Issue 0.5: Ebbing the Tide of Tyranny

So much has happened in the 113 days since the first nationwide “No Kings” march back on June 14. In that short amount of time (nearly 4 months ago), we have witnessed the rapid rollout of Project 2025, the passing of Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, the ominous introduction of Project Esther, the militarized deployment of ICE, among many other shockingly un-American developments. None of which provides our country with an ounce of welcome change or benefit.

Many here at home and abroad—including citizens of other countries—say that America today is unrecognizable. Some of us are in shock. Many have decided to ignore what’s happening. But the majority of us are enraged and growing more-so everyday.

The speed of the advancement toward a full realization of the GOP’s sadistic agenda has been staggering. It feels like we are all suffering from EO overwhelm and the strategic choice of “flooding the zone” with a relentless onslaught of highly questionable (and often unconstitutional) actions from the Trump regime.1

We are now in the midst of a government shutdown. Trump is sending his secret police force in to occupy and terrorize American communities. The GOP is silencing voters, handing billionaires giveaways, and giving bailouts to foreign countries all while American families struggle.

We are most certainly at a crossroads. As Thomas Paine put it in his powerful opening line of The American Crisis, No. 1, we find ourselves truly entrenched in “times that try men’s souls.” He wrote that pamphlet to address a period of low morale and the dire circumstances during the American Revolution in order to rally Washington’s troops as they prepared for their pivotal crossing of the Delaware River and the pivotal Battle of Trenton. And, like the Continental Army, we too must rally.

This is no longer just politics. It was never about immigration enforcement or abortion. And it’s not about healthcare. It’s freedom versus control; democracy versus dictatorship. And together, we are choosing freedom and democracy.

On October 18, a second wave of No Kings demonstrations is planned with hundreds, if not thousands, more Angelenos set to rise up across the city, joining the millions expected to participate across America and in other parts of the world. We will peacefully take to the streets once again, waving flags, chanting, holding our signs & banners, and—most importantly—making an even louder statement that is so much bigger and bolder than one voice in a crowd; we will be creating a chorus insisting on Trump’s removal from office and the restoration of our civil liberties and Constitutional rights. We will demand accountability, transparency, and a return to the rule of law—a resounding reminder that in America, we do not have kings, and we will not back down against the chaos, corruption, and cruelty. We need to send a clear message that Americans will not simply watch as our country is altered beyond recognition - we will defend our democracy.

The next few weeks, leading up to No Kings, will be very busy with training sessions, planning meetings, efforts to get the word out about No Kings, not to mention campaigning to gain support for Prop 50 in the upcoming California Special Election, and countless other efforts to encourage others to join us.

In the meantime, come out for the Democracy Rising Protest on Saturday, October 11th (at 7pm). We will gather on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and San Vicente Blvd in West Hollywood. This will be a great opportunity for us to talk with people about DAN, hand out fliers, and invite our neighbors to join us in downtown LA at the second No Kings 2 march.

As we all prepare for this historic moment, remember: protesting isn’t just a spectacle and it’s not a photo op; it’s a potent democratic mechanism for change. When we show up, we send a signal to those in power that we will not be silenced. Our actions and our presence matters.

In addition to being dismayed by the ways in which this nation has fallen short of the ideals they fought and died for, Washington’s troops would most certainly have applauded our modern day movements of resistance against tyranny, and they would have agreed wholeheartedly with the fundamental principles of “No Kings” and the renewed sense of spirit that will surely follow.

So, grab your sign, rally your friends, and let’s raise our voices together. Our actions today will, no doubt, find their way to tomorrow’s history books as we chant “No Thrones! No Crowns! No Kings!”