Hundreds Across Southeast Alaska Rally for 'No Kings' Protest

Protesters in multiple cities voice opposition to Trump administration policies and call for change in midterm elections.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:03am

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A dynamic, abstract painting of a crowd of protesters marching with signs, the figures and shapes overlapping and repeating in waves of bold, saturated colors.The vibrant energy of the 'No Kings' protests across Southeast Alaska reflects a growing grassroots movement against perceived abuses of power.Ketchikan Today

Hundreds of protesters gathered in cities across Southeast Alaska on Saturday to participate in the latest 'No Kings' protest, part of a nationwide movement against perceived abuse of power and in defense of democracy. The rallies, which took place in Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, and Tenakee Springs, drew crowds ranging from around 20 to over 400 people. Protesters expressed a range of frustrations with the Trump administration, including the ongoing conflict with Iran, immigration policies, and the perceived consolidation of power by the Republican party.

Why it matters

The 'No Kings' protests reflect growing grassroots opposition to the Trump administration's policies and actions, particularly in traditionally Republican-leaning Alaska. The large turnout across multiple Southeast Alaska communities suggests the protests are resonating with a significant portion of the state's population and could influence voter enthusiasm and turnout in the upcoming midterm elections.

The details

In Ketchikan, around 200 protesters gathered near the Federal Building, playing music and chanting slogans. Protester Sid Hartley held a sign criticizing the administration's handling of the war in Iran, which she described as a 'pure lack of humanity.' Organizer Larry Taylor, with the local Voices for Reason anti-Trump PAC, said the group was trying to 'show that we love our democracy and that our democracy is under attack.' In Wrangell, close to 40 people protested along the waterfront, with some carrying signs criticizing the Trump family and U.S. immigration policies. In Petersburg, over 100 protesters turned out, with community organizer Chelsea Tremblay noting the direct local impact of federal policies on issues like job losses and rising prices. In Sitka, over 400 protesters marched to Totem Square, where speakers condemned the administration's use of ICE and 'White Christian nationalism.' Protesters in all locations expressed hope that the large turnout would help energize voters ahead of the midterm elections.

  • The first 'No Kings' protest happened last June on Donald Trump's birthday.
  • Saturday's protests marked a month since the U.S. launched airstrikes against Iran, triggering a month of violent unrest, rising gas prices and political turmoil.

The players

Sid Hartley

A protester in Ketchikan who held a sign criticizing the Trump administration's handling of the war in Iran.

Larry Taylor

An organizer of the Ketchikan protest and member of the local Voices for Reason anti-Trump PAC.

Chelsea Tremblay

A community organizer for Petersburg Friends and Neighbors who noted the local impact of federal policies.

James Clare

A volunteer with the ACLU Alaska who has a decades-long history of political activism dating back to the Vietnam War era.

Bryce Walsh

A protester in Sitka who held a sign reading 'No more bombs, no more raids' and expressed hope the protests would energize voters ahead of the midterms.

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What they’re saying

“There's, like, a thousand reasons. But I'm pretty disgusted, and I love people, and that's why I'm here, because I do love my country, and I'm sick of it looking like this.”

— Sid Hartley, Protester

“We're trying to show that we love our democracy and that our democracy is under attack. Right now, it's all one party. They're in charge. They've got the presidency and Congress and the Supreme Court. They've got it wrapped up, and they're changing the basis of our society for the worse.”

— Larry Taylor, Protest Organizer

“Petersburg is not unaffected by what's going on. We have prices going up because of this illegal war and tariffs. We have neighbors who have lost their jobs at the Forest Service. We have neighbors not getting paid right now because of the conflict happening with the Senate and House and what have you. And then we just have people scared.”

— Chelsea Tremblay, Community Organizer

“It's very frustrating that the vast majority of my life, it seems like there have been wars, and there have been people opposed to the wars, and what leads up to the wars. There's oppression that occurs throughout the world, and it's that oppression that causes people to revolt. And I hope we can have some impact. I don't know whether little Sitka can do that or not, but I'm hoping we can.”

— James Clare, ACLU Volunteer

“I hope that... it gets a lot of people excited to vote. That's obviously one of the main levers that we can pull to actually change what's going on in Washington. But in general, just I hope that our country starts going in a different direction, and that seeing this many people, this large scale movement, more people will join, and that can help to make that happen.”

— Bryce Walsh, Protester

What’s next

The first 'No Kings' protest happened last June on Donald Trump's birthday. The protests are part of a national movement against abuse of power and in protection of democracy, according to the No Kings website. There were over 3,000 protests held Saturday across the country in all 50 states.

The takeaway

The large turnout and widespread participation in the 'No Kings' protests across Southeast Alaska reflect growing grassroots opposition to the Trump administration's policies, particularly among traditionally Republican-leaning voters. The protests could help energize voters and influence the upcoming midterm elections, as protesters expressed hope that the demonstrations would inspire more people to get involved and vote for change.