Taki27 I also think the No Kings thing is overblown.
Possibly, but time will tell. Our history tells us protesters almost always win. In many cases people will die, and it may take a long time, but in the end they usually win. Some protests that helped change history below.
The protest over the tax on tea (aka Boston Tea Party) led to the American Revolution and our independence.
Abolitionists who protested to end slavery led to the Civil War and the end of slavery.
The Labor movement protests resulted in labor laws, ending child labor, unions, minimum wage, safer working conditions etc.
Women's suffrage protests led to a constitutional amendment allowing women to vote.
Civil Rights protests ended Jim Crow and got the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Vietnam War protests helped end the war.
Environmental protests created the EPA and major envrionmental laws.
LGBTQ rights protests helped legalize same sex marriage and other rights.
The No Kings protests are protesting against a president who wants unchecked power. Who aligns himself more with strongmen authoritarians like Putin and Hungary's Orban. Treats them better than our NATO allies.
Doesn't respect the constitution / rule of law. Has made the DOJ his own personal law firm. Basically has a secret police violating the constitution (4th amendment against illegal search and seizure) The list is long.
The No Kings moniker is in reference going back to the American Revolution where we opposed a monarchy. Here's what we're against. Expanding executive power i.e. the Unitarian / Imperial Presidency. Ignoring court rulings and undermining democratic institutions.
I wonder sometimes if people even know what fascism is? It's what we fought against in WWII. When watching an old WWII movie do they secretly hope the ending changes and the fascist countries (Germany, Japan and Italy) win. lol
Change doesn't just happen because the powers that be have an epiphany and do the right thing. History says you have to get up off your ass and put some skin in the game and protest.
Here's where I probably differ than many. For me one the the most patriotic things a person can do is protest against their government. The founders thought so much of it they included it in the First Amendment.
Authoritarians hate when the masses get together and protest. The previous No Kings protests were the largest in history. Again, time will tell if our democracy can hold. So far we're hanging on by a thread.