Demonstrators filled the sidewalks on Saturday, June 14, along the intersections of Pacific Highway South and South 320th Street in Federal Way as part of the national No Kings protests held in an estimated 2,100 locations throughout the country, according to a statement released by the Americans Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
The ACLU also stated that an estimated five million people participated in No Kings rallies throughout the country. Organizers estimate that approximately 1,000 attended the Federal Way demonstration.
While many demonstrators told the Mirror they had a long list of concerns that brought them out, many said the top of mind were violations of constitutional rights and concentration of power with the president, including demands of loyalty to him.
The protest also served as a food collection event for the Multi-Service Center to stock their food bank — 540 pounds of food were donated at the event.
The demonstration was peaceful and a spokesperson from the Federal Way Police Department told the Mirror that “the police department had direct no involvement with the demonstration on Saturday” and that “there were no issues that arose.”
“Due process is top of mind for me,” demonstrator Andrea Paine told the Mirror. She brought along pocket-sized versions of the U.S. Constitution to hand out.
As an immigrant to the country, Paine said that with everything going on, she wonders sometimes if “as immigrants we understand [the Constitution] better than other citizens.”
Due process is guaranteed by the Constitution in Article I, Section 9, Clause 2, which reads: “the Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.”
“Every day there’s a new red line being crossed,” Debbie Connell told the Mirror at Saturday’s demonstration.
Connell lives in unincorporated East Federal Way, and said she’s been to several protests since Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Another protester who emigrated to the United States also highlighted concerns about due process and abuses of power, which was one reason she wasn’t comfortable sharing her name: “I grew up in a dictatorship in the Philippines. I was protesting in college. I can’t believe I’m doing this here.”
The dictatorship she referred to is the Ferdinand Marcos era, which lasted from 1965 to 1986 and included 12 years of martial law, claiming it was necessary due to protests and alleged threats. Watching the news in the United States now, she said it is strikingly similar to her experiences there, saying “I feel like…I’ve seen this movie.”
Others told the Mirror their motivations for protesting also relate to freedom and attacks on minority or marginalized groups, like Betsy BeMiller, who is 74 years old and battling cancer, but showed up to protest anyway.
“I am an expert in discrimination in the workplace, and the executive orders right away were in contrast and contradicting the federal laws,” BeMiller said. “Everybody feels that Washington is protected and technically they are, but not really, not if you want funding, not if you’re vulnerable.”
She said watching attacks on marginalized groups has been “gut wrenching.”
“Imagine that somebody takes an eraser on a board and erases you there. I don’t know if there’s any worse feeling than thinking you’re invisible,” she said.
Reflecting on the demonstration the next day, Catherine North told the Mirror that “one thing that really stood out to me was the variety of people, all ages, many ethnicities and everyone got along. People sang together, were there for each other and that was what I really found heartwarming.”
As with other protests in Federal Way in that location since the inauguration in January 2025, the two-hour demonstration on June 14 was filled with loud support from cars driving past.
“I’ve seen far more people driving by, supporting honking and cheering than I have people giving the thumbs down or trying to flip us off,” Karrie C. told the Mirror, who attended the event with Kellie L. and Kiahna B., and said the positive response has made her feel good about living in Federal Way.
Protesters expressed their level of concern in a variety of ways, including this one, at the Federal Way rally June 14. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror
The No Kings demonstration extended out from the intersection of Pacific Highway South and South 320th Street on Saturday, June 14, past Dick’s Burgers and to the Harborstone Credit Union. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror
Demonstrators react to supportive honking from cars with a wave and a thumbs up as they cross the street during Saturday’s No Kings demonstration in Federal Way. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang/the Mirror
Many protesters mentioned the recent crackdown on immigration as part of their motivation for attending the rally in Federal Way, whether through signs or in interviews. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang/the Mirror
Demonstrator Andrea Paine brought pocket-size editions of the United States Constitution to hand out at the protest on June 14 in Federal Way. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang/the Mirror
Several signs included references to “TACO,” an acronym that stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out” and has gained traction online since it was first used by Financial Times journalist Robert Armstrong in an opinion piece in early May. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang/the Mirror
One protester told the Mirror that she came to the demonstration to highlight the parallels between actions of the current administration and her experiences in the Philippines during the Marcos dictatorship. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang/the Mirror
Federal Way community members Catherine North and her wife, Char Ashcraft, at the No Kings demonstration. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang/the Mirror
Protesters at the No Kings demonstration in Federal Way at the corner of Pacific Highway S. and S. 320th St. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang/the Mirror
The No Kings demonstration was also a food drive and 540 pounds were collected for donation to the Multi-Service Center in Federal Way. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang/the Mirror
Kiahna B., Karrie C. and Kellie L. at the No Kings demonstration Saturday, June 14. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang/the Mirror
The No Kings protest brought out community members of all ages and American flags were everywhere. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang/the Mirror
Community members showed their support in many ways, some through signs and others who spread a message of celebrating multifaceted identities like these demonstrators who joined a Mexican and American flag. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang/the Mirror
