SEATTLE, Wash. — “No Kings” marches were held Saturday throughout the country and across Washington State. In Seattle, thousands of people turned out for a march that culminated with a voting fair at the Seatle Center.
Participants walked from Westlake Park, chanting and holding signs protesting the slow release of the Epstein files, the immigration crackdown, war in Iran, and other Trump Administration policies.
“I see the country going in the wrong direction,” Elsa Shermer said. “I’ve always thought Donald Trump was the wrong person, so I’m going to stand up and say it.”
Thousands “said it,” as they exercised their first amendment, free-speech rights. But Saturday’s event was about more than talk.
“I mean, it’s good to be involved in stuff like this, but it’s also really good to leave, and then feel motivated to actually do something,” Kaiden Kaiser said. “There’s a lot of ways that you can get involved.”
That includes voting, which is why organizers arranged for Seattle’s “No Kings” march to end with a voting fair.
“Our focus really today is to get out the vote and make sure people know, have access to information, so that they can make a decision about what they want to do,” Seattle Indivisible’s Kathleen Carson said.
Seattle Indivisible was one of the “No Kings” event organizers.
A line of booths, near the International Fountain, offered information about the upcoming general election, state-wide ballot measures, voting, and election protection. People KIRO 7 spoke to appeared to need little encouragement to vote.
“Your vote counts. Everybody’s vote counts. Black, white, Puerto Rican, Chinese -- everybody. And I think everybody should do it,” Christine Davis said.
“It’s important to vote. Even though people say it doesn’t matter anymore, you know, it does matter,” Monique Guevara said.
“If you’re not voting, I feel like that’s you signaling that you’re OK with the way things are going right now and it’s just -- that’s just not a position that I would want to be in,” Kaiser added.
People who oppose the president and his policies point out this midterm election is critical, with Democrats hoping to regain control of the U.S. House and Senate.
“This election is so important. This is our first opportunity to really take back power and hold this administration accountable,” Carson said.
Carson encouraged “No Kings” marchers to cast their ballots early.
After a significant number of ballots were post marked after Washington’s August primary election day, the Washington Secretary of State is now recommending voters mail their ballots as soon as possible to ensure they are counted.
Ballots can also be placed in a ballot drop box up to and on election day, Nov. 3.