The right to protest has always been a way for people to express concern or objection to political issues, environmental concerns, social justice and more. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people unite together under a cause, their signs held sharply to the sky with determination to fix or object to various issues. All of these factors are what make protests, a right upheld by the First Amendment, so powerful.
On Feb. 17, 2025, citizens of Ventura County, Calif. organized by the 50501 movement and the Justice for All Ventura County organization, gathered together at Constitution Park in Camarillo to protest the recent actions of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The protesters gathered for a rallying speech in the center of the park, encouraging each other to move forward and speak out on their issues with Trump and Musk. At noon, the crowd left the park and slowly marched towards the nearest Tesla car dealership on 133 E. Daily Dr. in disapproval of the company owned by Musk.
Almost everyone in the crowd was proudly holding up signs with witty remarks, from “Orange is the new tyrant,” to more serious stances, such as “Build bridges, not walls.”
Many concerns brought the crowd together on this day, some of the most prevalent being: immigration policies, environmental issues, women’s rights, federal government cuts and more. An anonymous protester at the rally stated, “I think there’s a lot of things that are wrong with this administration, but the one issue that resonates with me the most is immigration and immigration reform.” As the child of immigrant parents, the protester’s concerns for the future of the country are mainly due to a fear of her family’s safety. Furthermore, she stated, “It’s important to me that immigrants are recognized and respected in this country.”
Around 1 p.m. the crowd had relocated, and finally reached the Tesla dealership. Dashing across the road, half of the protesters dispersed in a parallel pattern, surrounding the street in front of the dealership. This was an attempt to get the attention of passing cars and bystanders. Their efforts paid off as many car horns echoed throughout the area in support of the movement.
Another principal concern at the protest was one of civil rights, especially regarding policies targeting women. Michelle Good, a volunteer with the 50501 Movement, was passionate as she spoke about the recent loss of reproductive rights in certain states. “My generation was the last to have unrestricted access to abortion,” Good said. She added, “It kills me that a 15-year-old girl, if assaulted, would not have the choice to decide what happens to her body.”
Protests like these have occurred across the country in response to Trump and Musk’s recent actions, specifically within school districts, regarding immigration policies and budget cuts.
For Harmony Eckberg, a parent and community member, the protest was deeply personal. “I’m worried about the kids at my school,” she shared. “Their families are being torn apart because of deportations, and these children are suffering. I can’t just sit back and watch.” As a parent, and a paraeducator at Ventura Charter School, Eckberg described how she had seen firsthand the threats posed toward the school system, such as the issue with free lunch eligibility and budget cuts resulting in teachers losing their jobs.
At 1:45 p.m. the group steadily marched back towards Constitution Park, with signs still held high. Despite the somewhat uneasy tone of the march, due to fear and concerns for the future, many participants in the crowd had messages of hope to share. Eckberg shared an optimistic perspective on the situation, stating that “now is the time to speak out. If you disagree with what’s happening with our government, speak out, write letters, do whatever you possibly can.”
Good shared this sentiment, encouraging people to, “Keep fighting. It’s not about hope, it’s about action,” and going on to say, “Marching is the one tangible thing you can do to make your voice heard.”
The right to protest, supported by the First Amendment, has always given people a chance to speak out against matters that concern their rights, and the rights of others. And according to Lauren and Walt Delatorre, a couple marching at the protest, there is hope for the future and what the right to protest will do for it. This was shown through Walt Delatorre’s words of encouragement, stating, “I hope our side keeps going and it looks like it will.”
