PHOTO GALLERY: 'No Kings' protest draws over 50,000 to downtown San Diego

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- More than 50,000 protesters flooded the streets of downtown San Diego on Saturday as part of the nationwide "No Kings" demonstrations — a follow-up to the original wave of protests held back in June.

According to early estimates released by organizers, the turnout in San Diego reflects a broader national surge in participation. Initial counts suggest around 7 million people took part in Saturday’s coordinated demonstrations across the U.S., a significant increase from the estimated 4.8 million who participated in the original "No Kings" protest earlier this year.

The protest movement appears to be growing in both size and geographic spread. Organizers noted a marked increase in attendance at smaller, localized demonstrations throughout the country, signaling a shift in how the movement is building momentum.

In San Diego, the streets near Waterfront Park were packed with demonstrators carrying signs, chanting slogans and calling for a variety of reforms, though the protest remained largely peaceful throughout the day. The San Diego Police Department even commended the protesters for "keeping it classy."

Here's a photo gallery of the downtown demonstrations:

The final attendance numbers and additional updates are expected to be released soon, organizers said.