San Francisco residents literally made their voices heard as Donald Trump took the oath of office to become the 47th President of the United States. The city erupted in impassioned protests that filled the air with screams, chants, and resistance to his return to the White House.
The discontent was most palpable at Civic Center Plaza and outside San Francisco City Hall, where hundreds gathered as the event has been called “The San Francisco Screaming Event.” It wasn’t a rally, per se, but a visceral, raw expression of frustration, fear, and anger-a collective scream through the city.
Unlike any regular protest or rally, this was raw emotion, uncensored and unrestrained, a collective wail of frustration, fear, and anger echoing down city streets.
San Franciscans organized numerous demonstrations to show their outrage. Most striking were the symbolic screams into the air-an auditory manifestation of discontent and a poignant reminder of deep divisions in the nation.
Trump, swearing an oath of office in an unprecedented indoor ceremony – the first of its kind since a bitterly cold morning some 40 years ago in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., prompted San Franciscans to march. Protesters from all over held signs and flags and were in deafening cries protesting what they were calling a “dangerous return to authoritarianism.”
“This isn’t just about politics; it’s about survival for many of us,” said Maria Gutierrez, a community organizer with immigrant rights groups.
“Our voices are our resistance. If they won’t listen, they can’t ignore our screams.”
The protests brought together an extraordinary coalition of community groups, unions, LGBTQ+ advocates, and antiwar activists. Residents expressed fears over potential mass deportations, the erosion of women’s rights, and the rollback of protections for marginalized communities.
State Senator Scott Wiener, a vocal critic of Trump, described the day as bittersweet.
“It’s hard to see this country move backward after so much progress. But today, San Francisco reminds us of the power of unity and resistance.”
The decision to incorporate loud, symbolic screaming into the protests was as much an emotional release as it was a strategic statement. Organizers said it was inspired by the primal need to express frustrations that words alone couldn’t.
“We wanted to create a moment that people would remember—a moment that captures the raw pain and determination of our city,” explained activist leader Jay Patel. “Screaming is a way to reclaim power, to show we’re not afraid to be loud and unapologetic.”
San Francisco’s local leaders joined the chorus of dissent. City Attorney David Chiu called Trump’s inaugural address “a dark and dangerous vision of America.” At the same time, other officials used the platform to rally support for policies protecting immigrants, LGBTQ+ rights, and reproductive freedom.
In stark contrast, a small group of local Republicans celebrated Trump’s return in a quiet gathering. “We’re a minority here, but we believe Trump’s policies will strengthen America,” said Kevin Harper, a local GOP organizer.
The San Francisco protests were just one of many nationwide, but they stood out for their emotional intensity and creative expression. Cities from coast to coast held marches and rallies, but few captured the visceral energy that San Francisco’s “screaming event” embodied.
For residents, it was more than a protest—it was a communal act of catharsis. “Sometimes you just have to scream to be heard,” said Maya Tran, a high school teacher who attended the event with her students. We’re teaching the next generation that standing up for your beliefs matters.