Around 2,000 people gathered at Beverly Gardens Park on March 28 as part of nationwide “No Kings” rallies protesting President Donald Trump. Organized by the American Civil Liberties Union, Indivisible, and numerous labor unions and grassroots organizations, the protest was one of dozens held throughout Los Angeles County.
Protesters in Beverly Hills held signs related to Trump’s involvement in the recent war against Iran, the Epstein files, political corruption and the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Some signs simply said, “There are too many to name.” The gathered crowd at Beverly Gardens Park lined up along Santa Monica Boulevard. Banners along the street proclaimed, “We love America,” while passing cars honked their approval to the cheering masses.
Organizer Andrea Grossman told the Courier, “This is to put all of our representatives, Democrats and Republicans, on notice that we’re paying attention to everything they’re saying and they’re not saying. This represents a community of like-minded people, and we need to be part of a community right now, and we need to feel like we’re part of something bigger.”
Gay Abrams, another organizer, told the Courier she began holding anti-Trump protests in Beverly Hills in response to rallies held in the city that supported Trump and the Make America Great Again movement. The protests have only grown in numbers, she said, since holding the first “Hands Off!” rally in April 2025 to demonstrate against the administration’s actions against reproductive rights.
Abrams added that she struggled to name all the reasons to protest the current administration, but abuse of power was top of mind.
“We are not moving towards authoritarianism. We are in authoritarianism.” she said.
At least one Beverly Hills elected official, and several City Council candidates were seen at the rally, observing the proceedings.
Many attendees were eager to share with the Courier the reasons why they were there. Beverly Hills resident Patrick Gardnar, a former speechwriter for Vice President Dan Quayle, said he came out to express his disapproval of the administration’s corruption.
“We’re in a war that nobody wants. The economy is going down the toilet. He’s lining his own pockets all over the place, and nobody who has a constitutional role seems to be willing to fulfill their role right now. Congress is not taking their responsibility to stand up to him, so the people have to come out and show their disapproval,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a moment before where our democracy was more at risk.”
Standing up for democracy motivated Steven Ross, a local resident and author, to attend the protest.
“Let’s start with ICE; the whole idea is ripples of 1930s Germany, when you have secret police, and when you wear masks over your face and you have no ID on you, you are a member of the secret police,” he said. “They’re not following the rule of law. When a nation no longer follows the rule of law, its leaders are no longer legitimate. When leaders no longer protect the citizens of a country, they no longer represent a legitimate government, and that’s where we’re moving now, to an illegitimate government that doesn’t listen to the courts, doesn’t listen to the Constitution, and lies under oath with impunity.”
“I think we reached the limit when the two protesters were killed,” said Beverly Hills resident Eric Ericson, in reference to the ICE killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. “It’s kind of like Kent State if you go back that far.”
The crowd cheered as cars and cement trucks honked in support of the protest. Hecklers also made their voices heard from their vehicles as they passed along Santa Monica Boulevard, but there was no substantial conflict or any violence during the protest.
Resident Bruce Cohen said he attended the protest to demand a better future for his grandchildren.
“I’m 76 years old. I did this in college. We shouldn’t have to do it again,” he said. “I have grandkids. They shouldn’t be growing up in a world with this kind of corruption.”
“It makes me teary-eyed to see there are people out here, actually fighting back,” said resident Mary Louise Cohen.
Resident Katherine Katz said that each protest held in Beverly Hills rejuvenated her during the hardest times of Trump’s presidency, and she also struggled when naming just one issue that motivated her to protest.
“There are honestly just so many, but the one that always motivates me is women’s rights and reproductive rights,” she said. “It’s everything. It’s the environment. It’s the Constitution. It’s democracy.”
Billy Riback said he felt a personal duty to his country to take action against the sitting president.
“The man who’s in Washington is evil,” he said. “If I didn’t come here, I would feel remiss in my duties as a human being, as a United States citizen .… I think it’s incumbent upon anybody who can make a difference to do whatever they can. And so, we showed up because it’s the beginning of making a difference.”
Longtime resident Bonnie Fleming said the large turnout made her hopeful for both the country and the city of Beverly Hills.
“It’s exciting,” she said. “We have to keep doing it and fighting. And it’s our right, and I think we’re blessed. I live in Beverly Hills, and we’re blessed that we have a police force that supports us, and we support it. This was nonviolent.”
