‘No ban, no wall’: Protesters take to Palm Springs streets

Chants of “This is what Democracy looks like” and “No ban, no wall” filled the streets of downtown Palm Springs Thursday night.

“People are concerned and they have legitimate concerns and they’re not being addressed by [President Donald Trump],” said Richard Noble with Democracy in Action Coachella Valley.

The diverse crowd expressed concern about decisions Trump has made in his short time in office. One protester who only wanted to give her first name, Karen, said she has a lot at risk.

“My biggest fear is [that Trump] cuts Social Security and my healthcare. If he does that, my husband and I could effectively be homeless,” Karen said.

Many of the hundreds who gathered at Frances Stevens Park in Palm Springs brought signs visually demonstrating their distress with the president.

“He’s attacked undocumented people. He’s attacked Mexicans. He’s attacked Muslims. He’s attacked refugees. We know he is going to do some kind of religious exemption to non-discrimination laws that are going to impact women and the LGBT community. We all need to stand together,” said Palm Springs City Councilor Geoff Kors.

Protesters say as long as Trump remains in office, they will continue to push back.

“It’s less his policy than the man himself and the evil he’s allowing to come into the government,” Avi Showalter said.

Protesters ended the event by walking back to Frances Stevens Park.