More than 300 people marched in Mission Bay Park Saturday calling for a transparent investigation into the alleged collusion between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia.

Many demonstrators voiced concerns about what they considered an obstruction of justice by Trump in the ongoing investigations by Congress and a special counsel, pointing to the firing of former FBI Director James Comey.

“We need the investigations to happen, and we need them to work by the design that they’re supposed to happen,” said Jose Caballero, an organizer of San Diego’s March for Truth. “If they don’t, we lose the fabric of our democracy.”

Thousands more protested in more than 100 cities across the country Saturday, including New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Washington, D.C.


The San Diego march was countered at the end by about a dozen Trump supporters. Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations that he or his associates colluded with Russia to meddle with the 2016 presidential election.

During the short, peaceful march through Mission Bay Park, people held signs that read “Truth Trumps Lies” and “Truth or Consequence.” And they chanted: “Hey, hey. Ho, ho. These tweets and lies have got to go.”

San Diego police estimated about 300 to 400 people showed up.

Among the demonstrators was former Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, who said she would like to see an expedited investigation.


“People who believe the investigation is moving forward need to remember that the president has been removing people like Comey from positions where they can testify openly. He may block him from testifying openly in the future,” Saldaña said.

“The reasons and smoke screens that this administration will come up with to block a meaningful investigation will be lengthy — and delays cost taxpayers more at many levels,” she added.

Brenda Rosenthal, 64, said she was flabbergasted by what she called a lack of accountability.

“If Hillary Clinton had been elected and any of these things would have been happening, she would have been gone, I think,” the Bay Park resident said. “For whatever reasons, there’s a different set of rules that apply to (Trump).”


Rosenthal said she was glad former FBI Director Robert Mueller was appointed by the Justice Department as special counsel to oversee its ongoing investigation.

“I think it’s in good hands,” she said.

After the rally, roughly 50 demonstrators continued onto the Clairemont Drive overpass of Interstate 5, where they held signs and banners over the edge. They were met by about a dozen Trump supporters who also held signs, some of which read “Donald Trump IS My President” and “America over Globalization.”

Les Buhner of El Cajon said the investigations into the alleged ties between Trump and Russia are “a waste of time and money” and that the country should rally behind other issues.


“Let’s worry about getting jobs. Let’s worry about making America great,” the 44-year-old said. “Let’s move on. I want my tax breaks. I want America’s borders secured.”

Another Trump supporter, Lemon Grove resident Sean Robison, said he was impartial about the investigations.

“If nothing comes out of it, nothing comes out of it. If it does come out that (collusion) really happened, we’ll be the ones that help get him out (of office),” Robison said. “But until that happens, innocent until proven guilty. Support your president, support your country.”

A day after the Justice Department appointed the special counsel to oversee the investigation, Trump called the decision a “witch hunt.”


“I respect the move,” the president said at a news conference. “But the entire thing has been a witch hunt. And there is no collusion between, certainly, myself and my campaign and the Russians. Zero.”

In a statement, March for Truth organizers said their full list of demands was:

An independent commission to investigate the alleged collusion between Russia and Trump;

Allocated resources for the Congressional investigation;

As much information as possible to be released to the public as soon as possible;

Congress to require Trump to release his tax returns to “clarify his business interests and obligations” to any other countries; and

Prosecution of any crimes that may be unveiled during the investigations.

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