OLYMPIA, WA – Thousands of people gathered on the grounds of the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Saturday for the “No Kings” protest, part of a nationwide day of defiance against President Donald Trump.
Around the country, similar demonstrations unfolded throughout the day and had been planned in more than 2,000 locations nationwide. The protests coincided with Trump’s birthday and a large-scale military parade in Washington, D.C.
In Olympia, crowds remained peaceful, and the Department of Enterprise Services, which manages the Capitol grounds, said attendance peaked at around 5,000 people.
“When we say no kings, we are rejecting systems that hold power and erase our existence,” said Natalie Coblentz, a speaker at the rally, adding that the gathering was meant to demonstrate protesters’ refusal to be ruled by kings, tyrants, or systemic oppression.
The protests began at 9:45 a.m. near the Capital Mall, west of downtown Olympia. There, a crowd of around a couple dozen people began marching toward the Capitol, with people joining along the way. When demonstrators arrived at the Capitol around 11 a.m., the crowd size had grown to around 2,000.
A band played music near the campus’ Tivoli Fountain as people lined Capitol Way, holding up signs as cars honked in support. People also spread out to the steps of the Legislative Building and the Temple of Justice, where the state Supreme Court convenes.
Attendees could be seen dancing to music, blowing bubbles, and sitting in the sun. Olympia Indivisible, the group organizing the rally, emphasized that participants should remain nonviolent.
Gov. Bob Ferguson and other elected officials urged people to demonstrate peacefully at a press conference yesterday.
Those warnings followed Trump’s decision to deploy about 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in response to protests over immigration enforcement that began there late last week.
The band marched to the Capitol steps around noon and speakers took the stage shortly thereafter. They criticized how Trump has handled a range of issues, including immigration, veterans’ affairs and transgender rights.
“This regime is sowing fear and division to chill our dissent and silence our opposition as they systematically attack the pillars of democracy,” said Lisa Ornstein, Olympia Indivisible co-founder, in a speech.
Throughout the day, people shouted chants like “no kings, no tyrants” or “land of the free because of the brave.”
At the top of the steps, a large sign spelling out the word “resist” was held up, each letter was decorated differently with the trans, Ukrainian, and Palestinian flags, among other designs.
Speeches ended around 2 p.m. and the crowd began to disperse shortly after. Most participants had left the campus by 3 p.m. Counter protesters did not appear to be in attendance.
This story first appeared on Washington State Standard.
