No Kings in Tri-Cities

Credit: Tri-City Herald

Protesters lined Columbia Center Boulevard on Saturday as part of a nationwide day of mobilization against actions from the Trump Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Loren Malone, co-founder of Indivisible Tri-Cities, the local organizer, estimates nearly 5,000 peaceful demonstrators from around the region showed up to the “No Kings Day” protest. Kennewick was one of 2,000 cities across the nation that held protests expected to draw millions this weekend.

The demonstrations were also in part a way to protest a $45 million parade held Saturday by the White House in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday. The day also coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday.

Malone compared Trump’s increasingly troubling actions to that of a dictator, highlighting the removal of U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla from a Homeland Security press conference as an example.

“I really do feel like this is about democracy,” Malone said. “Today is also Flag Day and we have had many people in our country — our forefathers, our veterans, family members — who have put their lives on the line to defend this flag, this constitution, to give us these freedoms.”

As large, sometimes violent, ant-ICE protests erupted in recent days in Los Angeles, there was trepidation that Saturday’s protests in Washington could spill over. A coalition of elected officials from around the state urged people to refrain from violence this weekend, with Gov. Bob Ferguson warning protesters to not “give Donald Trump an excuse” to call in the National Guard.

But Malone says the Tri-Cities demonstration was overwhelmingly peaceful. Tri-City protesters took up two blocks between Quinault Avenue and the Tapteal Loop bridge, waving signs and flags to weekend shoppers who drove by.

As barrages of honks passed them, protesters hollered and chanted: “No Kings,” “This is what democracy looks like,” “The people united will never be divided” and “Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go.”

Indivisible Tri-Cities also organized a canned food drive, and collected about 100 pieces of nonperishable food.

Kennewick Police Sgt. Stephen Wolosin said there were no reported arrests or injuries. Two calls came in from the area about a sign hitting car and a truck that reportedly hit somebody, but neither incident was substantiated by a witnesses.

See photos and read more at Tri-City Herald.