Marchers fill downtown Bellingham on Saturday, March 28, 2026, during the "No Kings" Day of Nonviolent Action. The demonstration drew thousands of Whatcom County residents as part of a nationwide protest movement. (PNW Daily)
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Thousands of Whatcom County residents took to the streets of downtown Bellingham on Saturday as part of the third national “No Kings” Day of Nonviolent Action, joining millions of Americans at events held across the country in a coordinated demonstration against what organizers call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration.
The march grew out of a rally organized by Indivisible Bellingham and Bellingham Troublemakers at the gravel lot across from Waypoint Park near the Waterfront Bike Park on Granary Avenue. Attendees visited tables staffed by nonprofit and pro-democracy groups and heard a speech from Jewell James, a Lummi master carver, activist and elder.
“It is up to us,” James said as he spoke onstage before the march began. “We stand for the future generations and we will not let this sacred vision die because we failed to stand guard. We have to believe in that.”
Middle and high school students from several Bellingham schools led the march beneath a banner reading “Join the Resistance.” Members of local singing groups, including the Good Trouble Resistance Singers and Singing Resistance, led the crowd in song, while Brasscadia performed New Orleans-style jazz from a mobile trailer.
Organizer Stan Parker said if you love Bellingham, you’ve got to show up for your neighbors.
“To protect your home, you’ve got to show up for your neighbors,” Parker said. “To protect your home, you have to show up and be brave. You’ve got to show up and speak out. You’ve got to show up and protect what you love.”
“So, I gotta ask you, do you love Bellingham?” Parker asked.
Banks Targeted Along the Route
As marchers moved up Cornwall Avenue, demonstrators placed signs on the Bank of America and Chase Bank branches reading “This Business Bankrolls Trump.” Bellingham Troublemakers also delivered letters to both branches earlier in the week.
“Big money in politics is corrosive to our democracy and democratic institutions,” said organizer Anne Meegan. “Billionaires and corporations use large campaign contributions to purchase access and influence, and elected officials in turn prioritize their interests over those of ordinary people.”
Organizer Wendy Czopp objected to Bank of America’s so-called “Trump Account” incentive, which pledges $1,000 to employees who open such an account. “These accounts blur the line between corporate employment and political loyalty,” Czopp said.
ICE Arrests Highlighted Near Courthouse and Library
As the march passed the Bellingham Public Library and Whatcom County Courthouse, demonstrators displayed banners reading “ICE Raids Happen Here” and “ICE Abducted Your Neighbor Here.”
Parker pointed to data from the University of Washington Center for Human Rights showing ICE arrests in Washington state spiked 152% in the second half of 2025 compared to 2024. Whatcom County ranked third in the state for per capita ICE arrests that year, behind Yakima and Franklin counties.
“ICE is active right in our downtown core, and our neighbors have been taken by ICE while visiting the Courthouse and the Library,” Parker said. “We need to protect our neighbors.”
No Permit, More Than 100 Volunteer Peacekeepers
Bellingham Troublemakers did not seek a city permit for the march, though organizers shared the route with the Bellingham Police Department and news media in advance. More than 100 trained volunteers managed traffic control, crowd safety and medical support.
Organizers said they wanted to center communities most affected by current federal policies — including people who have historically faced over-policing.
“Authoritarianism depends on compliance and fear,” Czopp said. “Change happens when ordinary people step outside their comfort zones and find collective courage.”
Indivisible Bellingham organizer Kevin Leja framed the day’s events in broader terms.
“The millions of people gathering and marching today prove that people from all walks of life are fighting back against lawlessness and cruelty of the current administration,” Leja said. “But to be clear, this isn’t a left versus right, or a Democrat vs. Republican fight. It’s a fight of right against wrong.”
What Is the “No Kings” Movement?
The “No Kings” movement is a national grassroots effort opposing what organizers describe as authoritarian policies from the Trump administration. More than 3,000 events were held across the United States on March 28, with roughly 100 additional events held internationally. Canadian and other international events used the parallel slogan “No Tyrants.”
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