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Youth Adults

Despite what people have been saying about the No Kings protests having been a “seniors only event,” I actually saw a substantial percentage of young adults participating.

Parrot

 As individual protests go, I thought this one was by far the most creative I've seen. Although I couldn't quite capture the sign, I think it referred to Trump as acting as if is Vladimir Putin's parrot. 

Inflatables

"Protesters have taken to wearing oversized inflatable costumes to deflate tensions and draw attention at rallies against Trump administration’s policies. Crowds across the U.S. and abroad rallied Saturday during 'No Kings' demonstrations against what they call a slide into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump. Republicans dismissed the gatherings as “Hate America” rallies, but many had a festive feel" -- AP News

In this photo, though, I would also take note of the gentleman wearing the AFL-CIO stocking cap, suggesting to me, at least, the more sober side to this No Kings protest.

First Amendment

 "The 'No Kings' gatherings wouldn’t have been possible without the First Amendment; a cornerstone of U.S. democracy. It gives us freedom of speech, to peacefully protest, and to gather without fear of government intervention. In this country, everyone is entitled to their beliefs, and to act on them lawfully and without fear of punishment — no matter how 'unpopular' or 'disfavored' those beliefs may be.

But the Trump administration continues to abuse its power to silence and punish people and organizations who express viewpoints it doesn’t like. Despite fearmongering from those who would prefer that the public stay quiet, millions of Americans refused to stay home and instead channeled their courage to show up and speak up for each other. Because the best way to protect our First Amendment rights is to keep using them — and to do so peacefully, knowing the power of nonviolent protest to make repression backfire." -- Ellen Flenniken, ACLU Justice Division

Flag Code

The flag this fellow was displaying at my local No Kings protest presented quite a contrast with the one flying off the back end of a large pickup truck that drove through the crowd. That flag had the familiar stars and stripes, but also with a black-and-white image of our führer superimposed over the stripes. Someone near me, when she saw that, commented about how--in the small town where she grew up--that would have been considered a desecration, which prompted me to look this up in Wikipedia:

"The United States Flag Code outlines certain guidelines for the flag's use, display, and disposal. For example, the flag should never be dipped to any person or thing, unless it is the ensign responding to a salute from a ship of a foreign nation. This tradition may come from the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, where countries were asked to dip their flag to King Edward VII: the American flag bearer did not. Team captain Martin Sheridan is famously quoted as saying, "this flag dips to no earthly king", though the true provenance of this quotation is unclear." 

Activism

"With every protest, flag waving on street corners, voter registration drive and postcard party, organizers say they are inching toward a special number of civically active Americans.

When 3.5% of the population of a country is actively involved in peacefully protesting a government, that government is likely to fall from power, according to one theory of nonviolent civil resistance." -- USA Today

Seniors

I've been amused by Republicans (many of whom are themselves--let's just say--of advanced age) characterizing the No Kings protest as being just a bunch of seniors having fun. Well, I gotta tell you, those so-called fun loving seniors have a whale of a lot of experience dealing with rogue presidents. Anyone here old enough to remember the late 60s and early 70s? Ooh-wee! Now, those were heady days. So  you might just want to be a wee cautious about whose grandparents you piss off.

Bubbles

"Republicans have spent many days trying to marginalize the massive anti-Trump 'No Kings' rallies held across the country over the weekend.

They’ve argued the people involved were extremists and even predicted they would be violent (which turned out not to be true). They’ve claimed the protesters hate America." -- CNN

Tyranny

"The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world." -- The Declaration of Independence 

Food for Thought

"House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Wednesday. 'Let's see who shows up for that. I bet you see pro-Hamas supporters. I bet you see Antifa types. I bet you see the Marxists in full display, the people who don't want to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic.'" -- ABC News

No Kings

Takin a bit of a break here to post a number of images from yesterday's No Kings protest near me. 

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