When most folks imagine political protests, they don’t picture wheelchair-wielding grandparents with craft class signs, but welcome to the Bay Area, where age is just a number and activism knows no retirement.

Seniors Serving Serious Political Realness

On a sunny Saturday in June, hundreds of seniors took to the streets of Oakland and Berkeley, waving signs and honking down Trump’s birthday parade with a resounding “No Kings” message. These weren’t your typical passive retirees, they were fired up about Medicaid cuts, immigration policies, and defending democracy with sass and historical perspective.

Speaking Truth to Power

Don Goldmacher from Seniors for Democracy didn’t mince words, drawing stark parallels between current political rhetoric and historical fascist tactics. “Trump is scapegoating immigrants just like Nazis scapegoated Jews,” he declared, highlighting how these seniors aren’t just reminiscing about the past, they’re actively fighting to prevent history from repeating itself.

A Generation That Won’t Back Down

From pedestrian bridges to street corners, these grandparents proved that political engagement doesn’t have an expiration date. Beatriz Leyva, a former Berkeley school board member, passionately spoke about family separations and deportations, embodying the spirit of resistance that has defined generations of Bay Area activists.

With Bob Dylan playing in the background and hand-stitched American flags waving proudly, these seniors showed that democracy isn’t just a spectator sport, it’s a lifelong commitment.