70,000 join ‘No Kings’ protest marching from Capitol Hill to downtown Seattle

Approximately 70,000 people joined the “No Kings” protest in Cal Anderson Park before they marched to the Space Needle and then to the Seattle Center downtown.

The Cal Anderson gathering became one of the largest protests in Seattle’s history, The Seattle Times estimated.

It was just one of as many as 50 “No Kings” rallies that occurred throughout the Puget Sound Saturday. They were meant to run opposite of President Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C., according to Axios Seattle. Saturday is also the president’s 79th birthday.

Protests against the current administration are underway in Seattle and the Puget Sound Saturday, including a “No Kings” rally supported by Seattle Indivisible at Cal Anderson Park. pic.twitter.com/tIFZro9Eqf

— MyNorthwest (@Mynorthwest) June 14, 2025

The Cal Anderson Park protest began its march just after 1 p.m., heading into downtown Seattle. They arrived near the Space Needle just before 3 p.m. before ending at the Seattle Center.

Some graffiti and vandalism were spotted on the exterior of Climate Pledge Arena.

Protesters at Cal Anderson Park’s “No Kings” rally are marching through Capitol Hill into downtown Seattle.

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— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 14, 2025

The tail of the #NoKingsProtest has just left Cal Anderson. That’s over 1.5 miles full of people and not a single report of property damage. pic.twitter.com/UXDFxQPDGY

— Seattle Police Department (@SeattlePD) June 14, 2025

“Any concerns for safety today?” KIRO reporter Scott Carty asked marching participants.

“No,” a couple from West Seattle responded. “We want to show with a peaceful protest that this is who we are.”

“NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies,” event coordinators stated.

In addition to the demonstrations’ goal to end U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids ordered by the Trump administration, protesting in solidarity with the movements in Los Angeles, the protests also focused on what they claim is rising authoritarianism under the Trump administration.

The Cal Anderson protest was supported in part by Seattle Indivisible, a grassroots and all-volunteer organization working to create and secure progressive policies.

“In his ruthless pursuit of power, Donald Trump has launched an assault on the American people—destroying livelihoods, dismantling democratic institutions, terrorizing communities, and defying the rule of law,” Seattle Indivisible said in a statement ahead of Saturday’s rally. “He has weaponized our government to silence dissent, seeking to dominate Congress, the press, universities, states, cities, and anyone who refuses to submit to his authoritarian agenda. Now, he has ordered the military to crush protesters in Los Angeles and threatens Seattle—and any community that defies him—will be next.”

Katie Garrow, the head of MLK Labor, Noah Purcell, Washington Solicitor General, Palmira Figueroa, a longtime immigrant rights advocate, and U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal spoke at Cal Anderson Park.

‘No Kings’ rally takes place at UW during graduation

The University of Washington (UW) became home to a “No Kings” protest in the campus’ Red Square as graduation was commencing.

In addition to protesting rising authoritarianism under the Trump administration, the demonstration at UW also rallied over the college’s specific ties to Boeing and its response to a pro-Palestine campus protest.

A speaker at the University of Washington “No Kings” rally speaks on rising authoritarianism under the Trump administration. pic.twitter.com/DAD9BjYEFq

— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 14, 2025

Protesters at the “No Kings” rally at UW begin their march

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— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 14, 2025

KTTH stated that Antifa appeared at the Cal Anderson Park “No Kings” rally, while KIRO Newsradio saw light Antifa presence at the UW rally.

But the UW protest remained “extremely peaceful,” according to KIRO reporter Jonah Oaklief. KIRO reporter Scott Carty echoed a similar sentiment for the Cal Anderson Park protest.

Signs displayed at the “No Kings” rally taking place at the University of Washington. (Photo: Jonah Oaklief, KIRO Newsradio)

The crowd grows at the University of Washington “No Kings” rally Saturday, with more campus police on scene

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— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 14, 2025

“I’m here because I’m a first-generation immigrant,” one protester at the UW rally told KIRO Newsradio. “And I would like what’s happening to change.”

The UW rally ended after a brief march shortly after 2:30 p.m.

“No Kings” rally at UW ends without incident.

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— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 14, 2025

More than 50 ‘No Kings’ rallies throughout Puget Sound

Similar protests were scheduled all across the state, including Everett, Tacoma, Olympia, Vancouver, and Spokane. A map tracking all the No Kings protests across the nation can be seen here. There were as many as 50-something protests that happened in the Puget Sound region from Olympia to Bellingham.

Organizers estimated that 2,000 protests against Trump took place nationwide Saturday.

KIRO host John Curley made his way out to a “No Kings” rally in Cle Elum to interview participants.

KIRO host John Curley talks with Corey Demers in Cle Elum about why she is participating in the “No Kings” protests occurring throughout the Puget Sound Saturday. pic.twitter.com/FBlimaK6IQ

— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 14, 2025

More of the “No Kings” rally occurring in Cle Elum.

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— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 14, 2025

Tensions escalated in Tukwila, leading to tear gas being deployed by Tukwila Police.

Several blockades were set, deterring traffic throughout parts of the city.

#BREAKING: Homeland Security just deployed some kind of green smoke around the DHS office to disperse the violent crowd in Tukwila, WA. Antifa militants are starting to retreat.@choeshow|@tpusa pic.twitter.com/KzPm9VBAP1

— FRONTLINES (@FrontlinesTPUSA) June 14, 2025

The tension comes in response to Friday, when approximately 100 immigrants were ordered to report on their compliance with their provisional release from custody by ICE, according to The Seattle Times.

In response, dozens of activists waited outside the Department of Homeland Security headquarters in Tukwila to take the names of each immigrant who was ordered to report, confirming when they exited the building.

The group determined that one person was detained.

RETREATING: Antifa militants are scrambling for cover after law enforcement deployed tear gas outside the Department of Homeland Security office in Tukwila, WA.@choeshow|@TPUSA pic.twitter.com/F1yoP3MmAB

— FRONTLINES (@FrontlinesTPUSA) June 14, 2025

Seattle Police’s approach to Saturday

The Seattle Police Department stated that its officers were not to engage in confrontations with protesters. They were to only engage when public safety was at risk.

On the department’s police blotter webpage, SPD said it deployed a “Police Outreach and Engagement Team.” Members of this team are specifically trained to speak with organizers and community members before protests, with a goal of facilitating peaceful protests—and not confrontation.

The department stated that its officers were to prioritize low-profile tactics whenever possible, and would not interfere or ask a crowd to disperse unless there were immediate threats to public safety.

“Have I seen a single Seattle police officer? I have to think about it. No, I don’t think so,” one protester who marched from Cal Anderson Park to the Space Needle told KIRO Newsradio.

Recent Seattle protests

Wednesday night, eight protesters were arrested by the Seattle Police Department during an event outside the federal building. The building was tagged with “Abolish ICE,” and a dumpster fire broke out.

Thousands gathered downtown, demanding an end to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids ordered by the Trump administration.

Two Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers were injured during the clash with protesters.

Last month, at least eight people were arrested at what police called a “First Amendment event” outside Seattle City Hall. Chaos steadily escalated as opposing protest groups clashed at the scene. The event was spurred after a Christian group’s rally at Cal Anderson Park earlier that week turned violent.

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

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