What to know before you go to No Kings 2 in the City
We’re looking forward to seeing you today at our No Kings mobilization at 1:30 PM at Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park.
Here’s some important information you’ll need to know for today.
Our March & Rally Plan
We’re expecting a lot of people, so if you come from Market St, we ask that you proceed north through Embarcadero Plaza, past the Padel courts and the fountain, and into Sue Bierman Park. If you come from The Embarcadero or the ferries, it’ll be easiest to come directly to Sue Bierman Park.
On your way in, grab a sign, a small American Flag 🇺🇸, a No Kings bandana, a Know Your Rights card—all are free! They’ll be in boxes stationed around the plaza and the park, near ambassadors in orange vests.
We’ll have some marching bands and performers around the area for you to enjoy while we gather and as we get the march moving. During this phase, please stay in the park, in the plaza, or on the sidewalk, and avoid the street.
Contingents will be gathering in the street. You’ll see our partners: National Nurses United, SF Labor Council, GLIDE, Bay Resistance, and many more!
There will also be an unaffiliated group doing a small rally at the Embarcadero BART Station around 12:30. That’s not us! We’ll be at Embarcadero Plaza (also known as Justin Herman Plaza—the one with the red bricks and the funky sculpture). They are an anti-Trump group, but they weren’t part of our coordination and decided to independently do their own thing.
We’ll be marching up Market, turning on McAllister, and marching to Civic Center Plaza. When you arrive at Civic Center Plaza, cross Larkin and head toward Bill Graham Auditorium (Grove St) where the stage will be. Our partner National Nurses United is setting up a concert-style stage with very loud speakers. If you are sensitive to sound, be sure to bring earplugs.
If we have very high turnout and you are toward the back of the march, you might miss part of the rally. We recommend you bring an FM radio or portable Bluetooth speaker. Then you can try playing our rally livestream (if internet allows) or KPFA’s broadcast on 94.1 FM for yourself and your fellow attendees.
Safety and Nonviolence
This is a peaceful, nonviolent march and rally. Please help keep it that way in your actions throughout the event. We are relying on you. Watch this fun video on how to engage in peaceful protest.
You may have already heard our ever-popular safety chant speech, which is now spreading across the country. You’ll hear a new and improved version today. You can teach these via call-and-response to the people surrounding you at the protest. Here’s our web version (we left out the call-and-response since that only works live).
We expect significant police presence during this event. You are safe. We have permits and the City is informed of our event. As long as the event remains orderly, the police will not interfere.
Do not engage in any way with the police. Do not speak to them, wave anything at them, display any body language, and do not approach them. Pretend they are not there. If a police officer approaches you with a question, say “Please speak to the police liaison”. Otherwise, follow the usual police know-your-rights.
We are not expecting any National Guard, feds, or ICE engagement. Yes, we know what Trump said, but Trump lies. Moreover, our national partners have provided us with detailed threat assessment resources, and we have not seen anything. That said, you might see uniformed agents at federal buildings standing there to scare you. Ignore them. They will not move off the federal premises, which we aren’t walking through. The best way to show them you’re not scared is to show them they’re not even worthy of your attention.
We may see agitators who want to start and film verbal confrontations. The best way you can thwart them is to ignore them. Don’t talk to them, yell at them, or anything else. Leave any engagement to our friendly safety monitors in yellow hi-vis vests.
One thing we suggest is bringing your musical instruments, noisemakers (perhaps you’ve been using them at Trump Regime Takedown), or your FM radio or portable Bluetooth speaker like we mentioned above. Noise can drown out the video recording of agitators, keeping you (even more) safe!
If you see a car in the march, move away. Please don’t touch, obstruct, or confront the car. SF drivers are a different breed (you know who you are) and sometimes end up where they shouldn’t be. Allow the car to leave, or let our event monitors handle it.
If the police are engaging with someone, move away from the area. There will be trained professionals from the National Lawyers Guild to deal with it if need be. Don’t get involved.
NEVER SIT DOWN AT A PROTEST MARCH OR RALLY. This is very dangerous—it limits your mobility and leaves you vulnerable to being tripped or stepped on. Don’t be a sitting duck.
If you encounter anything that looks or feels unsafe, walk away quickly (but do not run) from the area.
We are not anticipating any situations that exceed the regular risk of a nonviolent, peaceful protest. However, the risk of arrest at a protest is never zero, so if you absolutely cannot be arrested for any reason including immigration, do not come to the area. That includes Embarcadero Plaza, Market St from Embarcadero to Civic Center Plaza, and Civic Center Plaza.
National Lawyers Guild SF has been apprised of the event. The hotline you should have on your person (on paper or written on your forearm) is 510-250-1700. (If you still have information with the old 415 number, destroy it.)
You may consider going with a buddy or a group, and make sure to leave the event with that buddy or group. If you feel unsafe leaving, please find an event monitor in a yellow vest near the stage after dispersal and ask them for help.
There will be photography at this event, from friendly pro-bono photographers, media drones, press, and individuals. Your face may be photographed without your consent. Please be aware of this if you cannot be photographed. If you are worried about being identified in social media photos, you can try disabling tagging on Facebook and Instagram. You can also wear a mask such as a simple medical mask.
Restrooms
We are expecting porta potties at Embarcadero Plaza and have confirmed porta potties at Civic Center Plaza. Still, we strongly encourage you to use the restroom before you arrive at the event, or step off the march route to use a nearby business restroom.
Other restrooms in the vicinity include:
The Ferry Building
The Hyatt Regency (enter from Drumm)
City public toilets at Embarcadero Plaza, Sue Bierman Park, and Civic Center Plaza
The Main Library
The following restrooms are unavailable for our purposes:
The Asian Art Museum (generally requires a ticket)
City Hall (closed weekends, and would require going through security even if it were open)
We strongly encourage you to use the restroom before you head out.
For those who will be at Ocean Beach in the morning: The human banner event is near Beach Chalet, which has restrooms. (There are other restroom facilities deeper into Golden Gate Park.) The Sunset Dunes event is near the N-Judah terminus, where there is a park restroom building.
Transportation Instructions
Coming to the march or rally
If you’re coming from within the City
Take Muni routes that go to downtown: 2, 5, 6, 9, 12, 14, 19, 27, 30, 31, 38, 45, F, JKLMN, T, or any of the three cable car routes. If the route ends at Market (normally or due to reroutes), you may walk the rest of the way or take JKLMN or BART to Embarcadero station.
Treasure Island residents can take the 25 to the Transit Center or the Treasure Island Ferry to the Ferry Building. The latter will be closer to Sue Bierman Park.
During the march, Muni routes that run on Market will be rerouted onto Mission St, and other routes in the area will be cut short. See SFMTA’s advisory. Plan to leave a little early, and say hi to your fellow march attendees while you’re on your way.
Attendees coming from outside the City
We recommend that you do not drive into the City and instead take public transit to the venues.
If it’s possible to take BART from your location, take BART.
If you want to drive, drive to Daly City, San Bruno, or Millbrae BART, park there, and take BART into the City. Get off at Embarcadero for the march, or Civic Center/UN Plaza if you’re just attending the rally.
Attendees coming from the North Bay and certain areas along the 101 corridor can take Golden Gate Transit. Some routes go via Mission St to the Transit Center while others will stop at Market near Montgomery BART.
If you’re coming from the North Bay or East Bay, you can take the SF Bay Ferry or Golden Gate Ferry to the Ferry Building.
Attendees coming from certain parts of the Peninsula or the South Bay may take Caltrain and transfer at 4th and King to the N. If the N trains keep filling up, you can also try a 15, 30, or 45 bus, all of which can pick you up near there and have stops near Market, then walk toward the Ferry Building.
If you come via taxi, TNC (Uber/Lyft), or driverless car (Waymo/Zoox):
If you’re coming to the march, we recommend you give the location as 372 Drumm St. This is on the east side of Drumm, one block north of Sue Bierman Park.
If you go directly to the rally, use 490 Van Ness, which is the east side of Van Ness at McAllister. Walk one block east to Civic Center Plaza. If your driver is heading south on Van Ness, you can ask them to drop you off at McAllister and not turn onto McAllister.
Leaving the rally
If you intend to leave via Muni Metro (JKLMN), go to Van Ness station via Polk. If you can’t make it there due to the crowd, you can try heading to Civic Center Station via Larkin/Grove, entering at Hyde/Grove.
If you’re leaving via BART, go to Civic Center via UN Plaza. Expect large crowds doing the same thing. Also be aware of tripping hazards (skate-park obstacles) on UN Plaza as you make your way there.
The westbound 5 should be available but may be delayed or disrupted. The 49 up and down Van Ness should remain available.
Weather
It is forecast to be warm and sunny today.
We strongly encourage you to bring a shade hat, sunscreen, water, and comfortable shoes. Wear your hat and sunscreen to prevent sunburn, and drink your water to prevent dehydration. You’ll enjoy the event much more that way.
If you’re coming from the beach, it will be much colder at Ocean Beach in the morning than at Embarcadero Plaza and Civic Center Plaza in the afternoon, so the layers we’re all used to wearing will be that much more important.
Get your sign
We will have pre-printed “NO KINGS” signs in a few different designs. We will also have small handheld US flags to reclaim the American flag as a symbol of the equitable, democratic country we strive to be. These are free to take and keep. If you choose not to keep it, please give it away, or recycle your sign and donate your flag to a thrift shop.
We will also have free No Kings bandanas and Know Your Rights cards available in boxes around the plaza. Please take some!
ADA/Wheelchair Seating
Unfortunately, due to restrictions from Recreation & Parks and SFPD, we are not able to provide a seating area for those who have mobility issues. We deeply apologize for this, and we’ll do everything we can to provide it next time.
If you have limited mobility, we don’t have accommodations for you at this event. If you would like to sit at Civic Center Plaza or Embarcadero Plaza, you may bring your mobility aid or chair. However, if you are marching with a mobility aid, we kindly recommend that you use the sidewalk—you probably know how treacherous using it in the street on Market can be.
Food
If you’re at Ocean Beach, Beach Chalet is a good option. Note that taking time to get food after the human banner before you hop on the bus might mean that you’ll need to miss the march and go directly to Civic Center. The timing will be tight, as described below.
At Embarcadero Plaza, the Philz there will be closed, but there are plenty of restaurants at Embarcadero Center and the Ferry Building, and throughout the march.
If you’re heading straight to Civic Center, there are several good food options in the area, including Max’s at the Opera in Opera Plaza, Ike’s Love and Sandwiches at Polk and O’Farrell (one block east of Tesla), and more. Opera Plaza has limited picnic seating, and there are benches outside the hospital at Van Ness and Geary.
If you’re going to Ocean Beach in the morning
Human Banner
Some of you are also going to the human banner event in the morning at Ocean Beach. This part is for you.
The human banner will take place near the north end of the beach, across from the Beach Chalet at stairwell 17.
The nearest Muni route is the 5-Fulton. Keep in mind that it will probably be packed, and that it will probably not be able to go past Civic Center Plaza, so plan to miss the march and go straight to the rally instead. The 31-Balboa also leaves from there, and will also end at Market but a few blocks farther east.
Sunset Dunes
Some of you are going to the morning event at Sunset Dunes, also along Ocean Beach.
The nearest Muni route to there is the N-Judah. The 7-Haight/Noriega is also not far south. The N is probably a better bet if you want to try to make it to the march, but expect those trains to be packed—you might not get your first choice. If you want to avoid the rally and go directly to the march, get off at Van Ness station, then walk up Van Ness (or take the 49) to McAllister and turn right.
What to do next
No Kings is an important demonstration of our resistance, defiance, and refusal to be silenced. But what comes next is the important part. We have a lot of initiatives, and our two main ones to do TODAY are to Vote Yes on Prop 50 and start organizing your community to stand up to potential federal escalations.
Check out all of our No Kings follow-up actions here.
Thank you for coming!
We deeply appreciate you choosing to spend your Saturday afternoon in an act of resistance. Thank you.
We will get through this by working together, looking out for each other, taking our rest when we need it, and not ever stopping.
The march portion of this event is organized by an all-volunteer team from Indivisible SF and 50501 SF, and we have accrued many out-of-pocket expenses. If you are interested in helping to offset our costs, Indivisible SF and 50501 SF are accepting donations.