Protestors line Sixth Street across from Fred Meyer in The Dalles today. Organizer estimated more than 400 people came out in protest.

By Tom Peterson and Joshuah Albert

The Dalles, Ore., Oct. 18, 2025 — As the federal government shutdown stretched into its third week and President Trump’s stalled effort to deploy the National Guard to Portland and Chicago drew national scrutiny, rallies across the Gorge swelled with demonstrators denouncing what they called creeping authoritarianism. From The Dalles to Hood River and White Salmon, participants in the “No Kings” protests said they were standing up for democracy, civil rights, and decency — and against what one called “a war-ravaged narrative” used to justify military intervention in American cities.

Deb Rowden, at right, and friend made it to the White Salmon No Kings Rally today, Oct. 18.

Deb Rowden – Goldendale, Wash. – White Salmon Rally

Deb Rowden stood among the flags and signs in White Salmon, her voice steady. “I have always considered myself an independent, not Republican or Democrat,” she said. “But what is happening in our country is atrocious, atrocious, and I’m afraid that we’re losing the battle.” A former school counselor and veteran, she added, “There’s so many issues — women’s rights, DEI, kids losing the help they need, closing the national parks, selling the land that is sacred.” Rowden said she wanted the military to remember, “They also have the right to not follow illegal orders.”

Hundreds turned out in both Hood River and The Dalles, joining a wave of Oregon rallies that stretched from the metro core to the high desert. Confirmed sites included Portland, Eugene and Salem in the Willamette Valley; Hood River and The Dalles in the Gorge; Hermiston and Pendleton in Eastern Oregon; and Bend/Redmond, and Medford further south and in Central Oregon.

Nationally, news organizations tallied thousands to millions across 2,600–2,700 events, with major demonstrations in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle and beyond. Outlets noted especially large Pacific Northwest crowds, including Seattle, alongside packed marches on both coasts.

Policies fueling frustration

Across interviews, protesters cited a broad mix of grievances:

Inflation and tariffs continue to raise prices for basic goods and create economic uncertainty, especially for smaller mom and pop stores who work on a much smaller margin.
Immigration enforcement and detentions are viewed by many as cruel and economically destabilizing.
The federal shutdown, now in its third week, is being blamed for stopping paychecks to federal employees and limiting services.
Cuts and uncertainty surrounding health care access and Medicaid are also being cited as threats to the vulnerable.

Many Protestors in The Dalles and Hood River were in full costume as they displayed their satisfaction with Trump Administration policies.

Broader Impacts on All Americans

Americans continue to feel the pinch as everyday economic relief has failed to arrive. The annual inflation rate stands at 2.9 percent as of August 2025 — modest compared to the double-digit spikes of 2022 during the COVID-19 epidemic accompanies by huge federal spending, but still above the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target. By comparison, toward the end of Biden’s term, inflation was about 2.5 percent in August 2024. While prices are no longer surging, they remain stubbornly high.

Tariffs and trade disruptions have further driven up costs for imported goods and raw materials, pushing higher prices through the supply chain. Many households report spending more each month just to keep up, with grocery, utility, and medical costs showing little relief. Wages have not kept pace, leaving purchasing power under strain. As one demonstrator put it, the frustration crosses party lines — it’s about “seeing costs creep up while relief remains distant.”

What Protestors Said

June Hansen – Denver, Colo. – Hood River Rally

June Hansen came to Oregon for a half-marathon but found herself standing in solidarity at the Hood River rally. “Trump seems to think that he’s, like, the end all be all,” she said. “He’s got the last word on everything, and that shouldn’t be. This is a democracy. This isn’t a king.” Hansen said she was there “to protect the rights of people coming up after me,” especially those often targeted. “Transgender, Latinos — I mean everybody,” she said. “That’s why I’m here.”

Robert and Patty Powers – Goldendale, Wash. – White Salmon Rally

Standing side by side on Highway 14 in White Salmon, Robert and Patty Powers said they were driven by fear for the nation’s direction. “I’m very concerned with the direction our country is taking as far as the authoritarian leanings of our president,” Robert said. He spoke of his parents — both World War II veterans — who fought “to prevent what’s happening in our country now.” Patty shared her own worries about the next generation. “I have two daughters that live here in Washington and a granddaughter,” she said. “I don’t want them to grow up where they don’t have the freedom that we fought for.”

Kathy Clark – The Dalles, Ore. – The Dalles Rally

Kathy Clark smiled as she looked over the crowd in The Dalles. “Today is a celebration of our democracy,” she said. “All these people came out today to defend that democracy.” Clark, 69, said she was “super proud of our community because not only did they come out and show up, but they’re doing so peacefully and with love for their community.”

Scott Rankin – Seattle, Wash. – Hood River Rally

From Seattle, Scott Rankin came to Hood River to see family and “show my support and be part of my community no matter where I was today.” He said, “I love my country. I care deeply about keeping opportunities for my kids, the same opportunities that I have.” For Rankin, respect was central. “We have to have a common set of rules we play by,” he said. “Decency and community is the only way out of this.”

Andrea Nagreen – Hood River, Ore. – Hood River Rally

Andrea Nagreen said she attended so she could tell her nieces and nephews “that I did not stay silent.” “No Kings in America since 1776,” she said. “Some people say there aren’t any kings now, but our president seems to think otherwise, and I don’t want any more of it.” She was most disturbed by the erosion of rights. “It’s hard not to say absolutely all of them,” she said. “ICE behavior towards Americans, citizens, non-citizens… the fact that we’re no longer acknowledging that all humans are human beings.” Nagreen added, “I don’t wanna be a part of that nation, and I’m gonna raise my voice and try to stop it.”

Stacey Holeman – The Dalles, Ore. – The Dalles Rally

At the steps in The Dalles, longtime resident Stacey Holeman spoke quietly but firmly. “It’s just our opportunity to say that we love our country, and we love our democracy,” she said. “Troubling things are happening in our country. We’re afraid of the fall into authoritarianism we’re seeing.” Holman thanked the group Protect Oregon’s Progress — known as POP — for organizing. “We are just a group of bipartisan people working to support our democracy,” she said.

Debi Ferrer – The Dalles, Ore. – The Dalles Rally

Debi Ferrer helped organize what she called “the second No Kings rally.” “We had one earlier in June and had a turnout of about 400,” she said. “We’ve got a lot more than that here today.” Ferrerra said the event was about “protesting the growing authoritarianism we see in the Trump administration — violations of people’s civil rights and human rights.” She added, “Everyone out here loves America, and we like it the way it is. We don’t want it to become an authoritarian regime, and that’s why we’re out here today.”

No Kings draws hundreds to local protests against Trump Administration