||| FROM PAM HOKE and SUSAN WEST for INDIVISIBLE SAN JUAN ISLANDS |||
SAN JUAN ISLANDS, WA – On June 14th, 2025, Indivisible San Juan Islands, local groups with national Indivisible.org, will be hosting several No Kings events throughout the islands, many have become fun island-style community picnic themes while protesting the current Presidential Administration and Project 2025’s work to dismantle the American way.
There will be events on San Juan, Orcas, Lopez, and Shaw Islands, with folks from Waldron Island joining their island neighbors in Friday Harbor. Friday Harbor’s “Breaking Bread with Neighbors” No Kings event will be 12-2pm at the San Juan County Courthouse at 350 Court Street, featuring 5 local speakers to speak briefly on the local harmful impacts caused by the current Presidential Administration and Project 2025.
Lopez Island’s Protest and Picnic will be 11am-1pm at Lopez Village between Heron and Vortex. Orcas Island will gather at Eastsound’s Village Green, 203 North Beach Blvd from 3-4:30pm, and Shaw Island plans to gather at 11-12:30pm at Blind Bay Road at the ferry landing.
These events are aligned with nationwide actions being organized by the Indivisible Project known as No Kings Day, and are meant to create joyful community gatherings to celebrate our Flag Day, the US Army’s Birthday, yet also peacefully protest the current Presidential Administration and Project 2025’s work to dismantle the American way.
Indivisible SJI organizers invite the community to mostly bring their signs and smiles, yet if desired their camp chairs, picnic baskets, blankets, signs and smiles – and homemade cookies, bread or pie to share!
For more information, please visit inidivisiblesji.org or email indivisiblesji@gmail.com
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I am not going to smile and celebrate the creation of a military apparatus that is literally beating down citizens for walking down the street. It is not me that is causing division and I am appalled by the kiss-ass (pardon the french) stance taken by this group. I can only hope that in other areas people are actually taking a stance, standing proud and firm against tyranny.
Barbara, your comment is in direct contrast to my experience on San Juan Island yesterday where nearly 1,000 citizens gathered on the Courthouse lawn. The crowd was enthusiastic, colorful, polite and neighborly in every regard. So well organized that the short speeches flowed right into the signing of letters and walking through downtown on sidewalks and not disrupting traffic at all. I commend the Sheriff for trusting our community to remain lawful and small town polite and having little to no presence whatsoever. But it would have been impossible not to get the clear message that we came together to adamantly oppose the authoritarian actions and disrespect for the rule of law of the Trump administration that imperils our representative democracy. We were and continue to stand proud and firm against this tyranny.
I am 100% in agreement with Steve’s recounting of his experience at the No Kings protest in Friday Harbor yesterday.
The messages were clear on which actions and policies and proposals coming from Trump and his minions are adamantly opposed by the citizens who showed up. We were also clear that our American Flag belongs to us patriots who oppose the cruel and illegal actions of Trump and the cowardly Republican representatives in Congress who meekly follow his dictates. Many veterans also showed up to express their disapproval of Trump’s actions.
Sheriff, Eric Peter was at the court house lawn early on, and we had a very nice conversation with him.
We agreed that peaceful protests are desirable and necessary during these fraught times.
This passage from the Sheriff’s website resonates with me:
Sheriff Peter:
“I have been blessed to be part of this community and working for the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office on Orcas and San Juan Islands since 2017. In addition to my role as Patrol Sergeant on San Juan Island, I served as a trainer in progressive policing focusing on De-escalation, Communication Skills, and Emotional Intelligence. Training around the state has given me a clear vision for the future.”