Californians hit the streets to protest deportations — and Elon Musk’s DOGE
While some are characterizing Donald Trump’s second presidency as one with “a lack of dissidence” so far, residents across California rallied together this week to protest the administration’s pledges to conduct mass deportations. Demonstrators also gathered Wednesday at the state Capitol to oppose Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk.
Thousands across California protested against Trump’s immigration policies earlier this week — blocking freeway traffic in Los Angeles and San Diego; temporarily closing businesses in Napa to observe “a day without immigrants;” walking out of school classes in Fresno; and marching across college campuses.
“I want to use my voice to help empower those who are afraid,” said one Bay Area resident to KQED. “Trump is creating divisions and hatred, and that’s not a good leader.”
On Wednesday, as part of a nationwide campaign to protest at every state Capitol, hundreds converged in Sacramento to protest against Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, a department within the White House established via executive order that has careened through different government agencies over the past few weeks with little to no oversight.
This isn’t the first time some Californians have denounced the Tesla CEO, but Musk (aided by tech engineers with California ties) is drawing recent scrutiny for gaining access to a handful of federal agencies, including sensitive data from the U.S. Treasury Department.
“It’s our democracy,” one demonstrator told The Sacramento Bee. “I’m on Social Security. This is serious.”
Only one COVID regulation remains
In other news from the state capitol, earlier this week most of Cal/OSHA’s remaining rules for employers regarding COVID-19 protections expired. These rules required employers to prohibit workers with COVID-19 from returning to work temporarily; give notice to other workers when an employee tested positive; and have tests available to workers who came in close contact with exposed colleagues.
The end to these regulations follows almost two years since the state ended its three-year state of emergency order, which enabled Gov. Gavin Newsom to issue sweeping, sometimes controversial, mandates. These directives sought to slow the spread of a virus that went on to kill more than 100,000 Californians.
One rule, however, will remain until next year: Employers must still track COVID-19 cases, including the employee’s name, where they worked and the date of their positive test, and keep these records for two years.
