MOSES LAKE — The third No Kings rally Saturday in Moses Lake brought out almost 200 people, said Grant County Democrats Vice Chair Jill Springer Forrest. 

“There are a lot of new people that I’ve not met before,” Springer Forrest said. “And of course, our stalwarts come out every time.” 

As at the rallies held in June and October last year, protesters went to the four corners at the intersection of Stratford Road and Broadway Avenue in downtown Moses Lake and snaked down the Alder Street Fill. Most had signs of one kind or another, with messages like “ICE out now” and “Freedom not tyranny,” along with some less family-friendly slogans. New this time were references to the four-week-old U.S. military conflict in Iran, like “No war” and “Who would Jesus bomb.”  

Some of the signs were made by participants, but the Grant County Democrats kept a supply for anyone who needed one, some left over from previous rallies. 

The rallies are having an effect, protester McKenzie Stamp said. 

“I feel like people are starting to, through the actions of the current government, see the inequity and the injustice and they’re starting to come around,” Stamp said. “We’re getting less jeers and more cheers from cars passing by, more support and enthusiasm for what we’re doing.” 

Bev Moore wasn’t waving a sign; rather, she was waving from inside an inflatable frog costume. She’d seen protesters in previous rallies in Portland, Ore., wearing them, she said. 

“I’ve been to all three No Kings (rallies), one in Ellensburg and one in Ephrata,” Moore said. “I thought, ‘This one is going to be great; I’m going to get a costume.’ So here I am, celebrating the day with a lot of like-minded people.” 

The frog has become a symbol of resistance, she added. 

“Every single bit (of protest) does some good,” Deanna Robison said. “When we stop, they think we’re compliant. We are not compliant … I think every single time we do it, they know we are not just complicit in this situation.” 

The protest was one of hundreds held throughout the U.S., with major cities like Seattle, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles having planned rallies. Closer to Grant County, protests were also held in the Tri-Cities and Wenatchee.  

    Some signs at Saturday’s No Kings rally in Moses Lake made reference to the joint U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran that started almost a month ago.
  

    Bev Moore waves at passing cars from inside an inflatable frog costume at Saturday’s No Kings rally in Moses Lake. The frog is a symbol of resistance, she said.