Thousands Rally in SF to Protest Trump Ahead of Inauguration Day

Thousands of people rallied in San Francisco Sunday, protesting the incoming Trump administration a day before the president-elect is set to be inaugurated.

A large crowd sprawled across Civic Center Plaza, dotted with information tents from a few of the dozens of groups that endorsed the “We Fight Back” event. Signs on sticks written in several languages jutted over the masses, advocating for a number of causes from immigrants’ rights, women’s rights and a just end to the war in Gaza.

“We’re standing alongside and protecting the rights of our immigrant students and families, of our LGBTQ students and families, and also protecting the rights of workers,” said Yajaira Cuapio, an executive board member with the United Educators of San Francisco.

The SFUSD teachers’ union also endorsed the event.

“Trump’s coming in and his agenda, his billionaire agenda, does not represent the needs of those in the working class, the majority of us in society,” Cuapio said.

One of the issues that’s top of mind for Cuapio and the union: mass deportations.

“It doesn’t just impact our students, but it also impacts our families. And also, we have some educators as well in the immigrant community,” Cuapio said. “For example, me. I was raised by two undocumented parents.”

One by one, speakers standing on the bed of a large truck took the microphone to voice their concerns about a second Trump administration and the many communities they say may be adversely impacted.

Speakers at the event came from a diverse coalition, each sharing one message: those worried about what a second Trump term will bring, should get involved in local activism and start organizing.

“Right now, our task is to fight and build our muscles for this ultimate fight,” said Ramsey Robinson, a social worker and an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation. “To do that, we’ve got to be organized because the right wingers [are] organized.”

Over 100 volunteers passed out flyers, collected donations, and informed people of a meeting planned for later in January, according to organizers with the ANSWER Coalition. At that meeting, which is set to take place in Oakland, activists say they will discuss strategies for pushing back against the incoming administration.

The SFMTA issued an alert to commuters that the march could cause “minor” delays on the 1, 8, 12, 14, 14R, 15, 19, 21, 27, 30, 31 and 45 bus lines.

KQED’s Rachael Vasquez, Spencer Whitney and Gina Castro contributed reporting to this story.