Long Beach Finds Its Voice — and Its Sense of Humor

It was one of those blue-sky Long Beach Saturday mornings that feels like freedom itself – if freedom came with sunscreen, protest signs and the occasional Golden Doodle. The city’s 1.5-mile stretch of Ocean Boulevard between Redondo and Cherry was already packed by 11:45 a.m., on Oct. 18, a sea of color, conviction and community. Our daughter, Tambree, drove this time, our car full of neighbors and one anxious but exuberant Max, our family dog, who decided that democracy smells best up close.

As we crawled along the boulevard, horns honked not in anger but in solidarity. Every block felt like a Norman Rockwell painting – if Rockwell had drawn Americans holding “NO KINGS” signs and quoting the Constitution. By the time we unloaded at Cherry, the bluff side looked like a festival of civic joy. Kids chalked liberty slogans on the pavement, veterans wore flags as capes, neighbors cheered total strangers, and a dozen or so Portland-meets-Chicago–style blow-up cartoon characters bobbled happily in the breeze.

Our Belmont Shore friend and neighbor, Mike Vejar, once again outdid himself, crafting ten stunning protest signs that became instant selfie magnets. One read: “Fear Builds Cages – Courage Opens Them.” Judging by the number of phones out, that message may be circling the globe by now.

And then there was our other neighbor, Rob Gibbs, who decided to walk the whole way. When he finally reached our group – sweat on his brow, grin wide as the Pacific – he laughed and said that fighting through the crowd on Ocean was “like a salmon swimming upstream.” He wasn’t wrong. Except these salmon were waving flags, carrying signs, and swimming toward freedom instead of spawning grounds.

Meanwhile, Trisha King, ever the pragmatist, had her attention on Max, who was enthusiastically devouring a treat offered by a kind old man in a wheelchair. “You sure that wasn’t one of those THC biscuits?” she whispered, half teasing, half worried. Democracy, we agreed, comes in many flavors – and some might even be peanut butter.

From Canceled Celebrations to Courageous Crowds

Contrast today’s jubilant gathering with the somber tone of this year’s “Long Beach Stands Alone” fiasco, when city officials – spooked by federal whispers – canceled the Día de los Muertos celebration out of ICE paranoia. The same city that fell silent then now pulsed with life, laughter and the kind of peaceful defiance even the ghosts of City Hall might have applauded.

There were no heavy riot lines, no militarized police posture. The LBPD played it exactly right – visible but respectful, facilitating rather than confronting. When marchers poured onto Ocean from Redondo to downtown, traffic lights turned green for democracy. Transit officers checked in with bus drivers, not protesters, ensuring movement, not suppression. And when the crowd surged into a full march, the LBPD moved swiftly and smartly – blocking intersections, clearing paths, and protecting both traffic and the people. It was policing as public service – the kind that builds trust rather than tension. In a word, magnificent.

From Handcuffs to High Fives

Just weeks ago, a Long Beach teacher was arrested outside a hotel housing ICE agents for doing little more than singing her protest. That image – handcuffs for conscience – stood in stark contrast to today’s spirit. Here, even that elderly man in the wheelchair offering dog treats to Max became part of the story: a gentle symbol of what community looks like when fear steps aside.

But not everyone across Southern California had the same experience.

After Mike Vejar shared his photos and reflections from our day, we heard from our friend Dee, a Hispanic woman in Hawthorne, who texted:

“So happy you went. I feel great when I fight this regime. This was my second protest. I was standing at a corner with a simple sign that said "Honk 4 Democracy!" Within three hours I got three ‘fuck you’s,’ one ‘go back to Mexico,’ and one spit next to me. So many angry white folks. I was by myself to start and did feel intimidated. Next time I’ll go to a much bigger group. I stayed for three hours and came home.

Dee’s courage reminds us that freedom isn’t evenly distributed across ZIP codes. What we experienced as a joyful, unified celebration in Long Beach was, just a few miles north, met with hostility and hate. Same message, different reception – proof that the fight for democracy isn’t only about policy, but about the hearts we have yet to reach.

Patriotism, Plain and Simple

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had labeled No Kings Day attendees “Hamas terrorists and violent criminals.” House Speaker Mike Johnson called it a “hate America rally.” I conducted my own unscientific poll of about 150 folks who passed our chairs: not a single terrorist in sight. No hate. Just pride. One woman summed it up perfectly: “I love America – that’s why I’m here.”

And there it was – the quiet rebellion of decency. Millions across the country standing up not against America, but for it – against the lies that try to divide it.

Long Beach, once again, showed how a community can march with humor, dignity and heart – and prove that patriotism doesn’t always wear a uniform. Sometimes, it carries a sign, wags its tail, dodges salmon-like crowds and sits happily in a stranger’s lap.

And thanks to friends like Dee, it also reminds us that courage wears many faces – some surrounded by cheers, others standing alone on a corner – but all of them facing the same direction: toward freedom.

Stephen Downing is a retired LAPD Deputy Chief, journalist, and civic advocate based in Long Beach. He writes the Exposing the Con, Defending Democracy newsletter on Substack.