Wave Staff Report
LOS ANGELES — In response to the federal government’s threats of interference in the midterm elections and a new surge in Department of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids in Southern California, Angelenos are planning to unite in solidarity with a peaceful march, rally, and get out the vote action at 1 p.m. Oct. 17 at Gloria Molina Grand Park, across the street from Los Angeles City Hall to help ensure that the people, not the billionaires, choose political leaders.
The No Kings Protest is scheduled to include speakers such as Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, D-Culver City, and Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Grassroots, and musical performances by Izzy T, Shelton and a DJ set by Swage.
Participants will carry a 20-foot-tall helium-filled balloon of President Donald Trump wearing a diaper, another 15-foot-tall balloon of Trump wearing a Russian military uniform, and hundreds of handmade signs as they march along a 1.5-mile stretch starting on Spring Street.
The rally also will feature a land blessing and drum circle by representatives of the Gabrieleño Nation (the Tangva, Khiz and Tataviam indigenous tribes). The rally will focus on non-partisan voter participation, where organizers will make sure every eligible voter in attendance has a plan to vote, knows their options, and is ready to make their voice count.
The Los Angeles protest is part of the No Kings National Day of Nonviolent Action, during which more than 3,000 communities across the country will hold simultaneous demonstrations. The event is being organized by 50501 SoCal in partnership with more than 30 organizations.
The last No Kings demonstration in Los Angeles was held March 28 in downtown at which time 74 people were arrested for failure to disperse at the end of the event
“The same administration that invaded our city is now threatening to interfere with our right to vote,” said Aztlan Tenochtitlan, a member of the Native American Opening Ceremony Coalition for the Los Angeles No Kings Protests and a spokesperson for 50501 SoCal. “But neither this administration’s domestic terrorists or the billionaire elites who fund them, will ever have the final say. On October 17, Angelenos will stand together with Americans from across the country to ensure our elections are secure and We The People choose our future leaders.”
Organizers say the march and get out the vote effort are part of a longer-term resistance effort dating back to the start of immigration raids in June 2025 and are targeted for getting out the vote in the upcoming Nov. 3 election.
