know,” Miller said. “I think they’re all important.”

Nancy Conk, a Pocket resident, brought her 3-year-old dog, Molly, with her to the overpass. Conk, 79, said she had been protesting since the days of the Vietnam War. Now, she was focused on helping to increase voter participation ahead of the midterms.

“Doing nothing is not an option,” Conk said. “So, if we can even remind one person to go home and complete their ballot, drop off their ballot early, it’s worth it to me.”

A short distance from Conk and her dog, sisters Linn Marlow and Stephanie Bryant stood, each holding a sign with the word “Nope” on one side and “Vote” on the other. Marlow, a graphic designer, had made the signs.

“I’m just trying to get people out to vote,” Marlow said. “It’s really important right now and I think if we don’t show up, then we’re gonna have even more of a mess than we have right now.”

Her sister echoed those thoughts.

“I have to do something,” Bryant said. “I can’t just sit and watch, because I get so angry and I remember Michelle Obama saying, ‘If you are feeling that feeling, do something.’ So you start doing things.”

‘Got to start somewhere’

Dispersing events throughout the Sacramento area rather than just having a few high-profile gatherings meant different parts of town saw action. This included the intersection of Stockton Boulevard and Fruitridge Road, where roughly 50 people were scattered holding signs.

David Sanchez, a 68-year-old Sacramento resident, stood at the intersection around 10:15 a.m., holding a sign that encouraged people to honk for hope, equality, justice and America.

Asked if he thought his group was making a difference, Sanchez replied, “Got to start somewhere.”

Sam Rivers, who was pregnant and said she was four weeks from delivery, brought her 3-year-old daughter Korra, who was wearing an Elsa “Frozen” light blue dress Elsa. Asked why she attended the protest, Rivers said it was about setting an example for her daughter.

“I want her to see that people have a hard fight ahead of us and we need to be out there every day, setting the example for younger generations and for older generations as well,” Rivers said. “Everybody needs to see someone like themselves and someone different out there as well.”

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Others at the gathering included Francisco Javier Peña and Yolanda Peña, a married couple of nearly 50 years who live in south Sacramento.

Francisco Javier Peña said he was born in the Mexican state of Jalisco, near Guadalajara, and was brought to America at 8 months old. He said his family had come to the U.S. “because this was a land of opportunity and the idea that it’s not the same anymore just really bugs the heck out of me.”

Yolanda Peña was glad she came.

“It’s a good thing being out here because it shows, especially this president, that we don’t all agree with what he’s doing and everything,” she said.

‘We just like to be a part of it’

A relatively large gathering by Saturday’s standards for “No Kings” in Sacramento appeared to show up by the McKinley Park rose garden. About 100 people were there around noon.

Melissa Snaer, a fifth-grade teacher, said she and her husband had travelled from Manteca that morning, stopping at “No Kings” events in Tracy and Stockton along the way. This event, she noted, was the largest one she had attended Saturday.

“We wanted to see a bigger turnout and be around more people, like-minded morals and values,” said Snaer, 48. “And we just like to be a part of it.”

Some people held lighthearted signs or effigies, such as Sherman Holmes-Gen, a 65-year-old state worker who held a balloon of President Donald Trump that resembled a toddler and was attached to a broken nine-iron golf club.

Dave Levey, 74, stood to the side of action. He was with his wife Edy Levey and steadying himself with a cane, having recently had back surgery.

But he wasn’t going to miss this day.

“I just think it’s important to show what all these people are talking about,” Levey said. “We’re very much opposed to the condition of the country right now because of the president.”

The event had a lively feel. Passing motorists continually honked their horns. Protesters sang “We Shall Overcome.”

Harry Criswell, questioned the day’s outcome. Asked if he was confident his actions would make a difference, Criswell said he hoped so, but that he didn’t know.

“This many people just kind of agreeing, it’s like I’m preaching to the choir,” Criswell said.

‘You have a voice’

About 500 demonstrators gathered on the corners of a major intersection in front of the Westfield Galleria mall in Roseville, many holding signs encouraging the get-out-the-vote effort.

One of them was Rocklin resident Diana Madoshi.

“I’m here I’m here because I do not like the way our country is headed,” she said. “I oppose fascism. I oppose ICE. I oppose the hate and bigotry that that is seen to be guided by certain people in this administration.”

Roseville resident Malcolm Perry, a West Point graduate who served two tours in the Middle East, said he attended the protest because he feels the Trump administration is flouting the law.

“America is founded on law and order and making sure that everyone is equal under the law,” he said. “The only thing holding us together is the law.”

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Shirley Hess-Waltz, another Roseville resident, spoke to the theme of the day.

“You have a voice,” she said. “Get out there and vote and don’t be passive.”

Hector Amezcua contributed to this story.

This story was originally published October 17, 2026 at 3:55 PM.