According to the No Kings organization, over three thousand demonstrations are planned on Saturday, March 28.
“New polling shows President Donald Trump in negative territory on immigration, foreign policy and the economy, with overall job approval also slipping as the midterm cycle approaches,” wrote Sam Stevenson for Newsweek. If you are part of the majority of Americans who disapprove of the direction of the country, a rally and walk may be just the thing to give you hope and incentive to work for change.
Many people I know feel despair, fear, sadness and deep spiritual concern for the United States right now. We can turn away from the news and pretend that everything’s fine, or we can become educated and speak out about corruption, chaos, and cruelty. While the organizers say they want to counter Trump’s plans to feed his ego on his 80th birthday and Flag Day, other core concerns include federal immigration raids, deployment of the National Guard, disregard for human rights, cruelty to those imprisoned, including some illegally, mistreatment of women and other minorities, building the coffers of millionaires, disregard for the environment, dismantling of federal agencies that supported us and kept us safe, and starting a war that most Americans don’t want.
You may have your pet peeves, or you may have many, but if you disapprove of what’s going on in Washington, you can act.
For many of us, deeply disturbing events create quietude and inertia. We hear about cruelty, corruption and chaos every day. A nine-year-old boy in a concentration camp in Texas pleaded for his freedom and living in horrific conditions, and then the Trump administration limited access to the prison. The United States and Israel bomb Iran without the U.S. Senate’s approval and without NATO’s knowledge without a game plan to bring the war to an end, and the President seemed surprised that things didn’t go his way even though there were warnings. Climate rollbacks, labeled “corruption in action” by Democrats alleging environmental protections are removed in exchange for political support from the fossil fuel industry. It doesn’t stop. No one’s stopping it. We have a President who believes he is above the law. Hence the name “No Kings.”
The “No Kings” events provide opportunities for connection with like-minded people and provide hope for change. If you have concerns about showing up, note that the core principle behind all “No Kings” events is a commitment to nonviolent action, and participants are expected to seek to de-escalation of any potential confrontation. Expect to hear speakers who are in leadership positions in the community talk about the reasons we must lift our voices and how we can do that. After a rally, people start walking with their signs and American flags, and many times people walk away with a commitment to write congresspeople, attend town halls, show up for candidate talks, and write postcards to voters. It’s comforting to know that we are in this together.
In Cleveland, participants will gather at the Free Stamp statue at the corner of E. 9th Street and Lakeside at 1pm. From Ashtabula to Sandusky, from Medina to Canton, from Youngstown to Wooster, and in counties all over the State of Ohio, people will take it to the streets to show the world “this is what democracy looks like.” A full list of rally sites is at Mobilize.us website.
The founding fathers envisioned a bountiful land of natural beauty, plentiful resources, respect for all people, opportunities for immigrants, freedom of speech and religion, and democratic ideology. They created a structure of checks and balances to prevent abuse of power. This country was founded in protest of tyrannical cultures in Europe and in support of the right of all people to have a good life. That vision is still what most of us still want, wherever we are in our politics. Honestly, this is a time for moral rectitude.
A massive turnout would be a public rebuke to Trump’s actions. As his support weakens, the media and Trump’s allies will be forced to notice when millions take to the street again. Maybe some will take a hard look at their morals, change their opinions and become better leaders. The No Kings events shine the light on what’s not working and urges all of us to be better citizens of the United States of America.
During the Revolutionary War we fought the good fight and won. It’s time for a new kind of revolution, not with warlike attitudes but with peaceful ones. Be brave. Let’s get the “land of the free and brave” back. Go here to find a No Kings rally close to you.
Claudia J. Taller is a writer, yoga teacher, mindfulness leader, avid reader, nature lover, and sometimes an artist and musician. Her books include 30 Perfect Days, Finding Abundance in Ordinary Life. This reflective piece is the first one in her upcoming book All the Fleeting Days, Deconstructing and Re-Imagining a Life.