Anticipation is building — and some are holding their breath — ahead of Saturday’s big event: Washington’s “No Kings” protests.
The Capitol Campus in Olympia will host an estimated 5,000 people as part of the coordinated day of 1,800 rallies in towns and cities nationwide. All told, more than 3 million demonstrators are expected to participate across the country, including in Seattle and other Washington cities.
The protests coincide with a large-scale military parade in Washington, D.C. to mark the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, which also lands on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
Acrimony between the federal government and Democratic-run states has begun to boil over in recent days. Trump, for instance, deployed National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles amid widespread protests against his administration’s immigration policies and enforcement.
Trump has also warned that protesters at the D.C. military parade would face “very big force.”
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson issued a joint statement Wednesday alongside Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and King County Executive Shannon Braddock. The leaders condemned Trump’s activation of National Guard forces in California over Gov. Gavin Newsom’s objections.
They acknowledged that many Washingtonians are upset by Trump’s actions and said the right to protest is “core to our nation.” They also urged people to refrain from violence.
“We of course are very focused on the days ahead of us and making sure we’re doing everything we can to ensure the president does not take an illegal action here in Washington state,” Ferguson said at a Thursday news conference in Seattle.
Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank has argued that it’s within Trump’s right as president to activate the National Guard.
“The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office welcomes our federal law enforcement partners to assist us with keeping the peace,” he replied to Ferguson’s joint statement on X. The President has the Constitutional right to activate the National Guard. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office welcomes our federal law enforcement partners to assist us with keeping the peace.”
Shasti Conrad, chair of the state’s Democratic Party, issued a Wednesday news release on protesting effectively and safely. She cited armed forces being sent to California and said “Washington is likely next.”
Protest-safety tips from the state Democrats include planning ahead; bringing snacks, first-aid kits and water; and brushing up on legal rights. The party encourages people to don comfortable clothes and close-toed shoes, and for contacts-wearers to instead use glasses.
“These blatant provocations are meant to create a situation that ‘justifies’ federalizing the National Guard,” Conrad wrote. “We implore everyone not to play into Trump’s hands and fall for his schemes. Trump wants us to escalate so he can send in troops.” What is ‘No Kings Day’?
The “No Kings Day of Defiance” is a coordinated rejection of authoritarianism and Trump’s military parade, which is expected to showcase thousands of soldiers and hundreds of military aircraft and vehicles in a hawkish display of might.
“They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services,” the No Kings website reads. “The corruption has gone too. far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings.”
The No Kings protests are affiliated with the 50501 movement, a national coalition that’s put on several other protests following Trump’s return to office.
The Department of Enterprise Services’ (DES’) Capitol security program offers security technology services, such as physical security and video monitoring, for this and every event, said spokesperson Adam Holdorf. DES supports the Washington State Patrol in investigating and detecting incidents, he said.
DES’ campus security hotline is 360-407-9111 for security or non-emergency safety issues. Holdorf said people should call 911 in cases of emergency.
Cpt. Deion Glover with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) said via email that WSP plans to monitor the event and will provide “ample presence when needed.”
“We have been monitoring what is happening around the country and continue to ask our community to assemble peacefully while they speak out for their causes” Glover said.
A spokeswoman for the Washington state National Guard said via phone Thursday that there hasn’t been a request for any National Guard presence.
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