‘No Kings’ — It’s American!

On Saturday, Oct. 18, a record-breaking 7 million Americans peacefully participated in “No Kings” events. Marches, rallies and protests are as American as it gets.

Why call it “No Kings”? Kings can ignore the “subjects.” Elected leaders shouldn’t ignore the Constitution, its guaranteed rights or constituents, regardless of party affiliation. A President cannot make up the rules as he goes. No one is above the law. Period. That’s not the American way.

Republican Party House Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP members claimed the event was “un-American” and sponsored by “America-hating” ultra-left-wing lunatic Democrats and antifa financed by George Soros and orchestrated by paid agitators. It might be amusing if it weren’t so incorrect and misinformation.

Attention, Speaker Johnson and other members of the Republican Party, your assessment of this huge display of public activism and how it was organized, communicated and who attended was totally inaccurate.

There were families, dogs, inflatable costumes and a general feeling of a block party. There were homemade signs, chants, songs and waving at honking cars whether they were supportive or giving a one-finger salute to the rally goers. There were people who never attended a similar event.

There were people attending a family reunion wanting to participate. People showed up late and made plans to travel to another town to participate. There were people of all races, veterans, farmers, retirees, teachers, factory workers and adolescents. There was a general feeling of joy to be part of a like-minded group of people who smiled and felt heard and loved America.

Participants brought American flags and believed in the Constitution, free speech, right to assemble, voting, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, powers granted to branches of government, the press, separation of church and state and democracy. Pretty radical. Right?

Over 2,700 events in all 50 states and held on Oct. 18 were organized primarily by volunteers. Events happened small towns, suburbs, and cities. No one was paid by George Soros. No one was bussed to the events.

In Southwest Iowa there were events held in Creston, Atlantic, Red Oak, Clarinda, Shenandoah, Oakland and Council Bluffs. Creston, Atlantic and Red Oak each had at least 100 people attend. Iowa sponsored 47 events. Yes, there were a few counter protesters gathered in some places, but they were few.

Events were peaceful with few arrests. Major cities and targets of GOP threats to send in troops like New York, Chicago, Los Angles, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Austin reported no arrests.

The United States was founded and sustained by public activism bubbling to the surface when elected leaders won’t respond to “We the People.” A Republican-controlled White House, House of Representatives and Senate, seem obsessed with demeaning the people who elected them. Even an AI-generated video distributed by President Trump disrespected American citizens participating in their right of free speech and public demonstration.

President Trump stated “No Kings” was “poorly attended.” Really?

Seven million Americans took to the streets on Oct. 18 demonstrating about tariffs, taxes, Medicaid cuts, SNAP benefits, veterans’ benefits and tax breaks for billionaires. The crowds attending were Democrats, Republicans, Independents, church-goers, veterans, farmers, parents and grandparents — a cross-section of American.

Paraphrasing a line from the movie, “Network,” “they’re mad and they’re not going to take it anymore.” “We the People” have discovered that “we are the ones we’ve been waiting for” to save democracy.

There’s an election on Nov. 3, 2026. There are four Congressional seats and one Senate seat up for election in Iowa.

Underestimate us. That will be fun.