Constitutional Rights March, Rallies Held In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO, CA — Several thousand people took part in demonstrations Saturday across the county, including downtown San Diego, demanding constitutional protections and due process rights, and voicing frustration with the Trump administration's handling of the federal budget.

On Saturday morning, 50501 San Diego held a demonstration at the county Waterfront Park, along with a march "advocating for constitutional protections and due process rights."

The event featured speakers, live music and an open mic for community voices, according to 50501 organizers. Following that, participants marched to the Gaslamp District.

Neil Patelaau of 50501 San Diego said shortly after 10 a.m. that between 200 to 300 people had gathered at the Waterfront Park, where the organization anticipated a turnout of about 1,000.

According to the San Diego Police Department, about 3,000 people participated in the 50501 event, although that number was not official. There were also no reported incidents.

Patelaau described the downtown event as "amazing" and reminiscent of the energy protesters brought to the "Hands Off" rally earlier in the month.

"It was incredible to see because everyone was there for different reasons, but that was reflective of democracy," Patelaau told City News Service. He added that the concerns of those protesting ranged from the plight of Kilmar Abrego Garcia -- a Maryland resident mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison -- to LGBTQ rights to demands that the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress maintain checks and balances in governance.

"It was about our right to free speech and supporting each other and community," he added.

According to a CBS 8 report, 20-year Army veteran Livier Lazaro said she attended the downtown rally to voice her concerns over federal budget cuts to the Veterans Association and to speak about "the intended erasure of minorities and women in the military."

Also on Saturday, Indivisible organized "Stop the Cuts" rallies at multiple San Diego County locations to demand accountability from elected officials about the upcoming budget reconciliation.
Rallies took place in Carlsbad, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos and in the San Diego neighborhood of Rancho Bernardo.

Richard Cannon of Indivisible told CNS that more than 1,000 people showed up for the rallies in Carlsbad and Encinitas, while over 300 participated in El Cajon and Escondido events. Sixty people showed up for a rally in the community of Ramona, "which is huge for a small town," he said.

A rally was also scheduled for Temecula in Riverside County, along with other cities nationwide.

— City News Service