California Gov. Gavin Newsom is declaring what he called “a declaration of independence” from the administration of President Donald Trump ahead of the upcoming “No Kings” protests planned for the weekend.
In a video statement posted online, Newsom encouraged demonstrators to participate peacefully while framing the protests as a symbolic act against what he described as “tyranny” and “lawlessness.”
“No kings. A declaration of independence against the tyranny, against lawlessness in the context that there was no rule of law,” Newsom said. “It was the rule of king. And I think increasingly people are waking up to the rule of law in this country increasingly appearing to be the rule of ‘Don.’”
The governor’s remarks appeared to link Trump’s leadership to authoritarianism, saying Americans should reflect on the principles of the nation’s founders.
“I hope it’s dawning on people how precious this moment is and what’s at stake,” he added. “And so I hope people put a stake in the ground, take the opportunity and time to participate this weekend, but again do so peacefully with a deep realization of the consequences and what the founding fathers were all about.”
The “No Kings” demonstrations are expected to draw participants in several cities across California, with organizers describing the events as a call to defend democratic institutions. Trump supporters, meanwhile, have accused Newsom and other Democrats of inflaming divisions and politicizing the protests for partisan purposes.
As tensions continue to build between state and federal leaders, Newsom’s remarks mark one of his most direct rhetorical challenges yet to the Trump administration.
I urge our nation to use this weekend’s No Kings marches as a declaration of independence against the tyranny and lawlessness currently running this country.
Use your voice. ACT PEACEFULLY. Protect yourself and your community.
THERE ARE NO KINGS IN THE UNITED STATES. pic.twitter.com/ClZbE1LZBg
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) October 16, 2025
This week, Newsom signed legislation creating a new state agency to oversee programs for descendants of enslaved Americans, advancing his long-running push for reparations policies amid ongoing fiscal and political challenges.
The measure, Senate Bill 518, establishes the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery within the California Civil Rights Department. The governor will appoint a deputy director to lead the agency, dividing it into three divisions: Genealogy, Education and Outreach, and Legal Affairs.
Its responsibilities include verifying eligibility based on lineage, managing public education efforts about historical discrimination, and ensuring legal compliance as reparations initiatives expand.
The bureau’s implementation will depend on future legislative appropriations, though the law permits it to receive funding from federal, state, and private sources. It also includes privacy protections for genetic and personal data collected through the program, restricting public access to that information.
Formed following the George Floyd protests, that panel later recommended direct payments exceeding $1 million per eligible person and proposed additional measures, including repealing Proposition 209, the state’s ban on affirmative action.
It should be noted that California was never a slave-holding state.
Though Newsom initially distanced himself from the idea of direct cash reparations, describing the issue as “about much more than cash payments,” he has since signed several measures advancing related initiatives. These include a formal state apology for slavery in 2024 and legislation offering non-cash benefits such as homeownership and education assistance.
The creation of the new bureau follows earlier legislative setbacks. Disagreements and proposed amendments within the California Legislative Black Caucus delayed the establishment of a dedicated reparations office last year, drawing criticism from activists who accused lawmakers of yielding to political pressure.
Newsom ultimately vetoed a prior version of the bill, citing the absence of an agency capable of administering the program—a gap Senate Bill 518 is designed to fill, Breitbart News reported.
Under the new framework, the bureau’s Genealogy Division will be responsible for certifying individuals as descendants of enslaved persons based on specific lineage criteria, including ancestry tracing to people emancipated or classified as contraband before 1900.
