Hundreds of Californians rallied against President Trump’s offshore oil leasing plan on February 8 in Sacramento, marching to the plan’s only formal hearing in California. Ahead of the hearing, thousands of Californians rallied in seven cities to oppose Trump’s proposal to open up the Pacific and other U.S. oceans to offshore drilling for the first time in more than 30 years.

Rallies were held February 3 in San Diego, Laguna Beach, Santa Monica, Brea, Ventura, San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz after the federal government ignored requests by California’s congressional delegation and state leaders to hold additional hearings closer to coastal communities threatened by offshore drilling.

The Trump administration’s draft 2019-2024 offshore leasing plan, released January 4, would allow drilling in federal waters in all U.S. oceans, despite opposition from the governors of almost every coastal state. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is holding one hearing in each of the 22 affected states. The February 8 hearing in Sacramento will be preceded by a large rally on the North Steps of the Capitol starting at 1:30 p.m.

Hundreds Rally in Sacramento Against Trump's Offshore Drilling Plan | Californians Rally Against Trump's Plan for Offshore Oil Drilling in Pacific, Arctic

Protest Against Offshore Drilling at Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Public Hearing

Related Feature: Trump Plan Would Open Portions of Pacific to New Oil Leasing for First Time in 30 Years