Hundreds rally at Cal State Northridge for No Kings protest

Community members come together with signs, music and strong voices to oppose the current state of government during a peaceful protest. 

By: Eva Larrabee, Staff Writer

Protesters stand near CSUN's main campus during the No Kings protest on Saturday, March 28. The demonstration took place at the intersection of Zelzah Avenue and Nordhoff Street, and was peaceful overall. (Scott Beckstead for the Valley Star)

Up to 1,000 people gathered on Cal State Northridge’s campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, flooding the sidewalks with posters and banners in support of the nationwide “No Kings” protest.

The corner of Nordhoff Street and Zelzah Avenue was bustling with cars honking in support of the cause. Cheering, chatter and uplifting music can be heard through the streets, as community members come together to voice their disapproval with the current president and state of government. While located on a college campus, all ages were present as the protest took on a peaceful and organized fashion. 

The American Civil Liberties Union, Northridge Indivisible and CalRCV took advantage of the buzzing event and set up booths along the sidewalk to promote their missions. 

On the edge of campus, a circle of drums, maracas and tambourines filled the area with lively music and dancing, encouraging community members to interact with each other. 

Protesting has been a controversial conversation for years; many people question whether words with no action actually affect the cause being supported. 

Megan Walter is a Northridge local who has attended many protests before, but this was her three-year-old daughter Clara's very first. As a mother who is conscious of the future her daughter will be living in, Walter preaches for the need of a fair government, education, as well as the negative effects of censorship. 

“If people show up in big groups and as a community, it's harder to silence their voice,” she said. 

With the negative rap protests that can get, from destruction of property to physical violence, some wonder why anyone would participate in a protest. Timothy Graham, a former professor at Carnegie Mellon University and protester that day, agrees that some protesters take their stance too far and miss the point of peaceful protesting completely; they end up harming the people around them and their cause in the long run. 

Despite the possibility of a hectic day, Graham described the Northridge event as a wonderful event. “Groups of all ages and ethnicities are here to protest, I have to add my voice and show I'm against the absurdity that is taking place and the violations of laws and procedures”. 

While a smaller protest compared to those in big cities, Northridge was a safe environment for anyone who wanted their voice to be heard. 

“Being out here today does make an impact, people are driving by who didn't know about the protests but became aware,” Niya Bowers, a student at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School, proudly waved her No Kings poster towards the oncoming cars and explained why she came out to protest. 

“I'm out here today because what Trump is doing is incredibly wrong, and it's affecting everyone,” Bowers said.