‘Day of Action’ Protests Draw in Local Support

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Weekend protests drew critics of the Trump administration's actions in Santa Barbara.

Participants called Saturday a National Day of Action to push back against the president. A sidewalk rally on Upper State Street stretched along both sides of the road between Hitchcock and Hope avenues from 10 a.m. to noon.

Organizers and participants said the demonstration was sparked by recent developments in Texas, where Trump ordered the state to redraw its electoral map to deliver him five additional U.S. House seats in the 2026 election. Protesters warned that the effort could soon expand to Missouri, Ohio, and other states, calling it a political emergency.

"Trump’s allies are undermining fair elections, silencing voters of color, and holding entire communities hostage to push their political agenda," one flyer read. "We need action—not just in Texas, but everywhere. That’s why we’re part of a National Day of Action, joining our friends in Texas to fight back."

Many in Santa Barbara echoed those concerns.

"I have no option but to be here, because I'm so distressed by what's happening in my country," said Linda Stewart-Oaten. "It's like 1984. It's happening while we watch, and I cannot watch. I have to be part of the resistance."

In Solvang, protesters held a rally they called Protect Our Checks, raising concerns about potential impacts to Medicaid and other safety net programs.

The demonstrations coincided with nationwide protests marking the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act.

There were no visible counterprotests nearby.