Sarah Bettendorf, one of thousands of protesters who came out in force in Southern California for “No Kings Day” rallies on Saturday, made sure to dress for the occasion.

She came as the Statue of Liberty.

“I’m Lady Liberty,” Bettendorf said, “and Lady Liberty stands for kindness, compassion and hope.

“We’re here to say no to the haters,” she said. “We’re here to stand up for Constitutional Rights and protect all immigrants, because it is important to remember that there are no kings and that we all have rights.”

Similar demonstrations took place across the country on Saturday in opposition to Trump’s military parade in Washington D.C. – which also happened to fall on the president’s birthday. In Long Beach, there was also a focus on protesting against the Trump administration and recent federal immigration raids in Los Angeles County.

The Bixby Park protest was scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and before the hour was over, thousands had amassed, with the crowd lining both sides of Ocean Boulevard on either side of the street for several blocks in either direction.

“I’m not really surprised,” Lady Liberty said.

Saturday’s demonstrators were jubilant and defiant, donning signs saying “Stop racism,” “No kings” and “No one is illegal on stolen lands.”

“No one is illegal on stolen lands!” the protesters chanted.

Cars passing by on Ocean Boulevard expressed their support, slowing down to marvel at the sheer size of the crowd, holding signs of their own, and honking in agreement.

Some attendees passed out water and snacks to those in need. One woman offered a sage smudge to anyone who wanted one. Gatherers played music, sang and danced.

There was almost no police presence, aside from a smattering of Long Beach Police Department motorcycle officers spotted on the perimeter of the park.

Araceli Calderon, 31, and Brandon Salinas, 30, had one simple reason for coming out to Saturday’s march – they’re both children of immigrants.

The past week, Salinas said, has been an exceptionally scary time for him and his family.

“It’s depressing, waking up every day, seeing the horrible news,” Calderon said, “having to reach out to family and make sure they’re okay.”

The pair agreed that it was nice to see the size of the crowd, and feel that support from all facets of the Long Beach’s community.

“We’re here peacefully, and that’s the that’s the whole goal,” Salinas said.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids across Los Angeles County and the greater Southern California region have rocked many communities in the area, as the Trump administration ramped up its mass deportation agenda.

The deployment of the National Guard and U.S Marines to Los Angeles has only further increased the tension, putting communities on edge as ICE conducted seemingly indiscriminate raids across the region.

Gabriela Vieira da cunha, a writer, said she came out to the protest on Saturday to be in solidarity with her community.

“It’s been a week of anxiety, fear, tears,” she said, referencing the ICE raids in LA County, including Long Beach. “I feel completely joyous to be in community with such a large number of people. In some ways this is a beginning – because we have three and half more years of this nightmare.”

Vieira da cunha also said she felt it was important to come out because the Trump administration is threatening democracy.

“I’m here to protest our administration that is flagrantly biased, racist, (and) dangerous.,” she said. “I’m here to be in the power of the people. To stand for equality for all. To tell ICE to get out.”

Donna Kennedy, who came to the protest with Vieira da cunha, expressed a similar sentiment.

“It’s heartbreaking to see innocent people being taken away and not given the chance to have due process,” Kennedy said. “I’m an older white woman, I can’t even imagine how terrifying it must be for people with darker skin than me.”

But being at Saturday’s protest, surrounding by a massive crowd of like-minded community members, offered Kennedy a sense of hope.

“It’s very reassuring. I feel this energy and power growing. We are the people – they work for us,” Kennedy said. “It’s not just Trump, it’s his whole administration. It’s a shame.”

While the demonstration was scheduled to end at 11 a.m., the massive crowd remained largely intact well after that time.

Jessica V., who continued to protest near Bixby Park after 11 a.m., donned a sign reading “We are the voices of the undocumented.” Jessica declined to give her last name for safety reasons.

Jessica is the daughter of immigrants, she said, who came to America to give her and her siblings a better life.

“I’m also a first-generation student, and since I have the voice – I’m gonna come out here for the people that can’t,” she said, choking up. “It’s sad what’s going on. They’re hitting people who are farmers, workers, who just came here for a better life. And I think it’s unjust that we’re treating them like animals.”

For Jessica, it’s important that people understand the immigration process isn’t simple or cheap.

“People just say, well, you cross the border, you’re automatically criminal. No – it takes time to get your papers. It costs money,” Jessica said. “My parents came here for a better life, and they have five kids who are college graduates. I’m on my way to be an immigration attorney.”

By around 11:45 a.m., hundreds tore off from the main crowd and began marching down  Ocean Boulevard toward downtown, while some small groups of protesters remained in the Bixby Park area.

The large group of marchers looped back around and began to head back towards Bixby Park by around 12:40 p.m., with two police cars controlling traffic behind them.