Some 2,000 protesters blast Trump at Wash. Presidents Day protest: 'No billionaires, no kings'

Simone Carter, The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) on Feb 17, 2025

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Not their president.

On Monday, Feb. 17 — Presidents Day — thousands of protesters condemned President Donald Trump and X owner Elon Musk, head of the Trump-created Department of Government Efficiency, at a demonstration near Tivoli Fountain on the Capitol Campus in Olympia.

Many lined Capitol Way, holding signs and chanting — “The whole world is watching!,” “No billionaires, no kings!” — as passing cars honked horns in support.

This isn’t the first time that an anti-Trump protest has cropped up at the Capitol this month. More than 1,500 demonstrators showed up Feb. 5 to decry Trump’s early second-term actions and Project 2025, the sweeping conservative federal-policy agenda for governing that’s been linked to Trump. (The president has long denied involvement with the blueprint, although many of his executive orders have aligned with its mission.)

Similar to the previous rally, Monday’s protest was organized by the “50501 Movement’s” Washington chapter. The term “50501” represents 50 protests, 50 states, one day. Protests in every state erupted on Feb. 5 as part of the movement, which seeks to fight back against fascism.

On Feb. 17, a series of other 50501 protests erupted nationwide as part of “No Kings Day.”

Zane Gustafson, press lead for 50501’s Olympia protest, warned that there’s a constitutional crisis at hand.

“The executive branch has usurped the power of the purse from the legislative branch, and the executive branch is asserting that it is above the law,” Gustafson told McClatchy. “That would be a king, and we do not agree with that.”

Protesters are worried about the trampling of human rights, including those of immigrants and transgender people, Gustafson said: “The rights of everyone, really — because when the rule of law is broken, what is left?”

Trump recently shared a cryptic post on X (formerly Twitter): “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.”

Demonstrator Emma Martinez said she came to the Capitol with her young niece because she disagrees with the actions of the federal administration, such as the widespread defunding of programs, including those related to public health.

Even though Martinez finds events like this intimidating, she pushed herself out of her comfort zone by showing up: “I think it’s necessary for change.”

Another protester, Kelsey, who declined to give her last name, said her brother works for the federal government and that she’s “terrified he’s going to lose his job for no reason.” Kelsey called the recent battery of efforts to undo diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives “deplorable.”

Kelsey said she’s grateful she lives in Washington, citing the state’s stance on reproductive-health rights. At some point, though, she’s worried that those freedoms could be at risk here, too.

“Nobody elected Elon Musk, and the Department of Government Efficiency is coming in and gutting the efficiency of the government,” Kelsey said, noting the recent mass firings of Federal Aviation Administration employees. “They are going in with a machete, and they need to be surgical about it. It’s just not right.”

Hazel Galloway was a science-communication specialist who worked with the national parks in Western Washington and Northwestern Oregon. She told McClatchy that she was fired Friday.

The supposed reason? “Poor performance,” although Galloway said that that wasn’t reflected in her evaluations. Another 1,000 or so National Parks Service probationary employees nationwide were terminated around the same time.

Galloway said the people with whom she worked are passionate, dedicated and hardworking. Many crucial roles are being cut, she added, and it won’t advance efficiency.

“I believe that they’re able to declare a number of employees fired as an ‘efficiency win,’ but that’s not going to be the impact,” Galloway said. “The impact is going to be chaos.”

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