FORT BRAGG, CA., 1/21/26 — Residents and visitors on the Mendocino coast gathered in Fort Bragg and Mendocino to join the “Free America Walkout” Tuesday afternoon as part of coordinated protests across the country. More than 100 people gathered on the lawn of Fort Bragg’s Guest House Museum before marching through downtown to U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman’s Fort Bragg district office, located in the historic Old Fort Building on Franklin Street next to City Hall.
Demonstrators of all ages walked out of work, left their homes or joined while visiting town, carrying signs and chanting as drivers honked in support. Organizers said the event was structured to allow workers to participate close to where they live and work. The nationwide action coincided with the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s return to office and was intended to highlight opposition to the administration’s policies and express concerns about civil liberties and democratic norms.
Amanda Michaels of Fort Bragg attended with her daughter Emerald Forrester. “My daughter heard about the walkout and was worried about our neighbors and how this affects our local community,” Michaels said. “She’s concerned about people being taken off the streets and whether her friends and their families will be safe.”
Fort Bragg City Councilmember Tess Albin-Smith, who observed the gathering while heading into a meeting nearby at City Hall, said she hoped to see continued public engagement. “I know it’s a workday, and not nearly enough people were able to come,” Albin-Smith said. “But this needs to happen more often — every day — until change is made. It’s not just our town that’s impacted. It’s our world.”
Among those watching the march was Rose D., of Benicia, who was visiting Fort Bragg with her husband when protesters passed by, chanting, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go.”
“Yes, he has to go,” she said. “He’s trying to take over everything — other people and other countries. We should leave them alone unless they ask for our help. Taking over Greenland? Who does that?”
Hendrick Idzerda of Ft. Bragg said, “ I am here to support this walkout effort and to stand in memory of Renée Good.” Renée Good was a 37‑year‑old American woman who was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 7, 2026.
Several participants said they were motivated by concerns about violence, discrimination and democratic backsliding.
Emma Chambers, 18, of Fort Bragg, said she and her friend Aislinn Quigley, 20, walked out of work to join the protest. “People aren’t understanding what’s really going on,” Chambers said. “People are being harmed for no reason.”
Quigley said she attended to support those facing discrimination. “This is what we can do,” she said. “Come together as a community and raise our voices.”
Margaret Stover, 76, of Little River, said she drove to Fort Bragg to attend the protest because she is concerned for future generations. “I’m here for my grandchildren,” Stover said. “I don’t want them to live under fascism. I want them to live free.”
Erica Pyorre, 48, a Fort Bragg resident, said she also walked out of work Tuesday to attend and show support of immigrant friends and neighbors. “I am here to stand up against fascism, Trump and this corrupt administration.”
The rally began with a moment of silence as participants stood in a line holding signs labeled “Signs of Fascism,” addressing themes including government accountability, treatment of minorities, data transparency and the use of military force against civilians.
After marching downtown, demonstrators gathered outside Rep. Jared Huffman’s Fort Bragg office, where they were met by field representative Jez Anderson, who greeted the group and distributed a written statement from the congressman.
In his statement Huffman said, “I am in Washington this week, but I join with all of you in opposing the corruption, cruelty and recklessness of Donald Trump and his administration… Our democracy, fundamental rights, and the livability of our planet are under assault right now, and each of us has an important role to play in meeting this moment. Rest assured that I will continue leading the fight in Washington to defend the laws, policies and institutions we count on for a functioning democracy. The power of civic engagement and public opinion is perhaps our greatest bulwark against fascism, so I am especially grateful for all of my constituents who are peacefully mobilizing to make your voices heard.“
Rep-Huffman-statement-Jan-20-2026Anderson announced that the congressman planned to release a video statement on his social media channels later Tuesday, and she encouraged constituents to submit comment cards outlining their concerns. She passed around cards for constituents to fill out and send to the congressman while explaining her role as a field representative, noting that she can assist with requests and concerns. Huffman’s Fort Bragg office serves as a local constituent service location where staff helps with federal issues — for example, assistance with Social Security, veterans’ benefits, passports, federal agencies and more.
In Mendocino, organizers said more than 40 people gathered in solidarity with the Fort Bragg walkout, holding a parallel demonstration timed to allow the town’s workers to participate.
Imagine the tens of dollars lost in labor output for the 5% that have jobs
These people are hardly representative of coastal residents. I suggest you interview members of the working class to get their views. And publish them with the same enthusiasm you did for these people.
I asked AI if retirees out number working class people in the coastal towns of Mendocino county and here was the answer:
Most coastal towns in Mendocino County, including places like Fort Bragg, Mendocino and Gualala, tend to have a higher percentage of retirees compared to working-age residents. The appealing coastal environment, coupled with a laid-back lifestyle, attracts many older adults. These towns often see a demographic trend where retirees outnumber those in the workforce, which can impact the local economy, amenities, and services aimed at the senior population. Additionally, tourism plays a significant role in these communities, providing some economic activity, but the overall population structure leans towards older adults.
To Derp. Thanks for the information. I also asked an AI to gather information. I asked a similar but somewhat different question. How many families are retired and how many families have one or more working adults? The answer for Fort Bragg, in percentages, is 30% to 70%. The percentages for the town Mendocino are 50-50 as you would expect. My guess is that is where most of the protestors live.
Willits also had a walk out protest with almost 100 people. My daughter (9) and I joined a friend and her daughter (10) and my friends mother. It was a great turnout anda very proud moment for 3 generations to all participate in non violent protest.
Before marching from Fort Bragg’s Guest House Museum towards Franklin Street next to City Hall, everyone should have been told to pick up any trash or cigarette butts along the way, and they could deposit them in a trash barrel when they got to City Hall. In the Army it was called Police Call, a daily routine duty performed by soldiers serving the country. By doing that everyone could say something was actually accomplished.
Walk out of where? The nursing home??
Boomers truly do hate America.
As a “Boomer” myself, I can say we never got to have a “walkout” while I was in school. You could not say you are leaving class today to go walk down the street because you didn’t like something you read in the news. That would not be an excused absense. Then later on, if I walked off the job to go walking down the street I would be told there is no job to come back to. So keep walking. That’s how it used to be. But today we see High School kids wearing their flannel pajamas to school, and so I’m thinking we are not making progress.
Not all baby boomers are like these people as a matter of fact a lot of us despise people like that. A lot of them have lived off the state or off of their parents most of their lives and now they’re retired and some of them probably do live off the state totally still. They seem to have nothing better to do. I’m retired and let me tell you something I am busy most of the week and a lot of my time is spent volunteering. I would never waste my breath or time on these people and their protesting so please honey try not to blame all of us. There’s a lot of good people that don’t do crap like that.
A lot of the same comments we heard about before: people who protested the Vietnam War were all dirty hippies, protesters where all jobless parasites’ etc. An easy way to dismiss and dehumanizing people instead of addressing the actual issue.
I’ve noticed it’s the same few locals spewing hate. They troll all articles that report on these protest events. Some of them will reply several times, but they’re a tiny minority of hateful fools.
the hostility of the community via comments towards young people who want a better future is troubling. i know the people you have named in your article, they are local workers. i question their safety after mendocino voice has reported on their full names basically listing them as targets. please don’t use peoples full names in this political climate.
The protest events in Willits are growing & on weekends we see people of all ages, from toddlers to seniors. It’s now common to count over 100 like-minded folks gathering in unity. They are events of joyful purpose. Feel free to join us.
‘Democracy doesn’t fear protest’. But, fascists do. That’s why the same, small handful of local MAGAs are always trolling these articles, spreading hate & discontent.
That is so sweet. Bless your heart. But one question, shouldn’t little toddlers be playing and enjoying their childhood, instead of being made to participate in adult political activity?
Asking for a friend.
(BTW when I was a child I thought politics and “the news” was boring)
How ironic Dave…
That’s like saying parents shouldn’t be taking their kids to church either but that hasn’t stopped them…
Dave, politics use to be boring because you had the privilege of not having your country being brought into a 4th reich.
Ah. So taking a toddler to a protest rally is the same as going to church. Luckily, in Mendocino County it is a completely safe environment, as there is no street violence, so children are not physically harmed.
However, it does not educate young minds; it conditions them to political indoctrination and leftist ideology. Whatever you do, don’t say the quiet part out loud at a rally. That would be “fascist.”
The church has a LOOONGGG history of abusing, indoctrinating and killing kids…Conservatives still bring their kids to these institutions even when they have a history of all the above. Sort of like conservatives voting against their own interest all because their hate overrides all other needs to survive.
In protests, the kids stay close to their parents and it is a social gather with the community and often brings people together for common causes that people agree on. Think of it as a parade.
Fascism is the most over used word in politics.