Kent Police report ‘No Kings’ protest stayed peaceful

Published 4:33 pm Tuesday, March 31, 2026

The first “No Kings” rally in Kent stayed peaceful without any issues reported to police, according to Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla.

An estimated 400 people participated in the rally against President Donald Trump, according to Indivisible Kent, which organized the event March 28 at West James Street and Fourth Avenue North, near the Kent Station shopping center.

”The protest went off without any issues reported to the police department,” Padilla said in a March 31 email. “We appreciate the group’s commitment to exercising their First Amendment rights safely and lawfully.”

Padilla said steps were taken prior to the protest.

“As with any planned demonstration, we prepared in advance to ensure the safety of participants, bystanders, and the surrounding community,” Padilla said. “This included having Cmdr. Mike O’Reilly connect with the organizers ahead of time to establish lines of communication and provide guidance on how to achieve a peaceful event.”

Kent Police also assigned bike officers from its Special Operations Unit to the area.

“They provided a visible presence, ready to assist with any traffic or safety issues,” Padilla said.

The rally, scheduled from noon to 2 p.m., stayed peaceful.

”Everyone did their part – demonstrators, the general public and the Kent Police,” Padilla said about the peaceful outcome.

Two “No Kings” rallies against Trump were held last June and October in surrounding cities, but Kent didn’t have any organized event. Indivisible Kent formed earlier this year to help give Kent residents a place to protest in their city rather than traveling to a nearby town, such as Covington, Renton or Auburn where events already were organized.