Indivisible East Bay joined with several other local progressive groups [the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club (lead rally organizers), Bay Resistance, and Food and Water Watch] to protest outside the Kaiser Center in Oakland where House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke last night. The assembled group was both large (several hundred) and loud.
The line-up of speakers included a representative from IEB’s Governance Committee, who brought the demands that Indivisible groups are making all over the country: that the Democratic Caucus stay unified in its opposition and use the its leverage to extract real concessions during the budget negotiations. Because the Republican majority is so thin (only three votes!) in the House, and because their caucus is internally divided, they will need Democratic votes to pass any budget. This gives Democrats power – and we demand that they use it!
Protesters similarly echoed the demands that Democrats and Jeffries step up and do more to counter the actions of Trump and his MAGA cronies — their minority status not withstanding!
We need to: defend Americans who are getting hurt by the layoffs and illegal funding cuts, protect vital federal departments, stand up to unconstitutional presidential actions, demand mandated transparency, protect immigrants, and confront misinformation and narratives that normalize illegal, anti-democratic attacks.
Jeffries did not emerge to talk to the crowd — and defended his approach during his speech inside. However, another speaker, Rep. Lateefah Simon, briefly offered words of support to the protesters.
KTVU Fox News covered the event, noting that “Hundreds of protestors gathered outside to demand that the congressman and other Democratic law makers do more to stop the Trump administration from harming vulnerable communities.”
NBC Bay Area News also covered the event, but with much more emphasis on the speeches inside the building than with the protest outside.
Finally, here’s Indybay’s print article covering the event. It includes lots of photos.
We posted photos from the protest to our Bluesky account.
