More than 400 protesters filled all four corners of the busy state Route 502 and 503 intersection in Battle Ground on Saturday, waving signs and American flags as passing drivers honked in support or jeered in disagreement.
The “No Kings” demonstration, one of more than 2,700 protests nationwide, marked the first time the movement held an event in Battle Ground.
The movement, launched in opposition to what participants describe as authoritarian overreach under President Donald Trump’s administration, calls for peaceful, nonviolent action and unity under the slogan “No Kings.” The Battle Ground protest was entirely volunteer-organized and drew residents from across North Clark County.
Laura Flanagan of Battle Ground, who hosted the local event, said she posted the protest online after seeing no other gatherings listed nearby.
“I knew that I could not be the only one who was heartbroken by what's happening in our country and in my town of Battle Ground,” Flanagan said. “There have to be other voices, and I want our voice to be heard.”
Flanagan said she had never organized a protest before and admitted she was nervous heading into the day, but the community’s response left her feeling inspired.
“I was very scared going into this, I was pretty much shaking in my boots,” she said. “I feel absolutely on cloud nine. I am just ecstatic. I'm uplifted. I'm overjoyed. I'm so filled with hope today.”
Flanagan said her biggest fears stem from what she described as creeping militarization and the erosion of democratic freedoms.
“I am very, very concerned about the militarization of cities, of sending the military into cities
such as Portland and declaring it a war zone,” Flanagan added. “That is absolutely absurd. The more he gets away with doing this, the more he will do it. That’s Russia, that’s North Korea. That’s not our country.”
Locals from Battle Ground and nearby cities participated in the protest, demanding several issues such as the release of the Epstein files, the cessation of ICE raids on migrants and an end to what demonstrators described as authoritarian overreach. Ridgefield resident Keri Stanberry, who waved a red, white and blue “No King!” sign, said it was her first time protesting in Battle Ground.
“I've never protested out here ever,” Stanberry said. “This is my first experience here and when I was driving in, I was pretty surprised of all the turnout.”
Stanberry said the show of solidarity gave her hope that people across the region are paying attention to what’s happening in Washington, D.C. She and others said they believe the current system of checks and balances is failing to maintain a proper democracy.
“Nobody should be in power enough to violate our constitutional rights,” she said. “We are ripping humanity away from people by some of the choices that he's made since he's became president.”
Protesters cited the administration’s recent expansion of ICE raids, detentions and deportations as one of their primary concerns. Stanberry said her biggest concern was the lasting harm to children separated from parents during deportation.
“When you rip a child away from their community, their friends, their family because they need to be deported because of a parent's choice, it's creating ACEs, which is a chemical imbalance of the brain that we can prove today by data that creates mental health,” she said.
Local resident Gary Obermeyer, who volunteered as media relations for the event, said he was encouraged by the crowd’s enthusiasm and by the mix of ages and backgrounds represented.
“I’m delighted,” he said. “People are eager to be here, and they’re expressing their love for our country.”
Obermeyer was not only pleasantly surprised by the turnout but also by the amount of support the demonstrators received.
“We’ve been counting the honks and thumbs-downs,” Obermeyer said. “The honks are about two-to-one against the thumbs-downs.”
Flanagan said she believes the event felt like a turning point for the area.
“Battle Ground votes red pretty much across the board. It has some entrenched beliefs and values of the past, and supports oppression,” she said. “It’s a new day in Battle Ground, times are changing … Battle Ground should be a loving, kind, open, caring and compassionate community. The love we see here is the real Battle Ground.”
