During a visit to Los Angeles, I awoke to the sounds of whistles and shouts coming from the nearby West Hollywood neighborhood. After getting dressed and brushing my teeth, I went outside. There were no sirens, no pleas for help, just a bunch of California residents–and boy were they angry.
Walking through the crowded streets, there were signs galore: anti-fascism posters, anti-Trump signs and a surprising amount of AI-generated political images. Cars were also honking incessantly, much to the protesters’ joy.
The city of LA has been a political battleground for much of the Trump administration’s time in office. What I didn’t know was that the citizens were not taking their treatment lightly. This was America’s new “holiday” for outcry: No Kings Day.
“No Kings Day” is not an official holiday (and certainly wouldn’t be recognized by the current administration), with a single agreed-upon origin. As I found that morning, the day is more of a symbol, a symbol of resistance to a seemingly absolute power. As seen in many signs, the protesters believe that no one person should rule over another without accountability.
I believe that the idea traces broadly to many different democratic revolutions, specifically those that rejected monarchy. Hence, “No Kings.” The local protests reminded me of movements like the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s: lots of signs, lots of noise and, of course, doing it in the name of the betterment of society.
After talking with a couple of strangers who were holding signs, I was most shocked by the sense of togetherness that the groups had. Not only were they forming mass crowds and protesting, but they were also helping each other.
Many locals set up stands with water, making sure nobody was thirsty in the hot California weather. Others had food and some were giving out funny political stickers with “no kings” messages on them. In fact, you could hear the community acting as one, as almost every car honked on its way past the groups at West Hollywood Park, each honk causing a deafening uproar of cheers, bells and whistles.
After my very kingless morning, one thing still makes me smile. The American people, experiencing a problem, are advocating for themselves peacefully, while acting as one whole community.
“No Kings Day” doesn’t need to be your thing; it doesn’t even need to be an official holiday. You don’t need to agree with anything the signs say or the noise coming from the streets.
But here’s one thing I think everyone should appreciate through my experience: the American people, even when they feel threatened, are able to go outside and speak their mind, loudly, proudly, yet still peacefully.
Public protesting is a beautiful thing, and it was truly heart-warming to see others exercising their right, especially because so few around the world have access to it.
