The Long Line of Dissent: Whidbey Island's Bayview No Kings Protest Line Stretches a Quarter Mile

A No Kings flag at Whidbey Island's Bayview Protest on October 18th

A decades-old peace rally in Bayview, WA met new crowds in Saturday’s turnout for the No Kings rally. By late morning on October 18th, Highway 525 was teeming with flags, signs, people in inflatable costumes, and chants. What is normally a modest Saturday peace rally swelled to an estimated 700–800 people, according to three attendees who counted the crowd.

The line of people stretched nearly a quarter mile, from the Bayview Park-and-Ride to The Goose Community Grocer. The highway erupted with waves of honking horns and shouts — some in support, others in irritation.

On a rise beside the road, a low concrete barrier separates the parking lot from the highway and forms a long, elevated aisle for demonstrators. Drivers looking up as they pass see a garden of messages. American flags reach skyward like wildflowers, while upside-down flags and hand-painted signs sprout along the concrete wall.

Saturday’s demonstration—part of a national movement rejecting authoritarianism—brought a scale of participation Bayview rarely sees.

A Legacy of Protest

For more than two decades, this small rise overlooking Whidbey Island’s main highway has served as a stage for civic expression. From demonstrations in the early 2000s to recent rallies for peace in Gaza and demonstrations condemning Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Bayview’s protest space has long been a gathering place for those who believe showing up matters.

Conservative demonstrators often use the space earlier in the morning. The peace rally follows at 10:00am, with a Solidarity for Palestine group using the space later.

Despite differences, participants from every group share a belief in visibility. “We are here to express ourselves,” said Tina Gabelien, who participates in the early morning demonstration. “We have just as much right to be on this corner as anyone else.”

Others say the gatherings are a form of connection, even if that connection carries friction. Carol Gannaway, a participant in the weekly 10:00 a.m. Peace Rally group, recalls a situation from April 19, 2025, when people from right-wing and left-wing camps stood together in the space for over an hour. “There was some tension and some heated arguments.”

Even so, the chance for dialogue and community keeps Carol coming. “It brings you back every week. Just to hear the two dialogues and come to some parallel views on things. It’s like, see, we can all talk!”

Bob Davies, the official host for the peace rally, said many regulars have been coming since the Vietnam era. “Many of the protestors have been engaging the public since the Vietnam War,” he said. “Unfortunately, this is an indication of the average age of our regulars. At 67, I believe I am one of the youngest demonstrators.”

From Retirees to Families: A Broader Crowd Takes the Corner

While most Saturday peace rallies draw mainly retiree-aged participants, this weekend's crowd was noticeably different. Toddlers gripped flags, parents pushed strollers, and multi-generational families stood shoulder to shoulder — teenagers joining longtime activists. The familiar corner of protest was charged with new energy.

A younger generation, including Rae and her daughter Nora, joined friends and family members at the Bayview Protest.

As the crowd thinned in the late afternoon, the barrier slowly returned to its usual stillness. Across the road, the Bayview farmers market hummed with music. Many protest participants lingered, weaving between white pop-up tents with their signs tucked under their arms.

For many who attended, today’s demonstration felt like part of something larger—a continuation of a decades-long ritual of dissent. Davies, who showed up despite a broken shoulder, said the motivation that brings people here each week hasn’t changed.

“I hope that it’s because they feel that in some small way they are making a difference,” he said.

Each Saturday they return to the same strip of asphalt, facing the same road, absorbing a mix of horns and gestures—confronting difference directly.

By Brandy Stone October 18th 2025 | Bayview, Whidbey Island, WA