Thousands descend on Tacoma’s Wright Park for ‘No Kings’ rally
Wright Park was a sea of cardboard signs and inflatable costumes Saturday afternoon as over 2,000 people took a stand against the Trump administration at one of several “No Kings” rallies taking place across Tacoma.
Saturday marked the third nationwide “No Kings” day of protest since Trump took office in 2025.
Around a dozen anti-Trump demonstrations took place in and around Tacoma, including in Bonney Lake, Enumclaw, Gig Harbor, Milton, Puyallup and the Key Peninsula.
The firsts protests took place at Tacoma’s Union Station from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Then from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., participants had the option of going to Wright Park or Point Defiance Park as locations for protest.
At Wright Park, people of all ages erupted in cheers and chants as activists took to the octopus-themed stage to call the community to action.
This rally was largely organized by Indivisible Tacoma, a local chapter of the national volunteer organization that advocates for progressive leaders and policies.
The group brought in around 20 different community organizations, who tabled along the gravel path providing resources to the community and activities for kids like face painting.
“The point is to have people who don’t have a community or don’t feel commutable to come,” said Indivisible Tacoma Co-Chair Ellen Floyd. “We get feedback on Mobilize and people after October said, ‘It was one of the best things I ever did, and I felt like I wasn’t alone.’”
It was Karen Frankest and Lisa Bostwick’s first time at a “No Kings” protest. The issues on the forefront of their minds bringing them to the rally included the war in Iran, Trump’s treatment of women, the actions of ICE and especially the Epstein files.
“Why I’m here is because, what else can I do?” Bostwick said. “I just want to let people know how many of us there are. I mean there’s millions and millions of people out protesting today, and for good reason.”
Neither woman thought the state and local governments are doing enough to counter the Trump administration.
“They let [Trump] get too much power, and when you stack the Supreme Court this is the worst thing that could happen,” Frankest said. “This doesn’t have checks and balances. He just doesn’t care.”
Sean and Lee Dill were attending their third “No Kings” protest Saturday and were glad to see such a large turnout at Wright Park.
“It’s a true example of ‘United we stand,’ right?” Lee said. “Everybody’s here for the same reason.”
When asked if local politicians are doing enough to address the federal government’s actions, Sean said “certainly not.”
“They are politicians so they toe the line of being in support and also kind of underhanded and pro-business,” Sean said.
The issue of LGBTQ+ rights is particularly important for Sean and Lee as parents to a nonbinary child.
“[We have] a vested interest in having a safe world for my kid, who’s a little bit different than other kids,” Sean said. “I don’t think the culture right now is making a better world for our children.”
Also at the protest was Jessica Steed, a transgender woman who was carrying a large trans pride flag flying in the wind. Even early on in the rally, multiple people had approached her to show support and meet a trans person for the first time, Steed said.
“As a trans individual flying the flag, that says that I’m not going down without a fight. I’m here,” she said.
Steed fears that if the Trump administration’s actions continue to escalate, peaceful protests could turn violent.
“When they’re killing innocent civilians in the street for exercising their First Amendment rights, it becomes more imperative that we use our voices and be visible now,” Steed said.
This story was originally published March 28, 2026 at 6:07 PM.
