Federal Way joined cities around the state and the country in holding a No Kings demonstration on Oct. 18.

South End Friends for Peace and Justice organized the local event, which included a food drive that received hundreds of pounds of food donations as well as a protest at the intersection of S. 320th Street and Pacific Highway South.

The Federal Way Police Department confirmed Monday that there were “no issues or violence” at the event.

As with the thousands of protests around the country, participants described the atmosphere as peaceful, community focused and even joyful, full of “so much good energy,” as one participant put it.

The crowd in Federal Way was estimated to be around 1,200 people, and differs from other nearby protests in that it is a stationary demonstration rather than a march. The first No Kings protest in Federal Way in June 2025 saw around 1,000 attendees.

In response to the nationwide protests, President Donald Trump shared an AI created video on Truth Social of himself wearing a crown and flying a fighter jet with “KING TRUMP” on the side, dropping loads of what appears to be feces on protesters.

American flags and expressions of love for the country were everywhere at the No Kings protest, like this individual wearing a U.S. Army shirt and holding an American flag. The protest took place on S. 320th Street, which has the honorary name Veterans Way. Behind him is someone holding a sign stating “Remember your pledge? With liberty and justice for ALL.” Many signs included messages of opposition to the current administration and overreaches of constitutional authority. Photo by Rachel Jones

74-year-old veteran and Federal Way community member Cef Decaney told the Mirror that as someone who served the country and pledged an oath to defend the constitution, he feels it is his duty to speak up.

While he wasn’t one of the organizers, he has been active in demonstrations, including a peaceful protest held every Sunday from noon to 1 p.m. at the same intersection in Federal Way.

Decaney served as a Marine in Vietnam and in the Philippines and witnessed authoritarian regimes around the world.

“What’s happening to us was what we were trying to prevent from happening in other countries. That’s what the whole Vietnam thing was about, trying to give these people democracy,” Decaney told the Mirror.

The deployment of the National Guard at home reminds him of his experiences in the Philippines when dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared martial law. “I remember guys standing on every corner with an M16 … they were all armed and they were all in fatigues … that’s very intimidating and that’s the big parallel with what they’re trying to do here,” Decaney said.

He and other protesters also spoke to the immigration crackdown and lack of due process as motivations for protesting, including mistreatment of U.S. citizens.

ProPublica recently found that more than 170 U.S. citizens have been held by immigration agents and have been “kicked, dragged and detained for days.”

Conservative media and leaders are referring to the demonstrations as “Hate America Day” and calling protesters unpatriotic, but from Decaney’s perspective as a veteran, he said that he took his oath “to the Constitution, not to an individual,” and that speaking up against abuses of power is a patriotic thing to do.

At demonstrations, he said, “I always make sure I wear a veteran shirt because I think it’s important for the regular civilians, the people, to know that we support what they stand for.”

“The millions of people protesting are centered around a fierce love for our country. A country that we believe is worth fighting for,” said MoveOn Executive Director Katie Bethell said in a press release. “Across cities and towns, large and small, rural and suburban, in red areas and in blue areas millions of us are peacefully coming together for No Kings to send a clear and unmistakable message: the power belongs to the people.”

While many drivers shared their opinions about the No Kings protest in Federal Way through either supportive honks or through unsupportive middle fingers while passing by Saturday’s protest, this driver made their message known by waving the progressive LGBTQ+ flag out the window and emblazoning “NO KINGS” on the side of their hot pink vehicle. Photo by Rachel Jones

One of the important steps in defending the U.S. Constitution is to support free speech and to speak up against consolidation of power and executive branch overreach, Decaney said.

The United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs released a 62 page report in August of instances that the Trump administration has undermined constitutional limits, specifically including “erosion of the separation of powers,” “defiance of court orders,” and an “intimidation campaign and attacks on free speech.”

Whistleblowers have also recently raised alarms on actions taken by the Department of Justice that they say “undermine the rule of law.”

“It was very emotional for me to just to see the people come out the way that they came out, because I think that it’s so important,” Decaney said.

Organizers estimate that more than 7 million people joined the protests at more than 2,700 events across all 50 states, D.C., and cities worldwide. Their message is that “America has no kings, and the power belongs to the people.”

The nationwide mobilization was coordinated among over 200 organizations that represent groups with focuses from human rights to unions to climate change to faith leaders and veterans.

Demonstrators speak to Federal Way Police Department officers at the No Kings protest on Oct. 18 in Federal Way. The FWPD confirmed that there were “no issues or violence” at the event. Photo by Rachel Jones

“In a moment of rising authoritarianism and intolerance, diverse religious communities across the country are showcasing the incredible moral power of faith to say no to kings and to tyranny,” said Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, said in a press release. “Peacefully and joyfully, Americans of diverse faiths and beliefs showed up nationwide today to defend our democracy and to stand up for the fundamental civil rights and dignity of all people.”

At the end of the day, Decaney said that what’s most important is to come together and stop the division in the country. He often has conversations with those who don’t agree with him, like a recent conversation with a Republican neighbor where they discussed the No Kings events.

“I like to see the community stand together … let’s not just turn our backs on everybody just because we don’t think that they agree with us on political viewpoints … I think that the only way we’re going to make it through this is if we can all come together,” Decaney said. “You know, to me, that’s the biggest thing of all is the division has to stop and the truth has to come out.”

Protesters fill street corners and march across the street during the No Kings demonstration in Federal Way on Oct. 18. Photo by Rachel Jones

Protesters held signs demanding the release of the Epstein files, expressing that immigrants deserve due process, asking for science to be brought back to healthcare and stating that “where law ends, tyranny begins.” Photo by Rachel Jones

Protesters held signs demanding the release of the Epstein files, expressing that immigrants deserve due process, asking for science to be brought back to healthcare and stating that “where law ends, tyranny begins.” Photo by Rachel Jones