The overcast sky was still grey as thousands stood shoulder to shoulder on Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach, about a hundred feet away from the water. Everyone is chanting for justice against the Trump administration’s immigration raids. Signs reading “No Kings” and “Who Would Jesus Deport?” bobbed above our heads. The vibe was electric but calm—neighbors, families, and activists united. A few volunteer marshals in neon vests directed traffic, keeping things orderly.
Notably absent? Police. Maybe a patrol car cruised by once, but that was it. No riot gear, no tear gas, no tension. Just a community speaking its truth.
I’d been to a couple of these Long Beach protests recently, and they all felt the same: peaceful, purposeful, powerful. Without cops looming, we managed our safety. Folks shared water, volunteers checked on elders, someone’s grandma passed around chocolate chip cookies she made from scratch, and kids cheered along with their parents against fascism.