Rain drizzled on thousands of Bellingham residents in Maritime Heritage Park as they gathered for the “No Kings” protest on Oct. 18, 2025.
It was the second nationwide demonstration in the movement against what the No Kings organizers were calling “chaos, corruption, and cruelty.”
Phyllis Kiehn, a 98-year-old protestor, said she was not there to benefit herself. “It's for kids like you. Because if you girls and boys your age don't do something, what's going to happen? I have to be out here for you people,” Kiehn said. “Someone was out here when I was going to school. So I've got to be out here for you.”
On Western’s campus, students organized their own rally. Approximately 150 students and community members rallied in front of the “Stairs to Nowhere” sculpture outside Western’s Communications Facility, with organizers intending to march towards downtown to join the No Kings protest in Maritime Heritage Park.
The campus event opened with remarks from organizer Ronan Annee, followed by speeches from other organizers and guest speaker Andrew Reding, a Bellingham City Council candidate.
“I really wanted to get more into activism and direct action,” said Annee. “I also really wanted to involve students more in organizing and direct action.” He cited local activist Jim Ace as his inspiration for organizing the campus rally and participating in the No Kings protest.
Following the speeches, participants began marching northbound through Western's campus, with many participants wielding signs and even instruments with protest slogans written on them.
The demonstration coincided with Western’s Fall Family Weekend, drawing the attention of visiting families gathered in Red Square. Many watched the procession with visible surprise, while others expressed support for the demonstrators.
The march exited campus and continued north along High Street, as chants like “No Trump, no KKK, no fascists in the USA!” and “The people united will never be divided!” rang out. Residents showed support by cheering from balconies, porches and passing cars.
Attendants at the downtown rally held American flags of varying sizes, along with transgender and Palestinian flags. Attendants toted signs that said, “Be brave, resist lies,” “Only the people can save the people,” “ICE belongs in beverages,” “This is what a patriot looks like,” and many more.
There were several booths from organizations such as Planned Parenthood, Indivisible Bellingham, Whatcom County Democrats and Troublemakers Bellingham. Dogs in raincoats walked about, and people wore inflatable costumes like giraffes, dinosaurs and chickens.
Erik Thomas said that he was out there because the current situation is rotten. “I have to do something to voice my discontent and exercise free speech and freedom of assembly,” Thomas said. “As a teacher, I'll get through it, but I'm going to see a lot of people suffer needlessly. And cruelty should not be a policy.”
Terry Pigusch, a regular participant in the Bellingham Peace Vigil for the past 15 years, expressed concern over what he saw as performative activism at this event.
“If you remember when Trump was first elected and how many people were on the street here? Two weeks later, they’re all gone,” he said. Pigusch went on to say he believes only a small percentage of the participants in Saturday’s rally will continue to participate in direct action.
City Council candidate Andrew Reding, who had spoken at the on-campus rally earlier in the day, also shared his thoughts on the No Kings protest and the importance of sustained action.
“The kind of sustained action that ultimately makes the greatest difference is organizing around specific objectives.” Reding went on to mention organizations like Community First Whatcom, a Bellingham-based organization that focuses on community-driven initiatives and grassroots organizing.
CFW was responsible for citizen initiatives like the $2 wage increase, which set Bellingham’s minimum wage $2 above the state's and, according to Reding, was his proposal.
Speeches for the rally began at 1 p.m., and Shu-ling Zhao, a local community organizer, hosted the event.
“One of the most patriotic things we can do is hold our government accountable to the promise of what democracy can be,” Zhao said.
First, Taylor Venema began by giving a land acknowledgement: “I'd like to start out by acknowledging that this beautiful place that we call home is the ancestral and stolen territories of the Nooksack and Lhaq‘temish, or Lummi, peoples – the first inhabitants of this land who still reside here today.”
Robin Thomas from Indivisible Bellingham spoke next, outlining the safety measures and protocols in place.
Alex Ramel, a Washington State House Representative from the 40th district, followed Thomas.
“I'm here because I believe that it's critical that those of us who value diversity, equity and inclusion speak out,” Ramel said. “Friends, 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.”
After Ramel finished speaking, the crowd chanted, “The people united will never be defeated.” Then Robert Sarazin Blake led the crowd in singing “There are no kings in America.”
Next to speak was Christiana Woodcock from Indivisible Bellingham.
“This is exactly where all of us are supposed to be, united in community, gathered by a desire to protect our freedom, our neighbors and our democracy,” Woodcock said. “Together, we are indivisible, but only if we choose to be. That desire to unite against harm is a claim that must be fed. Because resistance is not just a moment of protest, it is a commitment.”
Then Debbie Brotherton from Troublemakers Bellingham spoke. “We aim to make good trouble: trouble that challenges white supremacy, oppression and injustice,” Brotherton said.
Afterward, Selene Etheredge from Trans Survival and Taylor Venema, a speaker from Indivisible Bellingham, spoke about various organizations, including Trans Survival, the Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood and Extinction Rebellion Bellingham.
“We're in the same boat together. And I'm here to tell you that this is not a performance. This is not a hobby. This is not something to seek when it's convenient. This is a commitment. And we all must commit,” Etheredge said. “Our nation and her descendants depend on you. The battle for America's future has begun, and it will include you. Whether or not you act, it will include you.”
After that, musician Cascade Cody sang the Woody Guthrie song “All You Fascists Bound to Lose.”
The last speaker was Dr. Vernon Damani Johnson. “Once the genie of government by the people and for the people was let out of the bottle, the trajectory of American history took on a life of its own,” Johnson said. After his speech, he led the crowd in singing “We shall not be moved.”
Towards the conclusion of Johnson’s song, at approximately 2:25 p.m., a man who wielded a laser pointer taped to his arm and a costume sword attached to his back was escorted away from the gathering following repeated disruptions. Officers reportedly told him he could face arrest for having a weapon near a demonstration and he complied with their request to leave, which he did after he was escorted out of the park by Bellingham City Police.
The event ended with a dance party, led by Sadye Osterloh of Dorky Dance Fitness.
“Really cool that there's all these booths here, and it's not just a rally for everybody to say what they feel. There's actions to move forward,” Osterloh said.
Attendant Sandra HF said it's important to protest any form of fascism under the authoritarian government we are currently under. "I also think it is beautiful to sort of protest with joy," they said. "As you can hear, there's music around. People are dancing ... And I think that's really powerful."
Brodey O’Brien (he/him) is a junior at Western, majoring in News/Editorial Journalism and Political Science. Brodey is one of The Front reporters responsible for writing about Campus News. When not writing for The Front, Brodey can be found running around Bellingham, hiking Mt Baker and saving up for gas. You can reach him at brodeyjob.thefront@gmail.com
Adah Bassok (she/her) is a city news reporter for The Front this fall quarter. She was previously a campus life reporter for The Front, and she is a news and editorial journalism major at Western. Outside of the newsroom, you can find her reading and exploring the outdoors. You can reach her at adahbassok.thefront@gmail.com.
Janessa Bates (she/her) is a city news writer for The Front this fall quarter. She is currently studying visual journalism and political science at Western. Outside of the newsroom, she co-leads a club called WWU Photo Video Club, enjoys reading and loves to picnic with her dachshund. You can reach her at janessa.thefront@gmail.com.
