Five Rallies, One Question: Can No Kings Do What Congress Couldn’t? Also, Get a portrait of your Pet!
Protesters will take center stage Saturday, rallying against a president many now call the most powerful since FDR—though with a very different vision. In just a few short years, President Donald Trump has reshaped the American government in his own image, wielding influence across all three branches. His administration has slashed environmental protections, gutted health care access, and proudly dismantled what he derides as “woke” policies aimed at supporting minorities and transgender people. The agenda is no secret: a deliberate realignment to favor white Evangelicals, from South African alliances to Southern gerrymandering. In sheer velocity and scope, Trump has advanced his hard-right platform faster than Ronald Reagan’s gentler conservative revolution—or even FDR’s New Deal surge to the left.
After defeating New York City’s congestion pricing plan, President Trump declared himself “king”—complete with crown imagery posted to the official presidential website. This week, he backpedaled in televised interviews, mocking the royal portrayal and insisting he’s no monarch.
Of all the protests aimed at President Trump, only the No Kings movement seems to have truly gotten under his skin. While Democrats have struggled to mount meaningful opposition—culminating in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history—Trump has pressed forward. Lower courts have blocked several of his power grabs, but the Supreme Court has increasingly sided with him. His strong-arm tactics have even flipped former critics and fence-sitters: tech titans like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos now count themselves among his vocal supporters.
So can 2,600 No Kings rallies nationwide gain traction where Congress and the courts have stalled? That’s the question echoing from Philadelphia to Fort Bragg. With the legislative branch gridlocked and the judicial branch increasingly deferential, the streets may be the last place left for dissent to matter. Whether these rallies can shift the narrative—or simply hold the line—is what Saturday will reveal.
Local No Kings Events – Saturday, October 18
Gualala: Highway 1 at Center Street, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.—note the later start time.
Fort Bragg: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. along the east side of the Noyo River Bridge. (Full details below.)
Willits: Parade begins at 10 a.m. at Babcock Park and continues until noon.
Ukiah: Not listed on the national No Kings site, but a local protest is confirmed.
Point Arena: Centennial Plaza, noon to 1 p.m.
Pet Portraits and Coffee too!
But before we dive deeper into No Kings, let’s take a joyful detour. One of my favorite artists—whose work practically purrs with personality—is offering custom pet portraits for $10 this Saturday. She’ll be set up on the Redwood nub of Franklin Street downtown, brushes in hand and whimsy in full bloom. If you’ve ever wanted your cat in a crown or your dog immortalized mid-derp, this is your moment.
Whimsy, Watercolors, and Warm Bread on Redwood
While the nation rallies, Fort Bragg gets a dose of delight this Saturday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to around 3 p.m. at Interior, 224 E Redwood Ave.
- Sip fresh-brewed coffee (or grab a bulk bag) from Foggy Dog Roasters
- Nibble on baked goods from Hard Head Bread and Happy Hermit Bakery
- Score a $10 pet portrait by the ever-whimsical Jacquelyn Cisper—just bring a photo (digital works fine; you can even text it to her). In about 15 minutes, she’ll turn your furry friend into a greeting-card-sized watercolor and ink masterpiece while you browse.
- And don’t miss Monica’s trove of treasures—furniture, rugs, art, and home décor with stories to tell.
It’s a perfect pre-rally warm-up or post-rally wind-down. Civic action meets cozy charm.
One oddity, organizers nationwide are calling for people to wear yellow. This seems like it might make it hard to find the organizers, who also wear yellow.
We asked Cynthia Gair,. A local organizer about this wear yellow idea?
“National Indivisibles wanted some unifying symbol or signal and they picked the color yellow – a few reasons being it’s distinctive (as opposed to say red,white, blue) and stands out, has some great associations (sunflowers, Ukraine etc), and would be easy for lots of people to wear or show in one form or another.,” she said.
“Our peace & safety marshalls will be wearing yellow-green traffic-type vests. Kind of day-glo.Gair said.
Mendocino Indivisible Issues Code of Conduct for Fort Bragg No Kings Rally
In anticipation of Saturday’s No Kings protest on the Noyo Bridge, Mendocino Indivisible has released a firm code of conduct for participants, emphasizing peaceful assembly, mutual respect, and non-engagement with agitators. Organizers are urging attendees to stay on the east side of the bridge, avoid blocking traffic, and refrain from confrontations—no matter the provocation.
“We’re here to stand for democracy, not to be baited,” said one local organizer. “This is about visibility, not volatility.”
The guidelines also encourage participants to bring signs, wear comfortable shoes, and stay hydrated. Marshals will be present to help maintain safety and de-escalate any tensions.
With pre-registration numbers already double those of the June 14 protest, Fort Bragg’s No Kings rally is poised for a powerful turnout. Organizers say folks from Elk to Westport plan to gather at 11 a.m. Saturday for a two-hour march, starting at the Coffee Kiosk and crossing the Noyo Bridge into downtown. Last time, just over 1,000 people showed up locally—part of a national wave that reportedly drew 5 million participants coast to coast.
From Mendocino to Madrid, the No Kings message is spreading. In addition to rallies in Willits, Ukiah, Point Arena, and Gualala, thousands more are planned across the U.S.—and now, in over a dozen countries, where international allies are staging solidarity protests as a tip of the hat to American dissent. What began as a grassroots pushback has become a global echo.Kings protests as a tip of the hat to USA dissent.
The No Kings protests arrive at a moment when the Trump administration is rapidly expanding executive power—sending military forces into American cities under the banner of rising crime. But the data tells a different story. In San Francisco, for example, violent crime has dropped more than 30% since 2021, with the steepest declines recorded in 2024 and 2025.
Still, the president has labeled cities like San Francisco as “overrun,” and is pushing for National Guard deployments despite objections from local and state officials. Critics point out that many of the targeted cities are not among those with the highest crime ratesstateline.org.
Meanwhile, Trump has extended his hardline approach beyond U.S. borders. Since June, he has authorized the destruction of boats off the coast of Venezuela, claiming they were linked to drug cartels. The move has drawn international scrutiny, with human rights groups raising concerns about due process and civilian safety.
Despite claims of rising crime, data shows significant declines in cities like San Francisco—raising questions about the Trump administration’s justification for military deployments and overseas force.
The backdrop to Saturday’s No Kings protests is anything but quiet. President Trump recently claimed credit for a hostage return deal involving Israeli captives—a plan nearly identical to one proposed earlier by President Biden. After months of pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a vocal Trump ally, agreed to the terms.
Meanwhile, back home, the administration is ramping up immigration raids and navigating a prolonged government shutdown, further fueling dissent. For many protesters, these converging crises—foreign and domestic—underscore the urgency of showing up, speaking out, and refusing to be ruled.
There is misinformation, disinformation and propaganda from all sides. Misinformation is everywhere—and it’s not just noise, it’s strategy. Right-wing figures, including members of the current administration, continue to recycle a decades-old claim that 95-year-old billionaire George Soros is paying people to protest. The allegation has become a kind of folklore on the far right, despite the fact that no credible evidence has ever surfaced to support it. If Soros were truly handing out cash to homeless people to protest, as some allege, the evidence would be ubiquitous. It is not.
But the disinformation isn’t one-sided. False memes have circulated widely online claiming that President Trump launched missiles at California—a baseless conspiracy theory that even Governor Gavin Newsom repeated publicly, lending it a veneer of legitimacy.
In this climate, the No Kings movement is navigating a minefield of propaganda, half-truths, and outright fabrications, all while trying to hold space for peaceful dissent. The stakes aren’t just political—they’re about truth itself. What’s real, what’s spin, and who gets to decide?
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has labeled the No Kings rally in Austin an “Antifa riot,” despite no credible evidence that Antifa exists as an organized entity. Most research points to the term being amplified—and in some cases, fabricated—by right-wing media. Abbott is deploying the National Guard to the Austin protest, but contrary to viral memes, he has not ordered them to shut down or interfere with the demonstration.
Locally, Mendocino Indivisible’s weekly demonstrations—and the previous No Kings rally—have remained peaceful. The only reported incident involved protesters being hit with gel pellets during a drive-by airsoft shooting. Fort Bragg police noted that a group of tourists across town was also targeted, suggesting the incident may not have been protest-related. Aside from the occasional shouted jeer from passing vehicles, the mood has stayed calm. Most days, it’s hugs, hand-painted signs, and familiar faces standing shoulder to shoulder.
Here are previous stories by Mendocinocoast.news from the start of Indivisible in March
Mendocino Indivisible draws huge crowd, what’s next?
Nationwide ‘Hands Off’ protests come to Fort Bragg on Saturday – Mendocino Coast .News– April
If you plan to attend, please read the event summary carefully. The guidelines set by Indivisible Mendocino aren’t just helpful—they could be lifesaving.
OUR STATEMENT OF PEACEFUL LAWFUL INTENT
A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolence.
We expect all participants to:
- Act lawfully
- Stay on the sidewalks
- Carry no weapons of any kind
- Seek to de-escalate any potential conflicts
- Follow the instructions of our yellow-vested safety volunteers
No Kings events are not intended to be acts of civil disobedience. This is a peaceful and legal exercise of our constitutional right to public assembly and free expression.
and not directly protest-related.
PREPARING FOR YOUR DAY
Wear layers and bring water. The weather forecast is mostly sunny with a high of 67 degrees and winds 5 to 10 mph. Keep in mind that the wind will be stronger if you choose to be on the bridge; signs will be more difficult to hold and it’s important to avoid losing a sign over the railing.
Wear something yellow. This is a national call for the day! It can be a shirt, hat, scarf, or other item – or even just a color scheme for your sign.
Consider taking a cue from Portland and coming in costume! Animal costumes have proven to be effective counter-propaganda as they visually undermine the false narrative that these events are dangerous or full of anger.
There will be information tables at each end of the event site, with first-aid volunteers available there. Our volunteer crew will be wearing bright yellow safety vests. Find one of us if you need help.
SPREAD THE WORD
Bring friends if you can! If you use social media, consider replacing your profile picture with this graphic
For more advice, watch this short video prepared by the No Kings coalition!
PARKING
Parking is limited near the protest site.
Carpool if you can; drivers can drop people in the loop between A-Frame Espresso and McDonald’s.
Disabled participants may park in the lot behind A-Frame Espresso, which will be managed by volunteers. There are 16 spots available; please do not use the spots closest to the professional building. Disabled participants may also request a shuttle ride by emailing us in advance: mendohuddle@gmail.com. Please contact us if you have any other accessibility concerns.
There is parking in these areas:
- West of the highway off Ocean Drive (cross at the light).
- In the neighborhood immediately northeast of Harbor Lite Lodge
- There is a dirt lot at the corner of N Harbor Drive & S Franklin St
If you can walk further:
- Pomo Bluffs Park (cross the highway at Ocean Drive stoplight)
- Noyo Headlands Park (cross the highway at Cypress Street stoplight)
- Or even Noyo Beach, and climb the stairs to Harbor Lite Lodge (it’s a workout!)
Please do not park on private property, including:
- The grassy area between A-Frame and McDonald’s
- The Boatyard shopping center
- Other business parking lots
LOCAL BUSINESSES We encourage participants to patronize the businesses in the immediate event zone: Noyo Gas Stop, A-Frame Espresso, McDonald’s, and Harvest Market. All have restrooms for customers, except A-Frame.
Other stuff Saturday:
Come join in celebrating 70 years of the Anderson Valley Fire Department on October 18 at the Anderson Valley Brewing Company. They will have free food and (non-alcoholic) drinks, kids games, a bounce house – and yes, we’ll be serving great beer all day long!
