“It’s not about parties,” said Marjorie Sturdy, “it’s about saving our democracy.”
Sturdy, a local Democratic Party activist, was speaking to a large crowd that had marched down Modesto’s J Street after a two-hour demonstration at Five Points intersection, about a quarter mile away.
Of the hundreds of people who showed up for the April 5 “Hands Off” protest in downtown Modesto, only two were elected officials. Aside from Waterford City Councilwoman Guadalupe “Lupita” Gutierrez, Modesto City Councilman and Vice Mayor Nick Bavaro was the only other regional leader present when protestors met on the plaza at 1010 Tenth Street for the noon rally.
Gutierrez spoke briefly to a fired up crowd that needed no urging to shout loud and persistent “Hands Off” to Elon Musk’s blitzkrieg of government agencies, which has included firing thousands of government workers in agencies ranging from nuclear safety to parks and recreation.
Modesto and Stanislaus County are part of “Purple California,” a Valley region that leans conservative but routinely elects Democrats at every level of government. Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen is a registered Democrat and so is Stanislaus County Supervisor Mani Grewal, whose district includes almost all of Modesto itself. Neither one was present for the “Hands Off” rally.
A lifelong Republican until 2016, when he decided he preferred “no party preference” to Donald Trump’s authoritarian makeover of the Republican Party, Nick Bavaro based his exit from the GOP on world and family history. In the 1930s, Bavaro’s father was a veteran of the Italian Air Force when he decided to leave Italy because he detested Benito Mussolini’s fascist government. A working farmer when he wasn’t serving his country, the elder Bavaro didn’t like fascism because of its crushing effects on business and personal freedom.
After leaving Italy and gaining American citizenship, Paul Bavaro moved the family from the midwest to the San Joaquin Valley, where he built a successful farming operation. Nick picked up his father’s strong work ethic and gained degrees in business from the University of the Pacific and USC. After graduating and working in finance, Bavaro started his own business and made it a success.
Today, Nick Bavaro remains a staunch believer in free markets, fair wages and small “g” government. He also believes in active citizenship, especially during a time when even the Wall Street Journal has argued that the Trump tariffs are an abuse of Congress’s power of the purse.
“It was my civic duty to stand up for our constitutional federal republic and stand against autocracy today,” said Bavaro after participating in Modesto’s “Hands Off” protest.
Bavaro isn’t surprised that markets are down and inflation is rising under Trump. Family and world history guide his thinking, not just on economics but also on the enduring value of a political system that promotes freedom, equality, and opportunity.
The muted opposition from Democratic leaders, independents, and Reagan Republicans has been one of the more astonishing aspects of Donald Trump’s second term in office. Republican members of Congress have been all too willing to cede their own powers to the executive branch, even while the consequences are becoming more dire by the day.
While Lupita Gutierrez and Marjorie Sturdy were urging rally-goers to vote for democracy, Nick Bavaro was talking to voters about the local issues he considers his duty as a public servant to manage as effectively as he can. He also considers it his duty to defend government of, by, and for the people.
On that principle, he’s in agreement with Councilwoman Gutierrez, who reminded the large crowd that,
“The power comes from the people and is greater than the people in power.”
That’s a message more of our civic leaders should be willing to stand up for, especially when people’s livelihoods, retirement savings, and public resources are under growing threats from Donald Trump’s autocratic regime.
Marjorie Sturdy’s warning that today’s threats to democracy in America are “not about parties” is spot on. More leaders everywhere should be willing to support the values that made America great after defeating the authoritarian movement Nick Bavaro’s father left behind for freedom and opportunity in a new land. The time to come to the aid of our country is now.
Well done Nick. Modesto is lucky to have a council person like you that really takes time to understand our local issues and be a champion for solutions.
I think it is great that people all across this country are rising up to make their voices heard. It reminds me of the early movement against the Vietnam War in the 60’s. I just hope that it keeps rolling and becomes the landslide that it will take to stop Donald and his Trumpers.
I still think that the Democrats need to label the rise in the cost of food and all other merchandise that will surely come if our ‘President who would be King’ continues on his present tariff path as the Trump Tax that it is.
Another part of the Trump Tax, if you have a retirement like mine that is directly tied to the Stock Market, is the drastic loss of value to those retirement funds.
The Dems need to start calling this rise in the cost of living Trump Taxes.
I hope people continue to rise up and make themselves visible in the way of peaceful public protests.
Just as happened in the 1950’s and 60’s in Vietnam this is anther dangerous example of the leadership of our federal government gone berserk against the wishes of the ‘silent majority’ of the citizens of our country.
People,
“Rise Up, Stand Up, Speak Up!” against these Trump Taxes which will degrade your families’ lives.
I think many demonstrations do not really do a lot of good, but this one was different. Every one of us 700 people there spoke for hundreds more who were not there. I think people know that. If I were McClintock, I would be worried. People are really upset, a lot of people, and they are showing it. The word to McClintock is either start opposing Trump’s meanness and craziness, or get defeated at the polls.
For whatever reason, you that voted for Trump seem to still like him. The intractable Legislatures that back him must agree or fear his retaliation. Possibly they are so happy to see their views on life, liberty and their version of happiness being granted by Trump, they stay silent. Whatever it is, “Hands Off” is a good slogan and a worthy object to obtain. Supporting a person and allies that don’t see a problem with snatching people off of streets and holding them in secret without the normal due process of law is anti Democratic. Deporting ANYONE without due process of law is wrong. Ignoring the Constitution at every turn, eg: being born in the USA guarantees citizenship. Ignoring judges’ decisions, rulings because they don’t agree with these purveyors of authoritarian, dictatorship ideals. Allowing unelected, unconfirmed, ignorant people like Musk, license to shred the Fed. Gov. Depts. to the point of non functioning is planned destruction. Issuing Exec. orders as if a King. and bypassing the constitutional powers of the other branches of Gov…. Trump is being allowed by the Republican majority in Gov to do all this. The Republican Party are determined to stop equality for all, history that speaks the truth, fair voting, education that promotes knowledge, helping others, as in disadvantaged children or countries, placing science over monetary gains for the few. In short, if the rich and powerful don’t agree to certain laws, ideals, Religions that don’t preserve making money over everything else, it is not a good thing. Those of us that believe in all these PEOPLE things, some in the Constitution and some not, are the ones out in the streets shouting, writing and calling against a massive takeover, coup, taking place in the name of one Political Party and that is the Republican Party. They, Republicans, are bringing the others, fascists and corrupt with them from all Parties, affiliations for the power.
Excellent!
May I add, another personal act that many of us can make is to buy untaxed California Municipal Bonds, as part of our home nest egg retirement. Ours we bought thru Stifel, and are earning a little more than 4%. Good, modest return while helping California to construct schools, sewers, roads, and lots more. They are not taxed by the Feds.
What a fantastic event – we the people, can change our own mistakes.
Trump/Vance can be impeached in 2026 when we the voters change not only the Congress, but the Senate to a 60 vote majority.
PLEASE vote in 2026.