Scenes from the 'No Kings Day' Protest in Yakima

June 14th was a national protest that even bled out internationally. It was a coordinated protest, titled No Kings Day, a response to the protesters' perception of President Trump and his cabinet’s repeated lawbreaking, abuse of power, and unchecked authority.

Protesters also pushed back against their anger towards increasing ICE raids without seeming oversight and reports of ongoing violations of civil rights. Protest organizers say the name was a reminder that America was founded not on kings or rulers, but on democracy—a democratic republic.

Yakima Stands Up

In Yakima, we witnessed a gathering of about 2,200 estimated people in Union Gap who showed up to line the sidewalk around the mall. The line seemed to start around where Party City used to be and stretched all the way down to near McDonald’s in Union Gap.

All sides of the roads saw protesters holding signs with messages of all kinds. People showed up with signs about specific policies, informative statements.

Get our free mobile app

A Loud but Peaceful Crowd

The crowd was loud, chanting multiple different slogans in excitement. Participants said it was a community of people turning out to show their love and support for others.

Groups like Yakima Indivisible came prepared with signs for anyone who needed them and information on people’s rights with a focus on promoting peaceful protest.

Yakima showed up and delivered a protest with no conflicts.

A Veteran’s Perspective

Among the crowd was a veteran who had ridden in on his motorcycle, holding a flag he usually kept at home. He said it represented his love and support for all people in America. When speaking with him, he expressed deep emotion—with tears in his eyes—as he looked over the sea of people showing love and support for their community. He said he had never known Yakima had so many people with such big hearts. He said it gave him hope and joy to know that this was what he had fought for.

Protest Numbers and National Impact

Numbers are still fluctuating online, but conservative estimates suggest that about 5 million across the U.S. participated in the No Kings Day protest, as Fox 9 KMSP reports. The Idaho Statesman in Boise reported that some speculate this may have been the largest protest in their city's history.

A New Spark of Patriotism for Many Who Attended

One thing is clear: this protest was loud. Protesters said the event helped bring communities together—even in places where they often feel disconnected. Cities like Yakima, which have been seen as historically more conservative, saw a massive turnout of people standing against President Trump and his decisions.

For many who attended the protest, they said it was the most patriotic they had ever felt in their lives.