Sacramento ‘No Kings’ rally draws crowds, frustration over Iran war and DHS shutdown

Crowds gathered across the Sacramento region Saturday as part of a nationwide wave of “No Kings” protests, sending a unified message to leaders in Washington.From Roseville to West Sacramento, demonstrators marched through city streets before converging on the west steps of the California State Capitol.Many protesters pointed to growing concerns over U.S. involvement in the conflict with Iran.“It’s enormously expensive wars, as we’re finding out, and we have not won that Iran war,” protester Ralph Stevenson said.Demonstrators also took aim at the ongoing partial shutdown involving the Department of Homeland Security.“Supposedly, Trump’s going to actually get around to paying the TSA employees, but they’ve been out there on the front line not getting paid,” protester Patrick Watters said.The shutdown began on Feb. 14 after lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement, sparking a political standoff largely tied to immigration policy.Since then, thousands of federal workers have been required to work without pay, including officers with the Transportation Security Administration, who have continued staffing airport checkpoints despite missing paychecks for weeks.On Thursday, President Donald Trump said he would sign an emergency order directing that TSA workers be paid.Organizers say more than 3,000 “No Kings” protests were planned nationwide.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Crowds gathered across the Sacramento region Saturday as part of a nationwide wave of “No Kings” protests, sending a unified message to leaders in Washington.

From Roseville to West Sacramento, demonstrators marched through city streets before converging on the west steps of the California State Capitol.

Many protesters pointed to growing concerns over U.S. involvement in the conflict with Iran.

“It’s enormously expensive wars, as we’re finding out, and we have not won that Iran war,” protester Ralph Stevenson said.

Demonstrators also took aim at the ongoing partial shutdown involving the Department of Homeland Security.

“Supposedly, Trump’s going to actually get around to paying the TSA employees, but they’ve been out there on the front line not getting paid,” protester Patrick Watters said.

The shutdown began on Feb. 14 after lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement, sparking a political standoff largely tied to immigration policy.

Since then, thousands of federal workers have been required to work without pay, including officers with the Transportation Security Administration, who have continued staffing airport checkpoints despite missing paychecks for weeks.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump said he would sign an emergency order directing that TSA workers be paid.

Organizers say more than 3,000 “No Kings” protests were planned nationwide.