Senior citizens worry about losing democracy, Constitutional rights & benefits
By Leslie Layton | Posted May 1, 2025
photo by Leslie Layton
Kathy Hume
About a month ago, Kathy Hume was one of only three people standing outside the Social Security offices in Chico protesting the Trump Administration. But today she was one of several hundred protesting cuts to Social Security infrastructure, as well as the expansion of executive power.
“He’s just a tyrant,” Hume said. “We got rid of mad King George and now it’s mad King Donald. There’s nothing he does that’s not ludicrous.” Adding that she thinks Trump is a poor speaker, Hume said, “Bigly wasn’t a word before he became president.”
Some 350 protesters lined up with anti-Trump signs today on Lassen Avenue and Cohasset Road near the north Chico offices of Social Security as thousands of people poured into the streets nationwide for anti-Trump demonstrations that had been planned for May Day, also celebrated as International Workers Day.read more
Organizers want to maintain momentum in opposing Trump Administration
By Leslie Layton | Posted April 7, 2025
Chico’s April 5 “Hands Off!” event – perhaps the largest demonstration in the city’s history – drew a surprisingly large crowd of people who rallied and marched to protest the Trump Administration in concert with protests across the country.
Some signs addressed the administration’s aggressive movement to strengthen the executive branch at the cost of the courts and Congress, with statements like, “Say no to fascists.” Many signs demanded that Social Security, Medicare and public education be left intact; one said “Democracies thrive with allies,” and another, “Even the Republicans are here.”read more
When Colleen Evans stopped by the Feb. 17 “Not my Presidents Day” protest at City Plaza, she hoped to voice her opposition to the Trump Administration and find camaraderie with like-minded people.
Instead, the Chico woman, who was wearing a knee brace to protect a broken kneecap, ended up at the Enloe Medical Center emergency room with new injuries. She arrived at Enloe bloodied, sore and dazed after a disastrous fall off the sidewalk on the east side of the plaza.
Almost two weeks later, a Chico Police Department investigation has left many questions unresolved, and Evans, 70, is recovering but frustrated that her story hasn’t been told.read more
ImmSchools: Public schools can create a safe environment
By Carina Merrick | Posted February 12, 2025
photo by Julian Mendoza
Kassandra Ramondo (left) and Lizette Pilar
Hundreds of people gathered on Chico State’s campus Feb. 5 for a peaceful march in what was one of several recent local protests advocating for immigrant rights.
“I think it’s super important that people understand and know that immigrants do make the backbone of our country,” said Lizette Pilar, program coordinator at Chico State’s Gender & Sexuality Equity Coalition. “Especially in agriculture, a lot of our pickers are illegal immigrants or undocumented.”
Efforts are underway across the state — including passage of new laws, street protests and information sessions — to push back against the Trump Administration’s most extreme immigration measures. Downtown Los Angeles has had multiple protests including one that blocked U.S. 101 for hours. Ethnic Media Services (EMS), a a nonprofit news and communications agency, held a know-your-rights training Feb. 7 for media organizations.read more
Chico’s Christine Moore attended the rally because she said the passage of new anti-abortion laws “needs to be stopped.”
A lunchtime “Stop the Bans” reproductive justice rally took place in Chico Tuesday as pro-choice groups nationwide called for a “Day of Action.”
“Across the country, we are seeing a rash of extreme bans on abortion and cruel attempts at taking away reproductive freedom in an all-out assault on abortion access,” states a Facebook post promoting the Chico rally, which was organized by Women on Reproductive Defense (WORD), Women’s March Chico, Trans Empowerment Project of Northern California, and other groups.
Christine Moore, one of more than 70 people attending the rally at City Plaza, said she was 1 year old when the U.S. Supreme Court made its landmark 1973 decision in favor of the right to choose whether or not to undergo an abortion, at least during the first and second trimesters. “This fight should have been over long ago,” Moore said.read more
