Resident tells supervisors protesters faced intimidation, vandalism at Oct. 18 ‘No Kings’ demonstration

Skye Ainsworth, an El Centro resident, told the Imperial County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 21 that attendees at an Oct. 18 “No Kings” protest experienced intimidation and that signs supporting Proposition 50 were vandalized.

Ainsworth said roughly 350 people attended the protest and described the event as “peaceful, though some noted vehicles purposely driving close to curbs and corners to intimidate people waving signs.” She told the board she knew three people who attended but hid their identities for fear of reprisal and that “I know a dozen others afraid to attend.”

Ainsworth also reported seeing a man in a motorized wheelchair at the event “waving a Trump advance banner and trying to argue with protesters,” and said some pro-Prop 50 signs were removed or damaged. She said social media posts about the protest had received overwhelmingly positive responses, but also “dozens of negative comments.”

“The people who are in support of Proposition 50, the opposition is spending a lot of money and encouraging negative behavior in person and online,” Ainsworth told supervisors before concluding her comments.

Board members did not take formal action in response to the public comment and continued with the meeting’s agenda.

The comment came during the board’s public comment period, the meeting time set aside for members of the public to address matters within the board’s jurisdiction that are not on the agenda.