On July 4th, organizers across the United States coordinated ‘Free America’ protests, rallying against perceived injustices under President Donald Trump’s administration.
In San Francisco, the grassroots group Refuse Fascism led a march titled ‘Trump Must Go NOW!’ which started at Mission Dolores Park and concluded at the intersection of Stockton Street and Green Street.
More than 300 Bay Area residents participated in the demonstration, voicing their discontent following President Trump’s signing of House Resolution 1 — the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
This extensive 900-page legislation represents the administration’s budget reconciliation bill, which, according to critics, will impose significant tax breaks and spending cuts adversely affecting millions of Americans.
U.S. Senator Adam Schiff from California highlighted that the legislation could severely impact low-income families, uninsured individuals, immigrants, and marginalized communities, including transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as veterans.
The budget proposal threatens to cut Medicaid funding, potentially leaving over two million Californians without healthcare. Nearly five million individuals reliant on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the state face a loss of access under the new law.
Protesters aimed to redirect attention to the risks posed by this legislation, urging for civic empowerment to oppose its impacts.
Analysis from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan organization, indicates that the new law would allocate $300 billion towards border and national security enforcement while drastically reducing funding for clean energy initiatives and adversely affecting federal student loans.
Amidst these issues, critics noted that the law provides tax cuts predominantly benefiting the wealthiest Americans.
David Santos, an organizer from Refuse Fascism’s Northern California chapter, expressed his commitment to defending marginalized groups.
Throughout the march, he emphasized the importance of sustained, nonviolent mass protests to drive change.
Santos stated, ‘We want people to recognize the risks involved and make decisions on the level of risk that they’re willing to take,’ as he stood before a statue of Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo, a figure symbolic of the Mexican War of Independence.
Rev. Millie Phillips from the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco implored attendees to embody the values of compassion, stating, ‘All major world religions have some version of the golden rule. All call us to share our resources with people in need.’
She urged the crowd to resist greed and share their resources with those in need, embracing the concept of ‘welcoming the stranger.’
California state Senator Scott Wiener expressed his support for the protest in a written statement, advocating for a renewed commitment to fight against authoritarianism, dubbing President Trump as the ‘fascist-in-chief’ and emphasizing the necessity of a better future for all.
For many participants, immigration represented a significant issue, often rooted in personal family histories.
San Francisco drag queen Xochitl passionately addressed the crowd, asking, ‘America, are you awake? Are you finally seeing what I lived my entire life?’
She criticized not only the current administration’s deportation practices but also the historical actions of its predecessors.
Xochitl shared her family’s struggles with labor exploitation, racism, and violence, declaring, ‘Are we going to continue to do nothing, or are we going to continue to be in the streets? Because no matter where you are, immigrants will continue to suffer.’
Local resident Bruce Neuburger reflected on his family’s resistance to fascism during Germany’s dark history, asserting, ‘There is no future in humanity in a fascist society.’
Neuburger described the gradual erosion of civil liberties as a driving force behind his political activism, stating, ‘We need to build this movement. Whatever it takes. It’s up to us.’
As families joined the march, Bay Area parents emphasized the necessity of intergenerational solidarity during this pivotal moment in the nation’s history.
Local mother Paola Tello remarked on the difficulty of discussing these pressing issues with her teenagers, acknowledging their lack of comprehension regarding the stakes involved.
Joining him were a local father and daughter, with the father, identified only as Johnson, highlighting, ‘It’s important to remember that democracy is always fragile. Your life is fragile. You can’t stop the change, but you might as well have a part in it.’
image source from：piedmontexedra
