An estimated 70,000 people filled Seattle streets Saturday for the “No Kings” protest, marching from Cal Anderson Park to Seattle Center in one of the city’s largest demonstrations in recent history.

The protest was part of a nationwide day of action opposing President Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C.—held on his 79th birthday—and his expanded immigration crackdown. The movement gained urgency after Trump deployed National Guard troops and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles over the objections of California officials. Washington leaders warned similar federal action could come to Seattle.

Gov. Bob Ferguson held emergency briefings this week with National Guard leadership, preparing for the possibility that Trump might attempt to override state authority. “He wants to be able to say we cannot handle our own public safety issues here in Washington,” Ferguson said, urging peaceful protest to avoid giving Trump “an excuse” to intervene.

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes echoed that sentiment, pledging to defend the First Amendment rights of Seattle residents—even if it meant personal consequences. “At some point, I will probably go to jail,” Barnes told the City Council. “We have an administration that has threatened to jail politicians.” Barnes said local law enforcement was prepared to manage protests without federal involvement, adding, “We’re not new to this.”

Protests earlier in the week in Seattle were more tense. Eight people were arrested Wednesday night after a dumpster fire and clashes with police near the federal building downtown. Demonstrators had gathered to oppose recent ICE raids and detentions. On Tuesday, another group blocked vehicle access to the federal courthouse using electric bikes and scooters, leading to further arrests.

In contrast, Saturday’s “No Kings” protests were overwhelmingly peaceful—both in Seattle and in cities across the country. Despite their scale, with tens of thousands marching in dozens of locations nationwide, including more than 50 rallies in the Puget Sound region alone, the day passed with minimal conflict.

There were isolated exceptions. In Tukwila, tensions escalated outside the Department of Homeland Security office, prompting police to deploy tear gas. In Spokane, authorities declared a curfew after detaining several protesters during clashes outside an ICE field office. But such incidents were the exception, not the rule.

In Seattle, the weekend’s mass mobilization ended without major incident. Marchers dispersed peacefully from the base of the Space Needle, capping off a day defined not by confrontation, but by unity. “We want to show with a peaceful protest that this is who we are,” said one participant from West Seattle.