Several thousand people took a stand against President Trump and Elon Musk Saturday afternoon in a giant protest and rally in downtown Santa Barbara.

Although activists have protested almost every Saturday somewhere in town since Trump was elected, Saturday’s event blew all other attendance numbers away, and appeared to surpass in terms of size the rally in 2020 after George Floyd was murdered.

All of the grass at De la Guerra Plaza was covered and people blanketed the street around it and most of De La Guerra Street.

People waved signs and took pictures from the City Hall balcony as well as from the steps of the commercial buildings nearby.

The signs pulled no punches, with anti-Trump and Musk messages such as ,”The only minority destroying this country are billionaires,” “Hands off Medicare, Education, Constitution” and “Rescue democracy. It’s now or never again.”

The event was part of the national “Hands Off” protests against Trump.

Several community groups took part in the protest, including the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee, La Casa de la Raza, The Fearless Grandmothers of SB , Indivisible SB, Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County, Planned Parenthood Central Coast Action Fund and several others.

Luz Reyes-Martin, a member of the Goleta City Council, had a breakout moment, dazzling the crowd with a passionate speech that had those in attendance erupting in cheers.

“Reproductive rights are not negotiable,” she said in her role as vice president of the Planned Parenthood Central Coast Action Fund. “Every person deserves the freedom to make decisions about their own body without interference.

“We will not stand by as our rights continue to be stripped away – and as they are threatened even here in California.”

Reyes-Martin also spoke to the crowd for a few moments in Spanish:

“We are here to fight for our rights, our dignity and our future,” she said in Spanish. “Today we rise up together to demand reproductive rights for all.

“Let’s continue to amplify our voices, supporting each other and fighting for a world where everyone can live with dignity and respect. We are powerful, and we are united.”

Primitiva Hernandez, executive director of 805UndocuFund, also fired up the massive crowd.

“If you think this won’t affect you, listen carefully,” Hernandez said. “None of us is safe unless all of us are safe.”

Hernandez said the United States has given her so much. The Obama Administration, she said, brought her and other Dreamers out of the shadows.

“He gave us a chance to dream out loud,” Hernandez said. “And because of that I believe this country is worth fighting for. But you need to fight, and I will fight with you. We are not powerless. Just look around you. This is what democracy looks like.”

She urged those in attendance to protect each other like their own family.

“Hands off our people,” she said.

After a few speeches from De la Guerra Plaza, the enormous crowd marched down State Street.

The Santa Barbara Police Department escorted the group and blocked off traffic on streets crossing State Street.

Thousands covered the roadway, even forcing the people on electric bikes out of the way, and marched to West Beach.

There they were awaited by shaped spaces on the sand, where members of the group stood in formation to form the phrase “Hands Off!” as a drone flew overhead to capture the moment.

Click through the slideshow below to see more photos from the event.

Check out reporter Josh Molina’s Instagram for more Noozhawk photos:

The above photo is a drone shot done by Ann Shaw, a member of The Fearless Grandmothers of Santa Barbara.