No Kings, 2026

    As in places all around the country, and in the world, large numbers of No Kings protestors showed up in Grants Pass last Saturday. I was one.

    That means I was one of eight million Americans in 3,300 US cities and towns at a rally. It felt both noble and exciting to participate in what apparently was the largest demonstration, nationwide, since the first Earth Day. The mood was upbeat. The signs were clever and encouraging: "No faux-king way," "No kings in America since 1776," "Melt ICE."  I didn't take any pictures, but you've seen photos from other cities, the massive crowds in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Atlanta, New York, Washington, DC. Mind-boggling. 

    Grants Pass is a small town. I liked seeing the few black people who were there—the ex-military in their uniforms—young people with "Trans rights are human rights" signs. I liked seeing such a large crowd in this staunchly conservative area.

    Protests around the country were mostly nonviolent, though apparently there were some arrests in Portland, LA, and Dallas. 

    Does it do any good? Well, Trump didn't call an end to the war in Iran the next day, but you know he was pissed—if he was paying attention, if his aides gave him more than complimentary news, if he didn't sincerely believe the real reports were fake news. 

    Does it do any good? Well, the Center for American Progress reports that the numbers from last Saturday put us close to the crucial 3.5 percent figure—the proportion of the population it takes to make government officials pay attention.

    Does it do any good? Well, in the first two No Kings rallies in Grants Pass, counter-protestors stood with their own signs in front of the Republican headquarters, which is directly across the street from the courthouse, where the rallies are centered. This time there was one lone Jesus-hawker with his megaphone. The other counter-protestors stayed away. Did they feel outnumbered? Or do they feel they can no longer support Trump?

    Either way….

        I hope you'll go to the next No Kings protest to help swell the numbers to the 3.5-percent point. It is good for your soul and good for your country.