‘Too many reasons to list’: Protesters flood the Renton Landing

Two weeks after the “Hands Off” protests throughout the country, over 300 people crowded the sidewalks along the edge of the Landing and Renton’s Boeing factory, ringing bells, blowing melodies into kazoos, and holding up a variety of signs, adding to a growing list of issues and reasons for coming out to protest against the Trump administration.

From noon to 1 p.m. April 19, the crowd included protesters old and new, who shared what inspired them to exercise their First Amendment rights.

Christine P. of Renton said that she was inspired to start protesting because of the way Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was treated by President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in the Oval Office on Feb. 28. Since then, she has been showing up to protests.

“I felt I needed to do something, anything,” she said. “It’s great seeing people coming out. Protesting is the best way we have and the fact that it’s growing over time, the leverage that we have is strength in numbers.”

Maya Valladao of Federal Way told the Reporter that the April 19 protest was only her second, after her niece, Ronda Henderson of Renton, brought her to the Hands Off protest in Covington.

“I’m not a real protest type of person, but this is too much,” said Valladao, who shared several reasons why she has decided to attend protests.

“There are too many things to list,” she said. “Juan García Abrego, Social Security being torn apart, ignoring the Supreme Court, destroying the IRS, no due process. I’m gonna keep coming. I’m not gonna stop until this ends.”

Henderson, who has been a part of many protests throughout her life, said that this was the first time attending one in Renton.

“I’m excited that Renton has this many concerned people,” she said. “We need more people, we need more bodies coming out here.”

Mark Clawson of Maple Valley also told the Reporter that he has many reasons to join the protest.

“The current one is the executive order to open the National Forests for logging,” Clawson said. “These trees are 1,000 years old, it’s a tragedy. It’s like greed has sacrificed our children’s future and ability to see these trees and experience these forests.”

Renton City Councilmember Ryan McIrvin, who is currently running for King County Council, was among the crowd of protesters, holding a “HANDS OFF DUE PROCESS!” sign.

“I wanted to show up for the community,” he said. “I agree with a lot of what’s been said. A lot of what’s happening is not okay.”

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