Dozens protest in Coachella ahead of Trump's planned campaign rally

About 60 people gathered in downtown Coachella Saturday morning to protest former President Donald Trump's campaign rally planned later in the day near the edge of town at Calhoun Ranch.

Matthew Maldonado of Indio said it's important for everyone to understand that Coachella Valley residents are not in favor of Trump coming to their community.

“We are a community of immigrants. We are a community of Mexicans. We are a community that works hard on values. “Everything the Republicans claim to be,” he said. “We actually embody that here, so it’s important that we all come here and express that to everyone else.”

Protesters held signs reading “Coachella Valley No Place for Hate” and “Keep CV Great Deport Trump to Moscow” on a grassy area at 722 Vine Avenue near the Coachella Veterans Memorial Park.

Speakers at the rally included Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez, Coachella Mayor Pro Tem Stephanie Virgen, Indio Councilmember Oscar Ortiz, Democratic Women of the Desert President Amalia DeAztlan, Coachella Valley Unified School District Board Member Jocelyn Vargas, CVUSD President Joey Acuña and TODEC executive director Luz Gallegos.

Hernandez told The Desert Sun he organized the rally to let people know that Democrats are united. He said they would make sure their voice was not lost during the Trump rally this weekend.

“We won't be intimidated, will we?” he said. “We understand that the (Trump) rally is here in our backyard, but we also have a voice.”

Protest: 'We're not going back': Valley Democrats condemn Donald Trump's rally

A figure of former President Donald Trump was outside the rally facing the street with the words “Hate,” “Racism,” “KKK” and “Fascism” written on it.

Alexandra Cauhape, a resident of India, placed a small Pride flag in Trump's hands. She said she attended the rally because she supports Vice President Kamala Harris for president and opposes Trump.

“I just can’t explain how horrible he is,” she said. “He would be such a disaster for the United States.”

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