Sponsored link
Sunday, April 6, 2025

Sponsored link

News + PoliticsProtestThousands rally against the Trump Agenda in SF—and around the world

Thousands rally against the Trump Agenda in SF—and around the world

It's weird to see Scott Wiener saying he stands up to billionaire oligarchs—but on a sunny day, a huge crowd refused to be intimidated by Trump

-

Rallies all over the world challenged the direction of the Trump Administration today, and at least 5,000 showed up at San Francisco’s Civic Center.

The event was loud and festive, and demonstrated how unpopular the right-wing takeover of the federal government is in this city (and apparently, in plenty of other cities.

There were great speeches, there was lots of energy … and some of the moments that are all too typical in San Francisco these days. Among the speakers was state Sen. Scott Wiener, who talked, correctly, about how Democrats came out of the Great Depression with new programs like Social Security, and how the part could come out of what looks like a Trump Recession with plans that will work for the long term.

The Civic Center was packed with thousands of people.

It’s just odd to see Wiener saying he is standing up to the billionaire oligarchs, when the local billionaire oligarchs have long supported him, and his economic policies have long supported the interests of the local billionaire oligarchs.

Makenna makes the point about false media narratives

The Chron story on the rally notes:

Wiener also called for “broad-based realignment” of the Democratic Party to not give right-wing leaders the chance to reclaim offices every two or four years. “It’s not enough to just get them out of office,” Wiener said.

As he left the stage to loud applause, one person in the crowd turned to another and said she couldn’t wait until Wiener runs for Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s seat when she retires from the House. 

Wiener’s politics are not substantially different from Pelosi’s; both are centrist, neoliberal Democrats. A “realignment” that shifts the party to the right on, for example, taxes and housing policy, is unlikely to make the Democrats a majority party. The huge rallies that Sen. Bernie Sanders and AOC have been holding seem to offer a more promising path—but Wiener and Pelosi have never supported, and at times have actively opposed, the Sanders-AOC approach.

Owen Kindred channels Jello Biafra, who he said was a political inspiration when he was young.

You can argue that it’s not the time to talk about policy differences in the Democratic Party, the issues and the crisis right now is so, so much bigger. I get it. I also get that the old Clinton Wing of the Democratic Party has for some time now failed, badly, not just in policy but in political strategy.

Mark Lubeck, a native San Franciscan, is tired of the lies.

But for a couple of hours, on a beautiful summer day, thousands of people were united in one message: This is not normal, this is not okay, and people in San Francisco are not intimidated or cowed.

48 Hills welcomes comments in the form of letters to the editor, which you can submit here. We also invite you to join the conversation on our FacebookTwitter, and Instagram

Tim Redmond
Tim Redmond
Tim Redmond has been a political and investigative reporter in San Francisco for more than 30 years. He spent much of that time as executive editor of the Bay Guardian. He is the founder of 48hills.
Sponsored link

Featured

Militant union on strike at Urban Ore in Berkeley

IWW members say salvage yard makes plenty of money, but won't offer a fair contract.

Finally, some talk about local taxes—but not in a progressive direction

Airbnb wants a tax refund. Wiener wants sales taxes. Oakland sales tax isn't polling well. But taxing the rich seems like a popular idea.

Listen to the rank and file: Political lessons from something I missed 25 years ago

The Democratic leadership in Congress needs to learn from a big mistake I made as a union organizer.

More by this author

Finally, some talk about local taxes—but not in a progressive direction

Airbnb wants a tax refund. Wiener wants sales taxes. Oakland sales tax isn't polling well. But taxing the rich seems like a popular idea.

Note to Matt Dorsey: UCSF doctors support harm reduction

Plus: SFPD still seems to have problems with illegal searches. That's The Agenda for March 31-April 6

New study by Fed economists directly contradicts Yimby narrative on housing prices

Dramatic data suggests gentrification and income inequality are far more important than 'constraints' on development as the cause of high housing prices
Sponsored link

You might also likeRELATED