Thursday, October 1, 2026
A sea of humanity jump-started the third “No Kings” rally with a march from Percival Landing through the streets of downtown Olympia on the way to the Washington State Capitol Campus on Saturday morning.
By the time the group of several thousand people arrived, morning had turned to early afternoon and hundreds of supporters were on hand to welcome the participants as they paraded around the Winged Victory monument before ending their journey.
They had all gathered as part of massive demonstrations across the country aimed at protesting the policies and actions of President Donald Trump.
“I guess I want to show that resisting this evil regime is incredibly patriotic and the flag does not belong to MAGA — it belongs to all of us,” said Steve Levesconte, of Olympia, as he held an American flag while standing along Capitol Way amid blaring horns from passing vehicles and shouts of support from motorists.
“I’m newly horrified by how much further Trump has gone to destroy our country than I could ever have imagined.”
As the more than three hour event progressed, speakers took to a makeshift stage near Tivoli Fountain to speak out against the Trump administration.
“President Trump and his reckless administration are abusing their power and denying us our fundamental rights in the process. But we will not back down because power belongs to the people,” said Michele Storms, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, who was one of several speakers at the rally.
“We the people hold those who abuse their power to account. We’re here because we know we’re in a dangerous time … because we demand a fair and free democracy, and we’re here to say that our system is one with checks and balances, and not a system to be led by one individual — no kings.”
Storms was preceded by Rufina Reyes, Executive Director of La Resitencia, a Tacoma-based grassroots organization that is working to end the detention of immigrants. She touched on the organization's mission.
“The year we celebrated 12 years of fighting against detention. … Uplifting voices from inside the (Tacoma Northwest) detention center and making Washington a place that, so far, has been safe from detention expansion,” said Reyes in remarks that were delivered in Spanish and English.
“They are not only coming after us, they are coming after you. … What La Resistencia wants to emphasize is that this violence is not new, it is only now being given a green light by the current administration to happen out in the open. … If this is what we are seeing on the streets, what is it that happens behind closed doors, such as at the detention center.”
Sitting nearby on the lawn was Rhoda Besecker, of Lacey, who said she was enjoying the camaraderie and being around like-minded people.
“This is the third ‘No Kings’ rally I’ve been to. I loved the first two and I’m getting the same feeling (here),” she said.
The rally in Olympia was one of more than 3,000 that took place around the country on Saturday. Organizers said more than 8 million people participated in the events across all 50 states.
Olympia Indivisible and Evergreen Resistance teamed up to host the local rally, which also featured a number of community organizations.
The organizations set up tents on the lawn and passed out informational material to share and other items throughout the event that drew several thousand people.
Evergreen Resistance Media Liaison Raven Finnigan said the sunny weather probably helped, but the anger and frustration people have with Trump was a major catalyst.
“We’re here simply because the government is out of control. Congress is not answering to the will of the people. And there are no kings in the United States despite the fact that a certain president likes to say he is one,” Finnigan said.
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Carolyn Byerly
It's great to see this story, thanks, Wyatt!
There were many inspiring speeches on Saturday - you've captured many of them. In addition, I was especially moved by Mike Washington, a former Marine who served in the first Gulf War. He lost his son, who was also a Marine, in the U. S. war in Afghanistan. He criticized the U.S.'s unconstitutional policies and belligerence toward other nations.
Retired Evergreen Professor Peter Bohmer recited the numerous "illegal" assaults the U.S. has made on other nations since Trump returned to office -- the murder of Caribbean boatmen and fishermen, the invasion of Venezuela and kidnapping of its president, and now the unprovoked war in Iran.
Journalism is enormously important these days, and tracking the emerging social consensus against authoritarianism is indeed a public service to our community.
Monday, March 30 Report this
Honestyandrealityguy
Makes me wonder about common sense. As a legal immigrant, took our family 6 years to legally immigrate (it was worth it), I wonder why people can be so ignorant. Illegal immigration, human trafficking, modern day slavery, record crime, murder, drugs, illegal voting, and more.
I volunteered for 3 organizations that help fight human trafficking. The number one cause is illegal immigration. Why would these folks support that? I can remember seeing rescued children from human trafficking. Everyone had said they just wanted to "go home".
Find solutions to problems. Talking about them does nothing. What is the solution?
Monday, March 30 Report this
wolfmanner
Go away Wayne.
Monday, March 30 Report this
johnosaunders
Thank you, JOLT, for reporting on this newsworthy event in our community. One may agree or disagree with message of this rally but we should all appreciate that it was reported on in local media.
Monday, March 30 Report this
Snevets
Thank you for sharing this incredibly important rally for our Democracy! What a great day!
Monday, March 30 Report this
chrispc2u
It was great fun shoving it the face of Shelton rednecks slowly driving by stuck in traffic!
Monday, March 30 Report this
RitaRose
Several thousand attended? Did you check with the State Patrol? I heard an estimate of 8,000.
Tuesday, March 31 Report this
Olywelcomesall
Thank you Wyatt Haupt for the good reporting and thank you JM Simpson for the excellent pictures. It is great to see that over 8 thousand people in Olympia joined together against the rising dictatorship of Trump. And most of people I met on the street, in the march and on the Capitol grounds were expressing joyful celebration of our democracy and supporting our neighbors whoever they may be. The opening speaker noted the small group across on east campus protesting the Governor. “They are practicing freedom of speech just like we are” people in the No Kings thousands cheered!
Thank you JOLT for reporting this significant gathering for democracy and against Dictatorship.
Tuesday, March 31 Report this
Bokooo
The whole "no Kings" thing is simply confusing. Can someone tell me what makes liberals think President Trump a monarch? Just one or two examples such as:
*Being required to have medical insurance...
*Wear a mask of get fired....
*Taxation of one targeted demographic,,,
Thanks in advance for the enlightenment...
Tuesday, March 31 Report this
CobraCommander
Honestyandrealityguy comments with pearl clutching yet still supports the guy listed in the Epstein files over 32,000 times.
Tuesday, March 31 Report this
AugieH
If one takes the position that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend", I wonder how many Iranian flags were displayed in the No Kings marches across the country.
Even if you think the current war against Iran is illegal, unnecessary, or just another outrage perpetuated by a monarchical Trump, we're in it like it or not. What I'd rather see now are marches in support of our troops fighting a regime thought terrorist and which ought not have The Bomb by such luminaries as Obama, Hillary, Bernie, Kamala, and Joe. Let's WIN now and investigate motives later.
When our service members come home from this war, will they be spit upon as they were during the Vietnam debacle? I ask you, how virulent is your TDS?
Tuesday, March 31 Report this
Cobbnaustic
The only person in this state that is acting like king is Bob Ferguson passing taxes without a vote of the people.
Tuesday, March 31 Report this
Shushu
Would like to attend a March. How about putting in events.
Tuesday, March 31 Report this
Boatyarddog
Bokooo, you possibly don't understand that there are many more people than the type of people that you think you'd like to see in society. Diversity comes in all shapes, colors and the preferences.So you should get on board with that , otherwise you're just destined to perish.
Wednesday, April 1 Report this
Boatyarddog
Cobbnausea, so you're okay with kings, as long as it all goes your way, right! Republicans are such children and teenage actors , that's all it is. Snowflakes really
Wednesday, April 1 Report this
Boatyarddog
AugieH, gosh auggy, h, how old are you? different time?Different place come up to the new world.Expectations of how society should act , not how society acted in the past.
Wednesday, April 1 Report this
Boatyarddog
As far as TDS? IM HAPPY to admit, I've been A NEVER TRUMPER since Birth! VERY PROUD OF IT TOO
Friday, April 3 Report this