3rd Moses Lake No Kings rally protests Trump, GOP policies
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 months, 3 weeks AGO
Protesters line the Alder Street Fill for the third No Kings rally in Moses Lake Saturday.
JOEL MARTIN/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
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.
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | March 28, 2026 3:13 PM
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.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Endless battle
Noxious Weed Control Board works to keep invasive plants under control
MOSES LAKE — Some of the nastiest plants in Grant County were the topic of a class led by Jay Johnson, a consultant with the Grant County Noxious Weed Control Board, Tuesday. The Noxious Weed Control Board, as its name would suggest, is tasked with keeping weeds under control in Grant County. That’s not a small job; the board’s website lists 129 species of noxious weeds that are found around Grant County. A noxious weed is defined as an invasive, non-native plant that threatens agricultural crops, local ecosystems or fish and wildlife habitat, according to the Noxious Weed Control Board. Washington state law requires that these weeds be identified and their spread kept to a minimum, if not completely eradicated. “We’re one of those agencies a lot of people don’t really understand,” Johnson said. “We’re a county office and … our funding is tax-based assessment. When you get your tax bill and you look down at all the expenses that you pay for, there we are.”
BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 16-24
COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you feel like shopping, crafting, learning or seeing a show, there’s something happening for you this week in the Basin. Oct. 16 ‘My Family (Mi Familia)’ screening Spanning three generations, “My Family (Mi Familia)” is a heartfelt drama that follows the Sánchez family as they build their lives in East Los Angeles. Through love, hardship, triumph, and sacrifice, the film explores the immigrant experience, the strength of family bonds, and the traditions that connect one generation to the next. Lowrider show and taco truck before the screening. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, EDUBS C/S and the Moses Lake Creative District. $12 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.
Moses Lake author encourages women to look beyond church culture norms
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