Thousands rally at Bellingham No Kings protest against Trump administration
Several thousand protesters braved persistent rain and drizzle on the edge of downtown Bellingham on Saturday to join in a nationwide series of rallies against Trump administration policies, collectively called the No Kings demonstrations.
Participants young and old nearly filled Maritime Heritage Park, a crowd that was likely larger than the June 6, 2020 Black Lives Matter protest that drew an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 people. Almost every piece of the lawn was occupied, and participants were still arriving at 2 p.m., an hour into the program.
Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald that a man who was wearing a sword at his side and pointing lasers toward officers was escorted away from the rally but was not arrested. Murphy said there were a handful of counter-protesters but no organized opposition.
State Rep. Alex Ramel, a Democrat who represents the 40th District that includes Bellingham, urged the crowd to find ways to support democracy.
“History is being made by us today. The eyes of the future are on us. All of us who believe in justice freedom, equality and democracy need to speak up, stand up, and act,” Ramel told the cheering crowd.
Other speakers included trans rights activist Selene Etheredge and human rights advocate Shu-Ling Zhao. Musician Robert Sarazin Blake led the crowd in song, chanting “There are no kings, there are no kings, there are no kings in America.”
More than 2,500 rallies and protests were planned across the U.S. on Saturday, sponsored by the organizations Indivisible and 50501 amid a federal government shutdown, increasing arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Trump’s use of National Guard troops in several cities with Democratic administrations.
Maureen Kosa of Bellingham told The Herald she is concerned about the status of the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law.
“I really feel like our democracy, we’re losing it — or we’ve already lost it. We really need to get together, all sides,” Kosa said.
In Bellingham, participants waving protest signs marched from Western Washington University and the Fairhaven business district in a show of support.
Many in the crowd wore costumes of frogs, chickens, dinosaurs, unicorns, ”Star Wars” rebellion characters — even a “Bad Bunny” outfit — in allegiance with protesters in Portland who have made inflatable costumes a mainstay of recent ICE facility protests.
They waved signs saying “No Kings,” “No fear,” “No ICE,” “Resist!,” and “This is not right or left. It’s right or wrong.” They held American flags upside down, the international symbol of distress, and chanted SOS.
Juan Alter of Bellingham told The Herald he’s started carrying a card that lists his rights as an American, because he is a young Hispanic man.
“It’s definitely worrying that ICE has been in Bellingham. I’ve driven past them and it’s terrifying. But I just have to keep my head on my shoulders, (and) keep watching my back,” Alter said.
This story was originally published October 18, 2025 at 4:42 PM.
