The smaller gathering resulted from the state Department of Enterprise Services denying the Pierce County Republican Party a permit for its rally. The department cited a lack of available space due to several other groups having previously been granted permits for the same day.

Pierce County Republican Party Vice Chair Kristen Bridgan-Brown said she has put in another permit request for Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Those who attended Thursday’s permit-less rally were passionate about their cause. They did not buy Democrats’ stated rationale – to prevent delaying tactics in the legislative process – for the change to a rule in place since 1893.

“We are protesting the oppression of expression by the majority,” Bridgan-Brown said about Democrats’ decision to change a 132-year-old House rule that guaranteed free and open debate on the floor. “It wouldn’t matter which party was in the minority, Democrat or Republican, we need to defend discussion and debate in our chambers.”

Brenda Milewski is the vice chair of the 25th Legislative District and a member of Pierce County Republican Party.

“Conversations should be two-sided; a dialogue, not a monologue, and I think it’s very important for us to stand up and say the state is comprised of the people, not the government,” Milewski told The Center Square moments before rally-goers gathered on the steps outside the Legislative Building, where they were joined by some Republican lawmakers.

“Thank you for your advocacy,” Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, said. “Don’t stop. Keep pushing because they need to hear your voice. They really don’t like to hear the opposition, so you’ve got to keep it up and stand up tall and proud. Speak truth without fear and do it in a manner that is righteous and dignified.”

Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, who chairs the Washington State Republican Party, and freshman Rep. Michael Keaton, R-Puyallup, encouraged people to keep showing up and speaking out.

Milewski said she feels that the majority party limiting the minority party’s voice in the Legislature is false virtue.

“I’m a black woman, and the big thing they [Democrats] talk about is diversity, equity and inclusion,” she pointed out. “Well, this is hypocrisy at the highest level because by doing this, you’re not including us in the process; you’re taking away minority votes because now we don’t have anybody to represent us, so where is the equality in this?”

Bridgan-Brown said she is still waiting to hear back from DES regarding her request for a permit for a Feb. 4 rally.

“If they deny us again, we’ll know it’s political,” she said.

The agency’s events calendar for Feb. 4 lists four gatherings on the Capitol Campus.

The Center Square contacted DES to inquire about the Pierce County Republicans Party’s permit request but did not receive a response.