Some 5,000 protesters rail against Trump, Musk at ‘No Kings’ rally in Olympia

Thousands of people rallied at the Capitol Campus in Olympia on Saturday as part of a coordinated “No Kings” pro-democracy protest against President Donald Trump.

Official estimates from the Department of Enterprise Services put the peak number at 5,000 attendees, although some onlookers believed that total was likely an undercount.

The demonstration kicked off alongside roughly 2,000 protests across cities and towns nationwide. Other No Kings events were planned in Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane and other Washington cities.

State and local leaders urged participants ahead of time to keep the protests peaceful, noting that violence wouldn’t be tolerated.

The coordinated rallies were planned for the same day as the massive military parade in the nation’s capital to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army — a day that also happens to be President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.

It comes as the federal government has become increasingly hostile toward Democrat-run states and cities, and as Trump has sent the National Guard and Marines to squelch days-long protests against his administration’s immigration enforcement in Los Angeles.

Thousands milled about on the Capitol Campus for the peaceful demonstration while a sea of signs railed against Trump and blasted fascism. Huge letter-banners at the top of the Legislative Building’s north steps spelled out the word “RESIST.”

Near the Tivoli Fountain, chants were punctuated by encouraging honks from passing cars. Drums and cymbals kept a rhythmic, thudding beat.

Olympia Indivisible co-founder Lisa Ornstein told the crowd that protesters had gathered together Saturday at a “perilous moment.” She said Trump’s administration has defied the courts, flouted the U.S. Constitution, slashed essential services and targeted civil rights, among other violations.

Facing the Legislative Building, Ornstein referenced the military parade.

“This display of might is intended to intimidate opponents and solidify his (Trump’s) image as a strong man on our dime,” she said. “In response, in over 2,000 towns and cities across the nation, hundreds of thousands of ‘we the people’ are showing up to recall the principles American patriots championed 250 years ago: No tyrants, no kings.”

McClatchy asked the White House for comment on the No Kings protests and allegations that Trump is imposing an authoritarian agenda. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly sent a statement hyping up the military parade and referring the media company to remarks the president made Thursday.

“I don’t feel like a king,” Trump reportedly said after being asked about the protests. “I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.”

Eunice Santiago, co-founder of the local immigrant- and refugee-focused nonprofit CIELO, expressed solidarity with those affected by deportations and raids carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), both in the U.S. and beyond. She said that in her homeland of Puerto Rico, ICE has also been arresting immigrants from the Dominican Republic.

Santiago said that the United States’ long history of xenophobia, plus its casting of immigrants as “criminals,” has led some to believe that immigration is the country’s biggest problem.

“Immigrants are a familiar target to justify persecution, but it’s not just them,” Santiago said. “When protest and dissent are equated to subversion or terrorism, your legal status will not protect you.”

March to the Capitol for ‘No Kings’

Before the rally at the Capitol, at least 100 demonstrators with colorful signs and American flags in hand marched from west Olympia to the Capitol Campus. The pro-democracy People’s Rebellion group organized the more than 2-mile walk to the Capitol, where they merged with folks gathered for the event sponsored by Olympia Indivisible.

“Hey hey, ho ho, Trump and Musk have got to go,” they chanted along the way.

Daniel Bellevue, 40, showed up in west Olympia Saturday morning to protest against actions by the Trump administration. The way Bellevue sees it, the president represents authoritarianism, greed and billionaires’ interests: “He doesn’t represent the people.”

Bellevue said that he fears that basic freedoms are at stake.

“Just the ability of him to organize ICE, to take people off the streets without due process,” he said. “He’s arresting people for speaking their mind. They’re arresting senators for asking questions. It’s all authoritarian and fascism.”

Bee Smithling, 40, has a transgender child receiving hormone therapy and fears a future where he won’t be allowed to exist.

“I mean we would really have no choice but to flee (the country), which is ... the most terrifying thing I could think of, honestly,” Smithling said.

One demonstrator’s sign read: “The only minority destroying this country are the billionaires.” Another said: “We the people: No kings.”

Greg Hammaker, 38, turned up to protest against what he views as authoritarianism emanating from the Trump administration. He also wanted to show solidarity with Los Angeles’ protests against ICE, or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“This can’t go on like this. This is not right,” Hammaker said. “There’s so many problems and it’s just so frustrating. And I just want people to do something about this administration and their lawlessness.”

Sisters Lisa Kuhlman, 67, and Cheryl Deviny, 69, referenced the rise of Nazism in Germany and the “good Germans” who sat by and watched Adolf Hitler’s regime commit atrocities in World War II.

“What we are telling each other is we don’t want to be good Germans in our family — and we are German, by the way,” Deviny said.

Kuhlman said that every day, she’ll hear things in the news that make her sad, mad, scared and overwhelmed. She said that it’s hard to believe that this is happening in her country.

“We’re here to let the powers that be know that we disagree,” Kuhlman said.

This story was originally published June 14, 2025 at 12:46 PM.

Simone Carter

The Olympian

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