A demonstration unfolded Saturday night at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Madison Street in downtown Seattle, obstructing all southbound and westbound traffic. At its peak, around 30 protesters were blocking the intersection. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) reported that the demonstration cleared shortly before 1 a.m.
Participants from Antifa were observed at this late-night protest, which followed a historic daytime rally where approximately 70,000 individuals gathered for the “No Kings” event. Small fires ignited as protesters dragged trash and public city bikes into the flames. Barricades set up by demonstrators blocked roads near the downtown Target, while nearby buildings and vehicles were vandalized with graffiti throughout the evening.
During the protest, footage obtained by KIRO 7 showed an individual on a motorcycle with a flaming torch setting a box alight, which was then rushed to the entrance of the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building. Protesters created a bonfire at the building’s entrance and ignited fireworks. Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers were seen gearing up a short distance away, with the fire being extinguished by 11:10 p.m., according to reports.
Katie Daviscourt, a reporter for The Post Millennial, noted that a driver in an SUV drove through the crowd after being harassed, resulting in an alleged injury to a protester. She also reported that the SPD was understaffed to adequately respond to the demonstration and advised the community to steer clear.
By 11:30 p.m., SPD officers faced off against the protesters, maintaining a distance of one block between each other. After about 10 minutes, the protesters dispersed as police advanced. The earlier protest had originated in Cal Anderson Park at noon, with participants marching to the Space Needle and then downtown Seattle, marking one of the largest protests in the city’s history, as estimated by The Seattle Times.
While some graffiti and vandalism were noted on Climate Pledge Arena, the earlier Cal Anderson Park gathering, along with a “No Kings” protest at the University of Washington’s graduation ceremony, remained “extremely peaceful,” as reported by KIRO Newsradio.
The event coordinators emphasized that “NO KINGS” represents a national day of action against the perceived growing authoritarianism and corruption associated with Trump and his allies.
In addition to protesting against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids initiated by the Trump administration, the demonstrations also aimed to express solidarity with movements in Los Angeles and highlight concerns regarding increasing authoritarianism under Trump.
Similar protests took place throughout the state, including in Everett, Tacoma, Olympia, Vancouver, and Spokane. A nationwide map tracking “No Kings” protests indicated that over 50 protests occurred in the Puget Sound region from Olympia to Bellingham, with organizers estimating around 2,000 protests against Trump took place across the country on that Saturday.
