Thousands rally in Salinas and Monterey for No Kings Day.

Thousands of people from across the region came together to voice their dissent from the Trump Administration in Salinas and Monterey on Saturday, Oct. 18, part of the massive No Kings Day protests that attracted more than 7 million people at 2,700 events in the U.S., according to national organizers.

In Monterey the number of demonstrators was somewhat larger than during the first No Kings Day protests in June, making it the largest protest there in recent memory. People filled Window on the Bay park and lined the opposite side of Del Monte Avenue, many of them holding handmade signs and flags.

There was a joyful, party-like vibe among the crowd, with a lot of inflatable characters showing up, following the lead of demonstrators in Portland, Oregon who have taken to donning inflatable frog costumes, as well as other characters, in their protests since President Donald Trump announced his intention to send in National Guard troops, as well as against the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

In Monterey, thousands of cars streamed by honking their horns in support. At one point a man in his car blasted the song "We're Not Gonna Take It," by Twisted Sister. The crowd joined in on the chorus: "We're not going to take it anymore!"

There were also speeches delivered by several elected and appointed Monterey County officials, including a fiery speech by U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, just in from Washington, D.C. in the midst of a continued federal government shutdown.

"This is what our democracy looks like. Looking out at all of you, I understand why Donald Trump didn't want today," Panetta said. "I understand why my Republican colleagues are using the rhetoric about today that they are.

"They're saying, 'Oh, they're paid protesters.' Bullshit. I see peaceful protesters. They're saying, 'This will be violent.' Bullshit. I see expression of our First Amendment, freedom of expression. They say, 'This will be a day of hate.' Bullshit, I say. What I see are patriots who love this country."

Panetta criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson and his Republican colleagues for "bending the knee" to Trump and urged the crowd to continue fighting and speaking up. He also asked people to vote in favor of Proposition 50, the redistricting ballot measure in the Nov. 4 election, in response to Trump's attempt to influence the 2026 elections through Texas redistricting.

"We don't want this fight, but boy, will we accept this fight when Trump and Texas started it," he said. "Prop. 50 is temporary. It's targeted. It upholds the [Voting Rights Act]."

Other speakers included Monterey County Supervisor Kate Daniels, Chair Yuri Anderson of the Monterey Peninsula College District Board of Trustees, and Kim Bui, chair of the Pacific Grove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force.