This Saturday, October 17, is the 4th mass activist gathering under the name No Kings. We’ve actually had 3 previous rallies by that name:
June 14, 2025: It started on Flag Day, which also happened to be President Trump’s birthday and the day of his military parade in Washington. Organizers estimate about five million people showed up across the country to say, simply, that America doesn’t do kings. I think that was the first of the big rallies that I did in Cary rather than Raleigh. I still have my sign!
October 18, 2025: Four months later, people came back, and in greater numbers. Organizers put turnout at around seven million and called it the largest single-day nonviolent protest in US history. That one I had to do as a drive-by supporter in a car driven by my friend, because I had broken my wrist and was about to have surgery and didn’t think it was a good idea to be in large crowds. But it was fun to see how people who drive by when I’ve been in the other big rallies. We honked and waved and tried to show our support the best we could.
March 28, 2026: The first of this year. More than 3,000 rallies took place across the country, focused on the administration’s policies and the escalation of immigration enforcement. Some also spoke to the war in Iran and the rising costs that came with it. Organizers estimated about eight million people took part. I did that one in Cary as well.
October 17, 2026: No Kings: Vote Early.: This year is different though. Instead of a rally, the focus in on political engagement. Organizers are urging people to vote early, perhaps by participating in one of the 1,000 Marches to the Polls that Rev. William Barber is trying to organize. But there are also community cookouts or block parties, voter education activities, and other voting-related programs. I still don’t know how things will work for me, but I’ll do something!
For what’s going on in your neighborhood, check out: NoKings.Org.
This week’s Motivational Music Monday song is a great follow up to last week’s Change for Good. Hope you enjoy it and are energized by it! If at all possible, VOTE EARLY! But mostly, just VOTE!
