Peaceful Red Square for No Kings

 

6/14/25 Red Square, University of Washington campus

Joining many cities across the country, Seattle held numerous “No Kings” demonstrations on June 14 in protest of policies that have been put in place since January. The biggest rally began in Capitol Hill, with 70,000 marching to Seattle Center (one of the largest protests in the city’s history). Many smaller gatherings took place in local communities, including one on the University of Washington campus, which I chose to join.

In addition to witty signs, some protesters carried US flags.

As it happened to be commencement day, protesters chanted and carried signs and flags at Red Square, while graduates in cap and gown posed for photos with their parents nearby in front of Suzzallo Library. Eventually the group marched through campus and around the U-District, where traffic waiting for us to pass honked their support.

It felt good to join the collective voice against injustice and disgusting tyranny. It was also important to show that we can gather and express our views in public peacefully and without fear.

After the rally, protesters marched across campus and through the U-District.

Material notes: With this event, I filled the last page of the thin, hand-stitched sketchbook I began in January for the People’s March. At the time, I had chosen it for practical reasons: It gave me more real estate than my usual daily-carry Uglybook while also being thin and lightweight. When I used it again for sketch reportage at a small neighborhood protest in May, I realized the book now had a theme. I used it again a week later at a larger demonstration downtown, and now it’s full. I like having a small book with a single theme.

That said, the high-quality watercolor paper that happened to be in this booklet wasn’t compatible with my chosen media. The sizing was so strong that my Pilot brush pen kept smudging long after the ink would have been completely dry on Uglybook paper. At future demonstrations and marches (as I’m sure there will be during the long three-and-a-half years yet to go), I’m just going to carry a larger Uglybook (which I’d brought along as a backup, and I was happy to have it for the last sketch when I ran out of pages in the white book).

After I filled the book, I wanted a sticker for the cover. I dug through my sticker box and found this one from 2020 -- more relevant than ever.