We went to the No Kings protest on October 18 (actually two of them!), and had a great time. People were dancing, chanting, laughing, and talking. The signs were incredibly creative (although some were a little gross), and lots of people dressed in costumes. The right-wing politicians who are trying to say that these gatherings were violent or anti-American couldn’t be more wrong.
After the day was over, it was reported that more than 7 million people around the country attended these protests. We posted some pictures on Facebook, and one of the comments was something like, “I don’t understand. What were you protesting?”
The Reasons Why
Here is why I wanted to show up:
U.S. citizens are being detained without due process
People at non-violent protests, using their first amendment right to free speech, are being tackled, tear gassed, shot with rubber bullets, and tazed
U.S. citizens have been pulled out of their homes in the middle of the night by masked agents without warrants
The administration is attempting to use the National Guard in Democratic-led cities where they have not been invited
President Trump is authorizing the killing of people on boats without approval of Congress for an act of war, and with no due process
Trump is illegally refusing to spend some of the monies appropriated by Congress
Trump is taking money from billionaires for his personal enrichment.
The government is reducing subsidies for healthcare
Trump is encouraging gerrymandering
Trump is defying court judgments
Civil rights are being ignored and laws are not being enforced
Trump is defunding and making serious cuts to government agencies
The House is not allowing an elected official to be seated
These protests are occurring because people want the rule of law to be respected. They don’t want a dictator in the White House. And they don’t agree with the MAGA idea that dissent is anti-American.
Lisa Corrigan, a scholar of social movements, writes that yesterday “every single rally (including in the small towns) was bigger than the surrounding police force available. That kind of image event is VERY IMPORTANT if you’re…demonstrating social coherence AGAINST a fascist government and its makeshift gestapo.”(@drlisacorrigan.bsky.social)
That’s what we’re doing. We’re demonstrating against a wanna-be fascist government. God bless the U.S.A.
Well said! All of this makes me sad, but there are huge food drives happening in my neighborhood and villages nearby and that makes me feel better about my communities!