No Kings is a Day of Unity Against Tyranny

"Indivisible believes that the most powerful way to fight against this authoritarianism is by uniting behind what we all share, a desire to save our democracy."

October 18th is the second No Kings celebration and a day for Rhode Islanders to join millions of Americans en masse as we refuse to let Donald Trump destroy our democracy. The Republicans shutting down the government is nothing new. Trump has been shutting it down since he took office. But it is not his government to destroy! The government belongs to the American people. It is ours!

Trump is illegally laying off thousands of federal employees in retribution for Democrats not going along with his plan to deprive millions of Americans of affordable healthcare and drive premiums through the roof for the rest of us. He is canceling billions of dollars of investment in blue states to try to force us to accept increased healthcare prices, increases he caused so he could give tax breaks to the super-rich. He is hoarding tax money from states that didn’t vote for him, like Rhode Island, as punishment. With these actions, he is once again declaring his primary goal is to defeat us, not govern us. But we won’t be defeated! Instead, on Saturday, we will come together, as one nation, indivisible.

Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that No Kings is a ‘Hate America’ rally, and recently, plans were revealed that the White House is planning a crackdown on the activities and finances of groups like Indivisible. This is just one more way that Trump is abusing his power to go after his enemies, a list that now includes the millions of Americans who plan to vote against him. And contrary to these lies emanating from the White House, Indivisible is committed to non-violent resistance. Indivisible believes that the most powerful way we can fight back against this authoritarianism is by uniting behind what we all share, a desire to save our democracy.

I have seen this power in action over the past six months as we have rallied time and time again in Rhode Island to march and chant and carry signs, from the first rally on February 8th to the almost fifteen thousand people at the Hands Off Rally on April 5th to the huge crowds at the first No Kings Day on June 14th. I have seen this passion in the organizers from across Rhode Island who have come together to form the RI Resistance Coalition: From Newport, to Cranston, to Providence, to Wakefield, these organizers have spent the last two months building this No Kings celebration at the Rhode Island Statehouse. We are not the enemy! We are proud Americans who are holding fast to democracy even in these terrifying times. And this Saturday we will gather at the State House for a march and rally beginning at 1:00 pm to show the would-be King Trump that we will not be silenced!

Protecting democracy is not just an abstract ideal. It is a very real imperative that impacts all our lives right now. Donald Trump has trampled on the Constitution and ignored both Congress and the Courts. He has taken away not just our freedoms but also our ability to survive. Healthcare premiums are about to skyrocket, inflation and unemployment continue to rise, while people cannot afford to own a home or rent an apartment. Tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders will lose their health insurance over the next year because of Donald Trump’s power grab. Prices are soaring because of his illegal tariffs. The military, the national guard, and ICE are invading cities, arresting people without warrants, and dragging children from their homes. He has already invaded Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, and Washington, D.C. How long until this occupation comes to Rhode Island?

And while we protest Donald Trump and the super-rich that are pillaging America, we also must look for ways to help each other make it through these difficult times. As healthcare prices rise, food banks are emptied, government services are cut, and housing prices skyrocket, we must remember that many cannot wait for democracy to come to their rescue. They need help now!

This is why Indivisible Rhode Island and the RI Resistance Coalition are fighting to protect Rhode Island from Donald Trump here and now. We organized tons of food donations at our ‘Fight Back and Give Back Rally’, and we helped bring together volunteers and community organizations for the ‘Pull Together’ day of celebration last April. In May, we helped organize a rally for fair tax policy at the Rhode Island state house, an event which helped pass an increase in taxes on the most expensive vacation homes in our state, revenue which prevented the worst of the cuts to healthcare and social services in this year’s budget.

For me, this fight is as stark as it can be. For the last 3 years, I have been fighting cancer. While Donald Trump cut cancer research, slashed healthcare subsidies, defunded Medicaid, and forced hospitals to close, I’ve been fighting to stay alive. I rely on the healthcare that Trump is trying to take away, so I can survive. For many, these cuts have already been deadly. The cuts that are coming will endanger even more hard-working Americans. It doesn’t matter what issue you care most about. If democracy is lost, we will lose not just the power to save our healthcare system. We will also lose the power to right any wrong, restore any freedom, or stop any king.

Join with the RI Resistance Coalition for No Kings and declare out loud that America hasn’t had a king for 250 years and doesn’t need one now. See you Saturday!

Lev Poplow is with Indivisible Rhode Island.