Hundreds of people across the Central Coast protested against the Trump administration on Monday at “Not My President Day” rallies.
Protests were held in Paso Robles, Los Osos, San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande/Grover Beach and Santa Barbara, as well as in cities across the country.
The demonstrations in San Luis Obispo County were organized by the Indivisible Rapid Response Team SLO County.
Organizers say recent actions by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), are an “unlawful take-over” of the U.S. government. They encouraged people to join the protest to “Stop the Coup” at noon on President’s Day.
WATCH: Protesters speak out against Trump, Musk actions
“I think that when we do these kind of protests, it shows our strength as a nation and will also encourage our members of Congress to stand up and hold Trump accountable,” said Ellen Beraud, Atascadero Democratic Club Co-President.
Beraud was among the protesters who lined Spring Street in Paso Robles to speak out against President Trump's immigration policies, mass federal layoffs, and what they called his exclusionary beliefs.
"I'm a retired teacher and I've had so many wonderful students in my classroom and I know immigrants make America great," said protester Jeanne Serge. "My mom is from Canada. My grandfather's from Russia. We all come from immigrants."
"I'm concerned about the new president taking a hacksaw and not using a scalpel to be careful of the cuts that he and his assistant are making," said protester Carolyn Fergoda.
Fergoda said she isn't against the president but rather his actions since taking office.
"I want him to succeed but I think he's taking a sledgehammer to fix the problem," she said.
In San Luis Obispo, protesters held up signs reading "Democracy Not Oligarchy" and "Don't Believe the Lies!" They gathered at the corner of Los Osos Valley Road and Calle Joaquin and also lined the Highway 101 overpass. Traffic was backed up through the area. Protesters also gathered outside San Luis Obispo City Hall.
"I'm here to protest with hundreds of others the mass firings of employees in the federal government," said Jeff Heller, former Morro Bay City Councilmember. "I don't see how that will make a better government."
Protesters also gathered at Los Osos Valley Road and South Bay Boulevard in Los Osos and at Grand Avenue and Oak Park Boulevard in Grover Beach.
The protest in Santa Barbara was organized by the Women's March of Santa Barbara and the 50501 Movement Coalition. Demonstrators gathered on the steps of the Santa Barbara County Administration Building. They said they want to see more accountability and transparency from the Trump Administration and called for an end to what they describe as executive overreach.
While protesters cited concerns over the actions of Musk's DOGE, transparency is something people on both sides say they want from the government.
"We need to know where our tax dollars are going and hold the government accountable for what they're doing with the money they take out of our paychecks," said Ranelle Baldwin, President of the Lincoln Club of San Luis Obispo.
"The bureaucracy in the federal government is so big and I think President Trump brought in someone he could trust, someone he thought had experience in recognizing waste, fraud and abuse," said Debbie Arnold, former San Luis Obispo County 5th District Supervisor.
Randall Jordan, Chairman of the Republican Party of San Luis Obispo County, said, "Every day is Christmas with President Trump. We love it."
He added, "I don't understand how anyone would protest against the government spending that is out of hand. We've all known for years that people are paid off. There are behind-the-scenes deals."
"I hope that we on both sides of the spectrum can listen to each other, be constructive and do what's best on behalf of the people," Baldwin said.
