More than 800 people gathered at the Lake Merritt pergola Tuesday to protest the Trump administration as part of the nationwide “Free America Walkout.”

Led by the Brass Liberation Orchestra, marchers wound around the east side of the lake before returning to the pergola, where a resource fair, T-shirt making, chalk art and a closing dance party capped the afternoon.

Three of the Bay Area’s largest resistance groups — Bay Resistance, Indivisible East Bay and East Bay 50501 — co-sponsored the event. Similar rallies unfolded across the region, including in San Jose and San Francisco.

In downtown San Jose, hundreds gathered at City Hall and marched through the city as part of the “South Bay Free America Walkout.”

The demonstrations marked one year since President Donald Trump’s second inauguration and drew tens of thousands nationwide, with workers leaving jobs early to protest administration policies, including ICE raids, National Guard deployments and actions targeting transgender rights.

Protesters take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the "Free America Walkout" on the anniversary of President Donald Trump's second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Protesters take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the “Free America Walkout” on the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Protesters take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the "Free America Walkout" on the anniversary of President Donald Trump's second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Protesters take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the “Free America Walkout” on the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Members of the Liberation Brass Band lead a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the "Free America Walkout" on the anniversary of President Donald Trump's second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Members of the Liberation Brass Band lead a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the “Free America Walkout” on the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Protesters take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the "Free America Walkout" on the anniversary of President Donald Trump's second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Protesters take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the “Free America Walkout” on the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Karyna Palacios, from Oakland, and others take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the "Free America Walkout" on the anniversary of President Donald Trump's second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Karyna Palacios, from Oakland, and others take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the “Free America Walkout” on the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Protesters take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the "Free America Walkout" on the anniversary of President Donald Trump's second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Protesters take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the “Free America Walkout” on the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Protesters take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the "Free America Walkout" on the anniversary of President Donald Trump's second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Protesters take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the “Free America Walkout” on the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Protesters take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the "Free America Walkout" on the anniversary of President Donald Trump's second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Protesters take part in a march along Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2026. People took to the streets nationwide in the “Free America Walkout” on the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Protesters participate in the "South Bay Free America Walkout" at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Protesters participate in the “South Bay Free America Walkout” at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
Protesters head east on East San Fernando Street as they participate in the "South Bay Free America Walkout" at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Protesters head east on East San Fernando Street as they participate in the “South Bay Free America Walkout” at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
Protesters participate in the "South Bay Free America Walkout" at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Protesters participate in the “South Bay Free America Walkout” at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
Protesters head north on South 6th Street as they participate in the "South Bay Free America Walkout" at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Protesters head north on South 6th Street as they participate in the “South Bay Free America Walkout” at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
Protesters participate in the "South Bay Free America Walkout" at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Protesters participate in the “South Bay Free America Walkout” at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
Protesters participate in the "South Bay Free America Walkout" at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Protesters participate in the “South Bay Free America Walkout” at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
Protesters participate in the "South Bay Free America Walkout" at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Protesters participate in the “South Bay Free America Walkout” at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
Protesters participate in the "South Bay Free America Walkout" at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Protesters participate in the “South Bay Free America Walkout” at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 20 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)