Photo: KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
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.
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Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is urging state agencies and public colleges to tighten their belts further, even after approving a budget this spring that closed a historic shortfall with tax hikes and cuts. A June 4 memo from the Office of Financial Management directs agencies to request new funds only for “critical and emergent costs” and to look for ways to cut non-essential services, streamline operations, or reduce administrative expenses.
The warning comes as early economic indicators suggest tax revenues are already underperforming expectations. State economist David Reich told lawmakers last week that trade uncertainty, slow housing starts, and weaker consumer spending may worsen the outlook when a new revenue forecast is released June 24.
Agencies must submit supplemental budget requests by Sept. 15. Ferguson will propose a new budget in December, and the Legislature will take it up in 2026.
Although Washington retains $2 billion in reserves, projections show its operating account may run a deficit by 2028. Ferguson’s team signaled that hiring, travel, and contracting freezes imposed earlier this year will likely remain in place.
Senate Republicans have revived a controversial plan to sell off up to 3.3 million acres of federal land in 11 Western states, including Washington, as part of a sweeping tax and spending bill backed by President Trump. The proposal, added by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) to the Senate version of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” would require the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service to auction 0.5–0.75% of their holdings by 2030 for housing or “community development needs.”
The draft legislation excludes national parks and wilderness areas, but critics say it opens the door to large-scale privatization of public lands long used for recreation, conservation, and tribal access. Opponents argue the bill lacks clear definitions for “community needs” and imposes no affordability requirements.
Washington, with nearly 13 million acres of federal public land, could see tens of thousands of acres put up for sale. The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and BLM parcels near Yakima and Spokane may be vulnerable, depending on proximity to population centers. According to a May 2025 analysis by Headwaters Economics, federal land near towns in Washington is unlikely to be suitable for housing due to distance from population centers and high wildfire risk. The study found that viable parcels are concentrated in just five states—Nevada, Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Utah—with Washington notably absent from that list.
Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has not publicly commented on the proposal. But conservation groups warn it could irreversibly damage ecosystems, wildlife corridors, and outdoor recreation economies.
If passed, the bill would mark one of the largest federal land disposals in U.S. history.
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Construction is set to begin on the long-anticipated Garfield Super Block renovation, with city leaders and community partners breaking ground this week. The $9.4 million project will add a new playground, restroom, public art, and an accessible walking loop connecting amenities across the park. It also includes upgrades to turf fields and nearby sidewalks. Originally outlined in a 2005 master plan, the improvements were shaped by years of community input and are expected to finish by early 2026.
I was like, ‘Hey guys, what’s the concept?’” Flint says. “And he was like, ‘Eggslut.’ And I was like, ‘What?… Can you spell that for me?’
