Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Tacoma, Seattle Among Hundreds Of Cities Protesting Aftermath of Sessions' Ouster

Tacoma and Seattle were among the cities to join a nationwide protest Thursday, decrying the actions of President Donald Trump in the aftermath of the firing of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Seemingly hundreds of demonstrations, at least 47 of them in Washington state, came together within hours of the White House announcement that Sessions was forced to resign

An interactive map on the website trumpisnotabovethelaw.org shows the reach of the coordinated effort.

Matthew Whitaker, an official with the U.S. Department of Justice who has been a vocal critic of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, will serve as acting attorney general. That means Whitaker is now positioned to oversee Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry, a move that sparked the widespread rallies Thursday night.

Protesters say Trump’s ouster of Sessions, which came just hours after the midterm election, is a direct threat to the Russian probe. They say the president has “undercut the independence of the investigation.”

Sen. Patty Murray denounced Trump’s decision on Twitter, calling for lawmakers to step in to protect the investigation. 

In Tacoma, South Sound reporter Will James said the energetic protest outside the federal courthouse was among the biggest he's seen in the City of Destiny. A couple hundred people gathered Thursday night, chanting "let's go Mueller" and "no one's above the law."

"People have eyes on this," said protester Benjamin Lam. "People care and want to see justice."

Also on Thursday, Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson signed onto a letter with 17 other AGs across the country that urges Whitaker to recuse himself from the Mueller investigation. 

MORE FROM SEATTLE'S PROTEST

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who serves the 7th Congressional District, speaks at the beginning of the Seattle protest at Cal Anderson Park on Thursday night, before the crowd marched through the city toward the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building.
Credit Parker Blohm / KNKX
/
KNKX
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who serves the 7th Congressional District, speaks at the beginning of the Seattle protest at Cal Anderson Park on Thursday night, before the crowd marched through the city toward the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building.

A large crowd of protesters listens to U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal in Cal Anderson Park on Thursday night.
Credit Parker Blohm / KNKX
/
KNKX
A large crowd of protesters listens to U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal in Cal Anderson Park on Thursday night.

Police escort protesters through Seattle on Thursday night, as they make their way to the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building.
Credit Parker Blohm / KNKX
/
KNKX
Police escort protesters through Seattle on Thursday night, as they make their way to the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building.

Protesters gather at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building following the march through Seattle from Cal Anderson Park on Thursday night.
Credit Parker Blohm / KNKX
/
KNKX
Protesters gather at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building following the march through Seattle from Cal Anderson Park on Thursday night.

Protesters gather at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building following the march through Seattle from Cal Anderson Park on Thursday night.
Credit Parker Blohm / KNKX
/
KNKX
Protesters gather at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building following the march through Seattle from Cal Anderson Park on Thursday night.

Protesters gather at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building following the march through Seattle from Cal Anderson Park on Thursday night.
Credit Parker Blohm / KNKX
/
KNKX
Protesters gather at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building following the march through Seattle from Cal Anderson Park on Thursday night.

Kari Plog is a former KNKX reporter who covered the people and systems in Pierce, Thurston and Kitsap counties, with an emphasis on police accountability.