Americans Don't Tolerate Kings
- Marianne Burke, PhD
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
March 28th No Kings Rallies Across the United States
The Guinness (Book of) World Records is watching the progress of the No Kings movement and anticipating that the upcoming nationwide protest may set a new record for the size of protests. Virginia is part of this massive but peaceful movement with a message to President Trump that the power belongs to the people and that "We the People" will not tolerate kings.
Since April 5, 2025, when three million people participated in a day of defiance at the Hands Off! protest, resistance to Trump’s attack on democracy has grown. On June 14, 2025, five million protesters attended the first No Kings protest at 2,000 locations. No Kings 2.0, on October 18, 2025, attracted seven million protesters at 2600 locations, and Virginia alone had 67 locations and 100,000 attendees according to Denis Orsinger, Lead for Viva la Resistance Indivisible from Vienna, Virginia. The No Kings 3.0 protest on March 28, 2026 has more than 3,000 events planned and is expected to attract nine million people. Virginia has about 200 protest events scheduled for No Kings 3.
Readers may wonder why so many people are protesting. Most Americans are appalled at Trump’s rush to destroy our democracy by trying to consolidate power in an authoritarian regime while breaking laws, ignoring the Constitution, and building personal wealth through graft.
Others, like this author, will not stand for the administration taking a wrecking ball to our federal agencies. My particular concern is what he is doing to the Department of Education. Public education is the right of every child in the United States, citizen or not, and education is a cornerstone of our democracy. As part of his effort to consolidate power in an authoritarian regime he is trying to close down the Department of Education and is attempting to control what students learn and believe.
Leah Greenberg, Co-Director of Indivisible, said that this is an urgent moment, with the Iran war and other outrageous actions committed by the administration on an almost daily basis. Bob Fasick, from Springfield Virginia, a No Kings 3 organizer and member of THIRD ACT! Virginia is protesting Trump’s “unjust policies, denial of rights and due process, abuses of power, demonstrable corruption, atrocities by I.C.E. and Trump’s refusal to release the Epstein files. “ But Bob and his fellow activists don’t wait for designated dates to protest. They populate a pedestrian bridge over I-95 three or four times a week with banners and signs to remind passing traffic about the outrages.
Dennis Atwood, from Shenandoah County and Lead for ShenCo Indivisible, is another No Kings 3 organizer who protests against “Trump’s attacks on the First amendment and the MAGA majority in Congress that refuses to hold the administration accountable.” Dennis reminds us that:
We the People must continue to show up, speak out, and vote big to restrain the regime.
Leah Greenberg explained that the underlying logic of authoritarianism is to make people feel that it is futile to resist and that it is inevitable that the regime will have unlimited power indefinitely. Authoritarian regimes gain and keep power by making people feel isolated. The No Kings protests counter this by “leaning into fun” and creating joyful defiance, thereby developing a strong sense of community. Jen Strozier, spokesperson for Indivisible Lynchburg and No Kings 3 organizer from Lynchburg Virginia, noted that “showing up in public places to celebrate, connect, and commit to continuing this work together” helps to grow the movement and empower people.
Barbara Silversmith, a leader with Fairfax Indivisible and the organizer of No Kings 3 events at four locations in Northeastern Virginia pointed out that her earlier No Kings events produced contagious excitement. “We had barely gotten our message of No Kings up [on a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 495 in Annandale] before cars below us started honking in support. Their enthusiastic response thrilled us! We all realized at that moment we weren't alone, and that sense of solidarity was addictive.” Now Barb hosts frequent protests on the pedestrian bridge, with families, pets, and people in costumes joining and creating a festive atmosphere. She is excited to see what will happen on March 28.
Organizers of these protests have come to realize that wannabe dictators try to make people feel isolated and fearful, and these protests create safe spaces where people can oppose attempted authoritarian rule and gain courage from their fellow protestors. Trump does not have the people on his side but people must develop the courage to stand up to his regime. Indivisible NOVA West’s steering committee explained it best:
Authoritarian regimes require fear and isolation but No Kings 3 creates joyful defiance and a strong sense of community.
This instills courage, courage is contagious, and the sense of a shared identity among pro-democracy people lets them know they are part of something bigger than their parts.
Diana Smith, another organizer and lead for Defend Democracy Indivisible, pointed out that “we must do as Americans did in 1776 when they stood up for a democratic republic. Now we have a tyrant who is trying to turn our American dream into the same nightmare faced by Germans nearly 100 years ago.”
With these protests we are showing society and this administration that there is movement against the rogue Trump administration.
Dale Wimberly, Lead for New River Valley Indivisible in Blacksburg VA, noted that many protests are planned in small towns away from the urban centers that are usually considered the centers for protests. He pointed out “many of the No Kings 3 protests are planned in Southwest Virginia, including those in Abingdon, Bristol, Galax, Hillsville, Floyd, Marion, and some in Virginia coal country including Russell County, Scott County, Clintwood.”
Readers can find information about events in Virginia at this link and events elsewhere at this link. They can bring friends and family to one of these peaceful events and not only benefit from the sense of community and infectious courage, but they can help give the message to the Trump administration that in America we will tolerate NO KINGS.
We must do as Americans did in 1776 when they stood up for a democratic republic. Now we have a tyrant who is trying to turn our American dream into the same nightmare faced by Germans nearly 100 years ago.
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