AMERICANA / HANDS OFF MARCHERS FLOOD DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO & OTHER CITIES

Photo: Adrian Childress / Times of San Diego

The Associated Press / New York

Have ‘had enough’ with Trump and Musk is the main message

 GUEST BLOG / By Times of San Diego reporters Tessa Balc and Ken Stone--Thousands took to the streets of downtown San Diego on Saturday as part of the nationwide “Hands Off!” movement to protest actions by President Donald Trump’s administration. 

Marchers gathered at the San Diego Civic Center and moved west on Broadway, holding signs calling out Trump policies, including cuts to the federal workforce, the tariffs he announced on Thursday and revoking student visas for those who have protested government action, amid an array of other issues. 

“This is my eighth protest of the year, and I haven’t seen as many people as I do today. I just feel like people have had enough,” said Anneliese O’Bannon-Robles, a San Diego native. 

Many at the “Hands Off’ rally held signs sharing that message, including a group with a large banner listing all the programs and people they think should be protected. 

Across the country, in all 50 states, more than 1,200 “Hands Off!” demonstrations were planned by 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists. 

Protest sites included the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and state capitols. According to San Diego police, around 12,000 individuals participated in the downtown San Diego event. More gathered in other parts of the county, including Carlsbad, Rancho Bernardo, Oceanside and Encinitas.

Photo: Adrian Childress / Times of San Diego

But based on an average of 200 marchers passing a set point every minute, and the march lasting almost 80 minutes, Times of San Diego estimates as many as 16,000 to 20,000 took part. 

 With few problems due to the march, those who gathered could focus on the politics. All ages joined — from babies pushed in strollers to elders with walkers and electric wheelchairs. 

In interviews, many marchers cited “everything” when asked for their main concern with the administration. The wide reach of Trump’s recent actions had caused many to start taking issues personally. La Jolla’s Fran Shimp — a retired writer held a sign that said: “Your DOGE ate my Constitution.” She said her issues covered the gamut. “I have four children, all of whom have their own special needs and issues,” she said. “And I believe this administration does not look to the future for our children at all.” 

The stability of Social Security and Medicare stood out for another woman. “I had two kids, and when my husband died, I didn’t ask for any help. Now they want to take away my money, my Social Security,” said the 87-year-old marcher, who goes by the name Grandma Essie. Though bent over her walker, she kept up with the crowd while wearing a wide-brim straw hat emblazoned a pink button that said “Women for Peace.” 

Young people, though, expressed concerns about how Trump’s policies might impact their future. “I don’t know a single young person that can even think about buying a house,” said Malachi Bielecki, San Diego Young Democrats’ director of community service. 

 “And just the input costs are going to go up, whether it’s labor, with the immigration actions, or steel and aluminum tariffs. That’s something we’re really concerned about, and a big issue here in San Diego that we have.” 

Richard Cannon of Indivisible North County told City News Service that Saturday’s march announces that “people are paying attention, people are motivated and they’re not going to wait around for their elected officials to save them.” 

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs
Photo: Chris Stone

Two U.S. House representatives from San Diego — Democrats Sara Jacobs and Scott Peters —attended, Cannon said, adding that the march also included state Assemblyman Chris Ward, local organized labor officials Brigette Browning and Crystal Irving, and noted local community activists. Kenzie Villalobos brought her sons to “demonstrate resistance” for them. 

Throughout the walk, she switched back and forth with her partner, pushing the 15-month-old in a stroller and taking her 3-year-old boy’s hand. “They’re coming for women,” Villalobos said. “And I have little boys that need to know that they can’t control women, that our bodies are not theirs.” 

The Rev. Madison Shockley, pastor of Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, said he was at the rally on behalf of those he thinks will suffer from the administration’s actions, but primarily because of his faith. investing in our community's long-term future. “They are murdering people, from the cuts to USAID, from Sudan to South Africa, and by the cuts to health and human services, just think about that,” Shockley said. “More people are going to get sick. More people are going to die in our own country.” 

One 80-year-old Escondido man who declined to give his name said: “I’ve never seen anything like this.” Born “when FDR was the president, so I’ve been around,” he wore a service cap and said he had been an Army Special Forces member during Vietnam — in 1968-69. He and his wife and daughter, born at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, joined him as they assembled at the Civic Center starting point. 

Photo: Ken Stone, Times of San Diego

A North County woman was asked her major issue. “The mango Mussolini and his sidekick, the Muskrat,” said the former news reporter in Salem, Oregon. “I am retired, and Social Security is 50% of my monthly income and I’m just a little PO’d about what the heck they’re doing — and they don’t know what they’re doing,” she said. “And also the national parks, FAA, the air traffic controller situation, all the federal employees that have just been chainsawed. They don’t know what they’re doing and I want to save democracy.” 

A retired scientist who was on the USC Medical School faculty for years (and graduated from UCLA Medical School) said of Trump: “He’s crazy to shut down the NIH — one of the biggest assets we have. Most of my funding throughout my career was from the NIH.” She said she served on the Board of Scientific Counselors to the National Eye Institute. “So this is crazy — to stop what we’re doing at the NIH,” she said. “We have one of the best health research systems in the world.” 

Rick Baca, 62, of Hillcrest, holding a sign supporting trans rights, said he marched because he disliked Trump tremendously. “He’s a liar and a crook, and I think he’s taking this country to ruin and he’s done so many horrible things,” Baca said. “I am not trans, but I’m reminded of World War II and the priest [who] said that he was taken away and he didn’t say anything. When the Jews were taken, then the Gypsies, and when people came for him, it was too late.” He said he’d like to see Trump impeached for “being a traitor to the United States.” 

Photo: Adrian Childress / Times of San Diego

As the 98-minute march continued, a woman pointed out the old marquee sign at the historic Spreckels Theatre. She took it metaphorically, saying: “See the message? That’s the message!” The marquee said: “Our curtain will rise again soon.” 

PHOTO ESSAY 

Contributors: Times of San Diego staff; The Associated Press and City News Service. 

OTHER CITIES

New York

Miami

Washington DC

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Boston

Washington DC

Los Angeles

Salt Lake City

Boston

Milwaukee

Philadelphia

Columbia, South Carolina

St. Paul, Minnesota

Lansing, Michigan

Houston

San Diego

Atlanta

West Palm Beach, Florida

Asheville, North Carolina

Denver

Tucson, AZ

London, UK

Chicago

Austin, Texas

Harrisburg, PA

San Francisco

SUNDAY REVIEW / CATHOLIC CHURCH'S INDEX OF FORBIDDEN BOOKS

The Index Librorum Prohibitorum, or Index of Forbidden Books, was a list of publications that the Roman Catholic Church deemed heretical, immoral, or contrary to its teachings. Established in 1559 by Pope Paul IV, the Index sought to prevent the spread of ideas that could threaten the Church’s authority or challenge its doctrines. 

The list was maintained and updated by the Congregation of the Index, and it was intended to protect Catholics from exposure to works that could lead them astray in matters of faith or morality. The Index was part of a broader effort by the Catholic Church to control knowledge, particularly during the Protestant Reformation and the subsequent Counter-Reformation. 

By banning books, the Church aimed to suppress heretical ideas and maintain doctrinal purity. Authors whose works were placed on the Index faced severe consequences, and readers who dared to engage with banned texts were also at risk of excommunication. 

Who Conceived the Index? 

Pope Paul IV was the primary figure behind the creation of the Index. Under his papacy, the Catholic Church sought to reassert its control over religious and intellectual life in the face of growing challenges from Protestantism and other reformist movements. His papacy is often associated with censorship, and the Index Librorum Prohibitorum was one of his most prominent actions in this regard. 

Who Ended the Index? 

The Index was officially abolished in 1966 by Pope Paul VI, following the Second Vatican Council. This decision marked a shift in the Catholic Church’s approach to intellectual freedom and its role in regulating reading material. The cessation of the Index reflected broader changes in the Church's engagement with modernity, emphasizing dialogue over control and moving away from censorship. 

Top Ten Banned Books from the Index Librorum Prohibitorum 

Here are ten of the most famous books that were included in the Index Librorum Prohibitorum: 

1. "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli Banned for its perceived promotion of immoral political practices, including manipulation, deceit, and cruelty as acceptable tools of governance. 

2. "On the Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin Banned because its theory of evolution directly contradicted the biblical account of creation and challenged the Church's teachings on the origins of life. 

3. "The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith Banned for its advocacy of free-market capitalism, which was seen as potentially undermining Catholic social teachings on economic justice and solidarity. 

4. "The Social Contract" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau Banned due to its emphasis on the sovereignty of the people and its criticism of religious institutions, which the Church saw as a threat to its authority. 

5. "Das Kapital" by Karl Marx Banned for its radical critique of capitalism and its call for revolution, which opposed Catholic teachings on social order and the role of the Church. 

6. "The Complete Works of Voltaire" Banned for its critique of the Church, its advocacy of Enlightenment principles, and its satirical take on religion. 

7. "Liberalism" by Juan Donoso Cortés Banned due to its critique of liberalism and its association with political ideologies that opposed Catholic teachings. 

8. "The Bible" (in vernacular languages) Translations of the Bible into local languages were banned in certain regions for centuries, as the Church believed only the Latin Vulgate edition should be used. 

9. "The Symposium" by Plato Banned because of its philosophical exploration of love and sexuality, which the Church considered immoral and dangerous. 

10. "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels Banned for its promotion of atheism, socialism, and class struggle, all of which were seen as a direct challenge to the Church's teachings and authority. 

Conclusion 

The Index Librorum Prohibitorum stands as a symbol of the Catholic Church’s historic efforts to control and regulate thought and information. While it was officially abolished in the 20th century, its legacy continues to provoke discussion about the role of censorship, intellectual freedom, and the power of religious institutions over public discourse.