Dozens of people rallied at Yokuts Park in central Bakersfield to ask the Trump Administration not to reduce the size of the Sequoia National Monument. Many were worried about the environmental impact and a possible downsizing of the tourism industry if the forest is reduced to 90,000 acres during the event on Tuesday.

Others have argued that opening the area to mining and logging would bring good paying jobs, and downsizing the forest would protect the Kern River Valley from another Erskine Fire.

Trump may also decide on Thursday to eliminate the monument.

Kelli Forsch