Expect 2,000 at rally in Olympia this weekend. Here’s what to know about traffic
Olympia residents should expect crowds and a partial street closure at the Capitol Campus on Saturday due to two rallies, according to the Department of Enterprise Services.
One, hosted by Turning Point USA’s Vector College chapter, is estimated to attract about 2,000 attendees, DES’s event calendar states.
TPUSA is a nonprofit co-founded by the late political commentator Charlie Kirk that advocates on school and college campuses nationwide for conservative causes. Kirk was assassinated last year while speaking at a Utah university.
Vector College in Wenatchee recently launched a two-year associate program and is connected to Grace City Church, according to the church’s website. It describes itself as an “anti-woke Christian college.”
The “TPUSA Vector Hope Rally” will be located on the Legislative Building’s north steps, the south steps of the Temple of Justice and the flag circle, according to DES.
In addition, the King County Republican Party is hosting a “Rally Against Income Tax” on Saturday afternoon at the Capitol, DES notes. Some 200 people are expected to attend the rally located on the Tivoli Fountain’s north and south lawns.
DES says that the rallies will last from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The flag circle will close — as will Cherry Lane north of the Winged Victory statue — and the department says to anticipate heavy foot traffic.
As of now, the city of Olympia does not have plans for road changes or closures as a response to possible traffic, Assistant City Manager Stacey Ray said in an email. She added that the city “will, of course, be continuing to monitor the upcoming event.”
In a post on Instagram, TPUSA Vector encouraged people to attend to “send a message of hope to those fighting for righteousness and to call out those promoting evil in our state legislature.”
Keyton Lawter, TPUSA Vector’s president, said in a social-media video that worship will start Saturday at 11:30 a.m. with speakers beginning at noon.
Speakers will include Adam James, a pastor who recently announced that he’s running as a Republican for state representative in the 12th Legislative District covering parts of Chelan, King and Snohomish counties. Rep. Mike Steele, a Chelan Republican, currently holds that Position 2 seat.
Rep. Jim Walsh, who also chairs the Washington State Republican Party, posted about the King County GOP’s upcoming income-tax event on Facebook. He noted that the House will be debating bills on the floor that day, adding: “So, you can attend the rally and then head inside to watch the ‘sausage’ being made.”
The proposed income tax is commonly referred to by Democrats as the “millionaires tax” and seeks to impose a 9.9% levy on annual income exceeding $1 million.
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