No Kings 3: A Field Report
From the grounds of the state capitol in Montgomery, AL.
So, like in June and October, my wife and I attended the Montgomery, AL No King Rally, which was held on the south lawn of the historic capitol building downtown (the legislature meets in another building across the road these days).
As I have noted before, I am not dispositionally a “protest” guy, but the Trump administration has now inspired me to participate in four such events (a Women’s Day march in January of 2018 and the three No Kings events in the second term). My desire to publicly express my discontent with Trump’s version of governance, as well as an interest in showing solidarity with other like-minded citizens, overcame personal and professional reticence.
Part of me, like James Joyner, wonders what all of this accomplishes. On the one hand, my appearance downtown yesterday didn’t change much of anything; on the other, it was a chance to publicly register my political opinion, which is an essential feature of democracy.
On the flip side, there is the question of what more should be coming about because of these events.
Local news reports that the crowd estimate was about 1,000. Each event has drawn more than the one before, which is at least one metric of growing discontent with the Trump administration. This was true nationally as well.
As per PBS:
U.S. organizers have estimated that the first two rounds of No Kings rallies drew more than 5 million people in June and 7 million in October. This week they told reporters they expected 9 million participants Saturday, though it was too early to tell whether those expectations were met.
This sends a signal to Trump, and to the broader public, about his growing unpopularity. None of this bodes well for Republicans this coming November.
It is also the exercise of a First Amendment right that is essential to democracy, the right to peaceably assemble. And while my personal participation is irrelevant, as is my singular vote, I would note that the cumulative effects are relevant to our broader politics. If none of this mattered, the White House and its political and media allies would not need to denigrate it.
At a minimum, I see no harm from these events and do think that mass communication of this type is better than apathy.
I noted a number of anti-war signs, a new grievance added since October. There also seemed to be more Epstein-related signs. Otherwise, the issues were pro-democracy and anti-authoritarianism. Like everything else in our politics, the event demonstrated the coalitional nature of the movement.
Here are a few images that I took (this time I took the real camera). All of the shots can be found in this album.
If nothing else, it shows those at home and abroad that there are millions of people who are so dissatisfied that they are protesting. It’s really the only option available until midterms. And speaking of midterms, it hopefully shows the administration that any shenanigans to mess with the voting process will not be acceptable.
Our allies have been scratching their heads wondering why nothing is being done about this madness. I mean, the French stop the entire country if anyone suggests raising the retirement age. Meanwhile, we’re watching our democracy crumble.
You’d have had fun here in Vegas where Elvis impersonators reminded us that in this city there’s only one king.
I attended the Cleveland protest with my wife and some friends. It was my first protest appearance since May, 1970, when the Kent State shootings simply couldn’t be tolerated. On Saturday I was heartened by both the numbers and the sentiments conveyed by the signs, especially enjoying one that read, “Orange Lies Matter.’ What difference do the protests make? As Dr. T noted above, it lets the MAGA asshats at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue know they are poking the bear.
Opportunities to directly express yourself are far and few between. There are extraordinarily few town halls by our elected officials (and tele-townhalls don’t count). Every appearance is carefully choreographed. Letters to elected officials are responded by a form letter most of which don’t address the issue written about. Pretty sure responses to Facebook posts are ignored and not even internally analyzed.
At some point, frustration will result in real anger and even violence which, I believe, those is power would welcome.
I went to the No Kings Bisbee, Az and it was huge for such a small town. Met lots of great people. I will say this, though, at risk of getting roasted by some on this site: I’d like the focus to stay centered on Trumps authoritarianism. This is the first of 3 protests I’ve gone to where there was a heavy pro-Palestine presence, multiple other issues that I may or may not support. Nothing will tank the mid-terms more than liberals stacking issues that moderates and independents may not agree (aside from Trumps interference).
@HelloWorld: I’m not that old but I’m old enough to know 100% of Democrats are not going to agree with me 100% of the time. Nor do I want them to. America is a big, diverse country and that’s good actually.
If moderates, independents, or anyone seeks an American political party with folks who cater only to their pet issues and no one else’s then a) they should seek therapy for narcissistic self-centerednees and b) prepared to be politically homeless. Because that’s not how any of this works in a big, diverse, far flung country with only two major parties.
The center-liberal-left alliance has a pro-Palestine faction. It has a pro-Israel faction. It has a You’re Both Nuts faction, a You Both Have a Point I Guess faction, and a Who Cares, I Can’t Afford Gas or Rent faction. This is what the Democratic Party is. It’s a coalition, not a cult. That’s not going to change, so they who can’t deal with that diversity of opinion like an adult can’t vote with Democrats.
@DK:
There is a potentially serious problem with Jewish voters. Less about numbers of votes – we aren’t going to lose NY or NJ, and we’re not getting FL – than about money.
Man, I’m tired of this line of thinking. I addressed all this here a day or so ago. These events are a “personal behavioral contract” to show up for the midterms, while simultaneously creating viral buzz for the campaigning to come, generating networking for those who want to be involved, and at a personal level generate solidarity and shared interest — the stuff of social movement momentum. Geeze. Behavioral Programming 101, Group Behavior 101, Guerilla Marketing 101, Grassroots Organizing 101 — all rolled together.
One person + one person + one person + one person+ one person+ one person+ one person+ one person + one person + one person+ one person+ one person+ one person+ one person + one person + one person+ one person+ one person+ one person + etc. It adds up and becomes something BIG. 8+ million big.
The 2017 women’s marches galvanized voters and led to Dems reclaiming the House during the 2018 midterms, in addition to pulling more women into running for local and regional offices. The 2025 NK marches generated momentum for the repeat success of Dems during recent mid-session and special elections. Bringing people together works. It has worked for MAGA as well, the whole point of Trump’s rallies. There are immediate rewards for individuals with greater payoffs down the road in the near term elections.
The autocratic, theocratic GOP MAGA has been working hard at quashing the voice of opposition. But this is the opposition roaring out loud, out in public space, in a ramp up to actionable outcomes. This is our society’s open dialog with itself. Don’t sit it out.
@Michael Reynolds: The Democratic and Republican parties have serious and potentially serious problems with all sorts of voters.
If disagreements over a conflict thousands of miles away are more important than not electing economy-destroying Nazis and pedophiles right here at home, that is a choice Americans can make. It’s a dumb choice, but our freedom includes freedom to be self-sabotaging morons. If Americans want to keep punishing ourselves because all Dems don’t agree on Palestine and Israel, we can. It is what it is. Would not be surprising, given what the last decade shows about American idiocy and apparent desire for mediocrity and failure.
Pro-Israel or pro-Palestine voters still under the delusion a gathering of libs will cater only to their egos and no one else’s should get comfortable with frustration, because that’s just not going to happen.
@DK: “If moderates, independents, or anyone seeks an American political party with folks who cater only to their pet issues” – well, I think we are sort of saying the same thing. Where we may part – I’ve voiced on this site before that I personally feel and hear from other liberals, that liberals have a purity test and if you don’t agree on 100% of the issues 100% of the time then you are not a liberal. Yes, lets have a big tent but I think its imperative to not turn a protest that is about No Kings into a protest about issues we may not be in synch on.