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NO KINGS GLENDALE - Echoes of the epic nationwide No Kings protests continue to resonate in towns and suburbs that don’t have skyscrapers. In northeast L.A. and Glendale, host to a rousing rally that drew at least 5,000 people Saturday, the impacts will be felt November 4 and well into 2026. The scope and volume of that rally can be felt in this brief video.
Organized by East Area Progressive Democrats (EAPD), Glendale’s huge protest against Trump’s abuses of power, corruption, and violations of Americans’ Constitutional rights also spotlighted the power in voters’ hands to push back and protect democracy. That includes casting a ballot to pass Prop 50.
Voting YES on Prop 50 by the time polls close on Nov. 4 will allow California to elect more Members of Congress who will do their job under the Constitution to hold the President accountable and keep the essential services of the federal government functioning. The state ballot measure, which temporarily shifts boundaries for U.S. House districts, was a focus of speakers throughout the Glendale rally.
From state Senator Sasha Renee Perez and U.S. Representative Laura Friedman to Glendale City Clerk Suzie Abajian to two Glendale City Councilmembers, Elen Asatryan and Dan Brotman, the message from rally speakers about being vocal, being visible, and being a consistent voter was loud and clear.
Dr. Suzie Abajian, city clerk of Glendale, stands with state Senator Sasha Renee Perez at the No Kings! Yes on 50 Glendale-Northeast L.A. rally on Oct. 18, 2025.
All three of the Glendale city officials face reelection in 2026. Over the past 3 elections, the city has elected more Democrats to its school board and citywide offices. These victories include Brotman’s as well as Dr. Abajian’s and Asatryan’s. They are the first two Armenian American women Democrats elected throughout Glendale. The city, a onetime stronghold for white supremacy, is evolving and now boasts the highest percentage of immigrant residents, at 51 percent, of any city in California.
Glendale Councilmember Elen Asatryan and her dog Buddy appear before 5,000 rallygoers at huge No Kings! Yes on 50 protest.
Both Dr. Abajian and Asatryan have earned respect and recognition for their service and leadership as Democrats. Asatryan received the coveted Heart & Soul Award by EAPD in 2022. Dr. Abajian won election in 2023 representing hundreds of thousands of voters in the 52nd Assembly District to a two-year seat on the Executive Board of the state Democratic Party.
One test of effective protest is the ripple effects it registers — with volunteers for causes, donors and dollars for campaigns, and votes in election outcomes — in the weeks and months ahead. The joy of a huge, raucous, and creatively expressive crowd and the roar of the Glendale-Northeast L.A. rally will have impacts for Yes on 50 in the days ahead. And it could even make a difference next June in Glendale’s city election. Acting locally is what reasserting and strengthening democracy is all about.
(Hans Johnson is a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, environmental justice, and public education. His columns have appeared in USA Today and leading newspapers across more than 20 states. Based in Eagle Rock, he serves as president of East Area Progressive Democrats (EAPD), California’s largest grassroots Democratic club with over 1,100 members. Hans brings decades of organizing and policy experience to his work, advancing equity and accountability in local and national politics.)
