By David Swanson, World BEYOND War, October 18, 2025
I want to share a few photos of Saturday’s No Kings event in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Yes, to the critics, I share your concerns. These things are full of more U.S. flags than a Trump rally, and stacks and stacks of signs promoting patriotism, and a whole forest of signs telling people to do nothing for years and then “Vote!” — an absurdity that I don’t think you could find in any other country.
Yes, you’re right, there is no plan for escalation or disruption or strategic direct action beyond weekend displays. Sure it’s a demand for an empire without an obnoxious emperor. No, the organizers could never be paid enough to mention peace. No, the place was not free of ugly, mean messages or misinformed Russiagating.
Yet here I am with an antiwar shirt and antiwar signs, and I got only compliments, with nobody demanding that I leave the country or die, as would have been the case at an event for the other team.
Yes, this was an event for a team, part of a years-long campaign advertisement for the less hideous oligarchic side. But that side may have some people who really are less hideous. And, while putting its official leaders on a stage might not communicate strong, progressive messages, an open make-your-own-posters event can. Charlottesville doesn’t have speeches or marches for these events, but just thousands of people with signs — and now costumes (thank you, Portland!) — up and down both sides of a big road, with most of the cars honking in endless deafening support.
It’s almost like we’ve traveled back to 2003 but without requiring the Democrats to pretend to oppose wars. Yet, we do have a lot of them acting as though they oppose militarizing U.S. cities or depriving more people of healthcare or housing, and that’s not nothing. And it’s better bigger than smaller. Just ask your Aunt Tifa:
Not only are ordinary people happy to make fun of things that cause politicians to cower, but ordinary people are also willing to criticize the supposed leaders of their supposed team:
And the other team, too, of course:
Sometimes perhaps politeness makes way for honesty:
Sometimes I’m not sure politeness was even a consideration at all:
But mostly people demand perfectly reasonable stuff that normal countries have and which Democrats can sometimes be pushed to at least not fully oppose:
How do you like your ICE?
10 Responses
You might be surprised! . . . If you were to lurk on or influence what is touted as a right-wing social media platform (the only remaining free-speech one), Gab, you’d find most everyone there opposing the horrific genocides ongoing in Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan and Nigeria – often using strong language against Trump’s attacks on Iran+ and his support for genocide. As you know, these international attacks often constitute all-out ecogenocides, likewise opposed by the contingent on Gab. Do we care about those suffering MOST – arguably the Palestinians? Gabbers do. On a rare occasion, you might see on Gab a seemingly Hasbarah-funded ($7,000/post!) pro-IZRL post; otherwise, you’ll agree with the overwhelming antiwar, anti-genocide, anti-ecocide views Fortunately, Gab participants identify and call out the aerosol injection programs that poison all living beings and infuse all of us with nanotech toward the oncoming Digital Prison of the Internet of Bodies (IoB). (In one photo, a toxic streak appears to have been in progress above the Charlottesville gathering.) Gab people tend to be aware of the US Air Force document, “Controlling the Weather by 2025” and the ongoing weather-weaponry programs ignored by our No-Kings folks. They care about these overarching threats and do not get as entangled as No-Kings people in personal preferences. No doubt, were we all to talk, to share peaceably and thereby learn, we’d all be more unified than we currently appear.
That’s good
Thank you.
welcome
Great event, despite some concerns as mentioned in this article.
yep
While I attended a “No Kings” rally out the Empire Beauty School in Tucson today, I wrote a bit of a satirical commentary questioning the anti-monarchy perspective. I didn’t see any significant promotion of the Democratic Party at the event. However, as an advocate fir fundamental political reform, what I did see was full display of the “Cult of the Constitution” – worship of an archaic 18th Century political system created in secret by slaveholders who sought to preserve slavery.
The United States is stuck in the political dark ages.
Yes, Trump is a vile, authoritarian bigot. So is the party he represents with his 77 million voters, control of the White House, the Supreme Court, both houses of Congress, most governor’s offices, and most state legislatures. As much as Trump acts like a dictator, he is not, in fact, a dictator. He is the product of a rotten political system that has never been legitimate and never will be under the slaveholders’ Constitution.
Thomas Jefferson argued that a constitution could not bind future generations. Indeed, most modern constitutions only last about one generation on average. A legitimate government would be one based on active consent.
Constitutions are not “sacred.” They should change, evolve, or be replaced with human progress. The US Constitution is garbage that should have been thrown out two hundred years ago. The US should stop worshipping long dead slaveholders and create a modern system of government with a new constitution.
On King Shaming: (satire)
I decided to check out a “No Kings” rally in Tucson today. After walking around and looking at the signs, I remain skeptical about all the king shaming.
Many constitutional monarchies have far better systems of government than the United States does. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain are all monarchies with infinitely better representation under proportional representation than the United States has ever had – or ever will have under its constitution designed by slaveholders to preserve slavery. Same for the commonwealth nations of New Zealand and Australia.
Revolting slaveholders declared American independence from the British monarchy four years after the 1772 Somerset v. Stewart ruling. The King’s Court ruled that there was no legal basis for allowing slavery to exist in England and Wales.
Perhaps the problem isn’t kings (or queens) per se. The United States just has the wrong king – wielding far too much power. In constitutional monarchies, the king or queen typically has limited authority. The monarch often plays a ceremonial role. Kings in constitutional monarchies don’t all act like demented sociopathic narcissist dictators like Trump.
Even Trump himself might be tolerable if his monarchy were limited to a strictly ceremonial role. His insane racist, fascist rants could be strictly limited to ceremonial used car dealership openings, where he could wear a poofy crown and a long flowing red and white robe, while he points out HUGE deals with his scepter. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS CAR SALE!
Rather than insisting on “No King,” perhaps the United States should shop around for a better king or queen under a better system of government. It’s time to dump an archaic 18th Century system of government that was designed to exclude 94% of the population from representation.
The United States should secede from the United States and petition to join the constitutional monarchies of Norway, Denmark, or Andorra. Or the commonwealth nations of Australia or New Zealand.
Just say yes to constitutional monarchy with proportional representation. No Trump! No KKK! No fascist USA!
wouldn’t object to a no-power photo-op king, and trump might actually like that gig ok
Love it! How do I get a Let Gaza Live shirt? Maybe I won’t be told not to wear that one to work.
all the good shirts are in the shop
https://wbw-shop.fourthwall.com/