Protest Trump but do so peacefully, Washington state officials warn

Holding signs reading “Peaceful Protest,” Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and local Democratic officials urged people to raise their voices in a planned day of protest Saturday against the policies of Republican President Donald Trump, as Trump celebrates his birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army with a military parade in Washington, D.C.
But officials also urged protesters to avoid violence and deprive Trump of any excuse for intervening, a week after he deployed the National Guard and U.S. Marines in California to assist with crowd control and immigration enforcement.
“Don’t give Donald Trump an excuse to try and federalize the National Guard here in Washington state like he did in California," Ferguson said. "He wants to be able to say we cannot handle our own public safety issues here in Washington state.”
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Speaking from Dr. Jose Rizal Park with the Seattle skyline in the background, Ferguson said he’s had no communication from Trump or any federal agencies about any deployments or planned interventions in Washington. He said he has been in close communication with the state’s National Guard and other agencies.
“We think we can handle our situation with the partners that we have reflected here,” he said.
Ferguson said Seattle police will have assistance from the King County Sheriff, Washington State Patrol and other agencies.
He said while people will overwhelmingly be prepared to protest peacefully as part of the “No Kings” events scheduled across the state by the group Indivisible and others, the small number of people who could intend to commit violence are “the single biggest challenge” to planners.
“Some folks may seek that violence," Ferguson said. "All we can do is make sure we are coordinated, working with our law enforcement partners.”
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U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Seattle) echoed Ferguson’s plea.
“Let us be smart. The Trump Administration is going to continue escalating,” Jayapal said. “They want outside agitators and perhaps planted provocateurs to come in and incite us to their kind of violence. We cannot fall into that trap.”
“Let’s meet their meet their hate and their violence with our peace,” she added.
Faye Guenther, president of the food service workers union UFCW 3000, said she knows anger is simmering about any number of issues.
“I talk to workers every day, people are mad. They’re mad at the state of the world and they have been for some time,” Guenther said. “Trump wants to use our anger against us, to turn us on each other, and to use Seattle as a political stunt.”
She said people should protest nonviolently and then channel their energy into political organizing.
“That’s how we build power to stop a wannabe king,” Guenther said.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said Trump’s “weaponization of immigration enforcement is an egregious overreach of federal power.” He said the city will support immigrants and labor organizations amidst workplace raids and detentions.
Harrell said despite media reports quoting anonymous federal sources, he had no knowledge of ICE “special response teams” being deployed in Seattle as they were briefly in 2020.
“We are aware of rumors and media reports about tactical ICE teams being deployed in Seattle but to be clear, the city does not coordinate with ICE and we do not receive notification from ICE about special tactical teams,” Harrell said.
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Recently ICE agents have detained people coming to attend their immigration hearings in the Henry M. Jackson federal building in downtown Seattle. That building was the focus of protests this week in which people blocked vehicle access to the site with electric bikes and scooters.
In an emailed statement to KUOW, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said protesters pointed lasers into federal law enforcement officers’ eyes, vandalized the building, and burned American flags. Several people were arrested Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
“President Trump and Secretary Noem have a message for rioters: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE will continue to enforce the law," McLaughlin said. "And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”