Thousands of protesters turned out at rallies in and around Tacoma on Saturday, in response to President Donald Trump’s military parade on the same day in Washington, D.C..
They gathered as part of a nationwide “No Kings” protest at People’s Park and near Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Puyallup and Federal Way – joining more than 2,000 other cities across the country, according to organizers. Demonstrators led chants saying “show me what democracy looks like,” calling for attendees to stand up to recent attacks on LGBTQ+ people, immigrants and other marginalized groups.
Saturday’s demonstrations also came amid other protests around the country in response to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and Trump’s immigration crackdown. Trump attempted to activate the National Guard and Marines earlier this week in response to protests in Los Angeles – against California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wishes.
In Washington, Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards and Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello joined other officials, including Gov. Bob Ferguson, on June 11 in condemning Trump’s activation of the National Guard in California.
“We understand the strong feelings that President Trump’s actions are generating in our state. The right to protest is core to our nation. It is critical that Washingtonians do so peacefully. Violence will not be tolerated. Those who break the law can expect to be held accountable,” their statement reads. “At the same time, we expect that local law enforcement will manage all protests with professionalism, and without interference from the federal government.”
The scene in Tacoma at People’s Park featured speakers from local labor unions and activists from groups like Tacoma for All, and also local officials like Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello and former Governor Jay Inslee.
Attendees and speakers described Trump’s leadership as fascism, calling for the public to stand against it.
“We are here today in Tacoma saying we will not yield to that darkness in the smallest dimension,” Inslee said at People’s Park. “If anyone says you can’t make a difference, you tell them, hogwash. These voices are making a difference. We have already forced Donald Trump to retreat in several ways, and it is our job to make him retreat in the months to come.”
Others emphasized the peaceful nature of Saturday’s events, which came as police in Los Angeles have been cracking down on protesters rallying against a recent surge in ICE immigration raids with tear gas and other less-lethal projectiles.
“It is essential, essential that we remain peaceful,” Mello told the crowd. “And it is essential that we keep our eyes on the prize.”
Veteran Daniel Bennett said he attended the rally in People’s Park to speak out against Trump and represent the veteran community, which he said Trump has used as “pawns for his political gain.” He criticized Trump for the millions that the military parade taking place at the same time in Washington, D.C. are forecast to cost. NPR reported that Army officials expect it to cost between $25 and $45 million.
“I hope it serves as a wake up call,” Bennett said of the No Kings rallies. “It distracts from his very fragile ego. It pulls the attention away from his parade, and it sheds a light on how just insecure he is.”
Gig Harbor
In Gig Harbor, demonstrators gathered at all four corners of the intersection of Point Fosdick Drive & Olympic Drive, lining the sidewalks in each direction.
Claudia Alfred, retired from the Peninsula School District and member of the Indivisible Gig Harbor group, told The News Tribune during the protest that she was there “as an American citizen expressing my right to protest, and I disagree with everything that’s happening with our establishment at the moment.”
She said she arrived at the rally at 11:30, ahead of the 12 p.m. start time, and “there were quite a few people already here.”
She said the crowd was larger Saturday than what was in attendance at the April “Hands Off” protest also at the same intersection.
About three to four vehicles with either Trump flags or Confederate flags drove through the intersection. The News Tribune witnessed at least one vehicle spin out its tires in front of a group of rallygoers, filling that spot with a black cloud of exhaust.
”That happened last time too,” Alfred said.
One car drove through neighboring business parking lots playing Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” and exhibiting a Trump/Vance sign.
A man who identified himself as Mike said he drove in from Bonney Lake for the Gig Harbor event. He held a sign that read, “When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty — Thomas Jefferson”
“We’re here to protest what Trump’s doing, and his authoritarianism and his fascist type of activities, having the military and the National Guard called out in California, all these issues are important to us,” he said. “ICE, indiscriminate arrests. We didn’t vote for that.”
Referring to the earlier news Saturday morning of the shootings of two Minnesota Democratic lawmakers in their homes and the news Thursday of Democratic U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla being handcuffed and briefly detained during a Homeland Security news conference in Los Angeles, he added, “Our whole system is breaking down.
“When the senator in California got brought to his knees and handcuffed after identifying himself. If that could happen to a senator, to a judge or to our legislature, it could happen to all of us anytime. There is no accountability. That’s what we’re protesting here.”
Another participant, masked and wearing sunglasses, did not want to give her name.
“I have a lot to lose by coming, but I have a lot more to lose if I don’t come,” she said. “Pretty much as simple as that, I’m young and I got a lot of life left in me, and this is something that matters to me so I can come out for the people who can’t.”
A smaller group also gathered along Key Peninsula Highway in front of the Key Center shopping center reciting “No Kings’ chants and waving at vehicles driving by. Some pro-Trump supporters were also seen in attendance.