RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - As part of a nationwide day of protest that drew an estimated 8 million participants, residents in Rancho Murieta and Wilton took to local intersections March 28 to make their voices heard.

While the local crowds were modest – about 60 people at each site – the turnout was notable for rural communities where public political expression is less common.

Demonstrators gathered at two high-traffic locations: Jackson Highway and Murieta Drive in Rancho Murieta, and Grant Line Road and Wilton Road in Sheldon. Participants held handmade signs, waved to passing cars and received a mix of honks, thumbs-up gestures and occasional negative reactions.

Both events remained peaceful.

About 62 people attended the March 28 protest in Rancho Murieta, a strong showing given the short notice, according to organizer Laura Loven.

Loven said the demonstration was organized to provide a local opportunity for residents – particularly older adults – to participate without having to travel into Sacramento, and reflected a desire among some residents to speak out publicly and create a visible presence within the community.

“There are a lot of people here… and you have to drive so far to go anywhere,” Loven said. “Let’s do something locally… and let our friends and neighbors know what we’re thinking, too.”

“You start feeling more isolated out here,” she said. “It was so nice to see people who think the way I think.”

Loven said the March 28 gathering marked a sharp increase from earlier efforts. The first protest drew only one participant: Pamela Haines. The second brought Haines and Loven, but at separate times.

Loven organized the third event by signing up with Indivisible, a national grassroots network that helps local groups coordinate protests and civic action. Despite the lack of local advertising, more than 60 protesters showed up to wave signs at all four corners of the intersection.

Haines said her decision to participate is rooted in Martin Luther King Jr.’s message that “hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that,” and said she was encouraged by the growing turnout.

“I’m very, very happy about the evolution of people that are speaking out publicly and feeling safe enough to do it,” she said. “We are pushing for the good.”

Loven said reactions from passing motorists were mixed but were overwhelmingly more positive than negative.

She plans to continue demonstrations as a regular vigil, scheduled Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., allowing residents to participate for any length of time. Those interested can reach out at [email protected] or 916-494-9175, or they can just show up.

About 58 people participated in the March 28 Wilton protest, according to organizer Melanie Ernould.

Although organized as a Wilton event it was held in Sheldon to take advantage of a busier intersection, and nearly all participants were from Wilton, Ernould said.

“I think it’s really important that… in these rural areas that we show up and we’re seen,” Ernould said. “I wouldn’t want anyone out here to feel like they’re alone.

“I think our rights are getting stripped away; nothing is more important than that.

“For me, finding this group of people was a huge relief,” Ernould said. “Everybody was just so nice… warm.”

The effort grew from a much smaller start. The first gathering at Dillard and Wilton roads drew only a handful of participants. After that, the protest was moved to the busier Sheldon intersection. A second event in October drew roughly the same number of participants as the March 28 protest, including a few from Rancho Murieta.

Their interactions with motorists were mostly positive, though not without moments reflecting the region’s political divide.

“Of course, people flipped us off, but the numbers have consistently been like 10 honks to maybe one negative reaction,” Ernould said.

On a lighter note, she recalled, “A couple drove by, and the husband was flipping us off, and the wife gave us a thumbs-up.”

Wilton protester Moira McCleary, a retired nurse, said she joined the protest out of concern over broader national issues. 

“I believe in democracy, and it’s very disappointing what’s happening to our country,” McCleary said. “The old guards are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer. Absolutely, I’m a retired nurse, and it really bothers me that people’s health care is being taken away. That is a right for everyone.”

For many participants, the protests were as much about visibility as persuasion: Simply showing up was a way to signal they were not alone.