No Kings rally may draw thousands. What is Indivisible Bellingham, its organizer?
Another No Kings rally and march in support of democracy is expected to draw thousands of people to downtown Bellingham this weekend, one of several held in recent years by the group Indivisible Bellingham.
It’s set for 1 p.m. Saturday in the gravel area across from Waypoint Park, featuring songs, chants and an address by Jewell James, the noted Lummi Nation carver, Indivisible’s Kevin Leja told The Bellingham Herald.
“People want to get involved and they’re interested in taking action. We’re very, very involved in holding our politicians — our elected officials — accountable and we’re civically engaged in what’s going on around us. That’s what our mission is all about,” Leja said in an interview at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, where Indivisible members were making signs and placards for the upcoming event.
Saturday’s march comes amid an escalating military conflict in the Middle East and threats to democracy and human rights in the United States, Leja said.
“There are a lot of people that are out there who are really tired and really scared and feeling alone. And the thing that you have to remember is that, No. 1, you’re not alone, and No. 2, we can do something about it together,” he said.
Indivisible was started during the first Trump administration by two congressional staffers who were alarmed at what they saw as the president’s autocratic actions. They modeled their group as a grassroots resistance similar to the conservative Tea Party that formed in opposition to President Obama.
Indivisible grew within a few months to more than 5,000 local groups nationwide, Leja said. Indivisible Bellingham started with eight members and now has more than 4,500 participants.
Previous Indivisible rallies have focused on immigrant rights, reproductive rights and other social issues. Leja said that the No Kings rallies center on the threats to U.S. democratic institutions posed by the Trump administration.
“It’s bringing the community together. We don’t endorse candidates. We’re ‘indivisible.’ It’s an open tent for everyone,” Leja said.
After the rally, an “unpermitted” march sponsored by the Bellingham Troublemakers is planned for downtown Bellingham, starting from rally about 1:45 p.m. and following a 1.5-mile route back to Waypoint Park. The procession heads east on Chestnut Street to Cornwall Avenue, heads north to Champion, then turns follow Champion to Commercial Street, Lottie Street, Grand Avenue, Champion Street, Bay Street, Prospect Street, Chestnut Street and Granary Avenue.
Donations are being accepted to offset the cost of renting the event space and building a stage and other infrastructure. Volunteers are being sought for a variety of tasks, including event setup and teardown, along with support during the march.
A statement from the Troublemakers acknowledges that they do not have a permit to march in the street or block traffic, but that they will be claiming their First Amendment of free speech and peaceful public assembly.
“A march against authoritarianism should not require permission. Public streets belong to the public, and exercising our constitutional rights affirms that,” the Bellingham Troublemakers’ Cindy Katzenberg said in an emailed statement.
Bellingham Police and other city officials are aware of the No Kings event, police Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Herald.
“BPD will have officers working specifically for the permitted rally on March 28, 2026, to ensure the rally remains a peaceful First Amendment assembly. The march has not, and will not, receive a permit to go forward. The organizers understand they do not have a permit for street closures and proper barricading to conduct their march,” Murphy said in an email.
Indivisible has held several rallies and marches over the nearly 10 years it has been organizing in Bellingham, and all have been peaceful, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting. Many of their events have drawn several thousand people.
This story was originally published March 23, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
