No Kings Might Be Bigger than Anyone Expected
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The 'No Kings' movement has organized the largest protests in American history, with 'No Kings 1' drawing 5 million people and 'No Kings 2' drawing 7 million globally.
- ❖Protest participant numbers are estimated using academic methodologies (e.g., Erica Chennowith, G. Elliot Morris) and direct input from event hosts.
- ❖The strategic goal is to engage 3.5% of the population (11-12 million in the US) in active resistance, a threshold experts identify for effective anti-authoritarian movements.
- ❖One-day protests are a tactic to send a message of resistance and, crucially, to recruit people for deeper, sustained organizing.
- ❖Effective resistance against authoritarianism requires forcing 'economic pain' through actions like boycotts, school shutdowns, and refusal to work, as seen in responses to White House actions in cities like the Twin Cities.
- ❖Organizers prioritize safety, with every 'No Kings' protest having a safety lead and requiring hours of training, demonstrating a commitment to non-violent action.
- ❖Republicans have shifted from calling 'No Kings' violent Marxists to systematically ignoring the protests, which organizers interpret as a sign of weakness.
- ❖The movement emphasizes 'mirth,' joy, and community as a powerful, unexpected form of resistance that authoritarians struggle to comprehend or counter.
Insights
1Unprecedented Scale of 'No Kings' Protests
The 'No Kings' movement has successfully organized what it claims are the largest protests in American history. 'No Kings 1' gathered 5 million people across 2,100 protests, and 'No Kings 2' saw 7 million participants across 2,700 global protests. The upcoming 'No Kings 3' has already registered over 3,100 protests, aiming for Guinness World Record recognition.
Ezra Leaven states, 'We have the largest protest in American history coming up this Saturday... We had the largest protest in history for June's No Kings 1 last year. That was 5 million people at 2100 protests. Then we had the largest protest in American history again in October of last year with No Kings 2. 2,700 protests around the world with 7 million people.'
2Strategic Purpose Beyond One-Day Messaging
While protests send a message, their primary strategic value is to recruit participants for deeper, sustained organizing. A single protest cannot 'save democracy'; it must feed into a broader strategy of organized, non-violent mass people power designed to prevent authoritarian consolidation. The goal is to move people from one-day attendance to active, ongoing engagement.
Leaven explains, 'If the only thing you're ever doing is showing up on a Saturday protest, regardless of how historic and size it is, you're you're not going to save democracy... The second big thing that we can accomplish is recruiting people all over the country to be part of more meaningful deep organizing on the ground.'
3Leveraging Economic Pain for Political Impact
To effectively push back against authoritarian actions, the movement advocates for tactics that impose 'economic pain' on society. This includes actions like boycotts, school shutdowns, and refusal to work, drawing parallels to how communities like the Twin Cities successfully repelled White House attacks by forcing societal impact beyond mere protests.
When asked about economic pain, Leaven responds, 'I boycott, no schools, no work... They did it by showing up day in day out. They did it by having clergy out in the streets, by shutting down businesses, by refusing to go to schools, by teachers not going and teaching kids. They did it by actually forcing a societal impact.'
4Mirth and Joy as a Form of Resistance
Authoritarians thrive on fear and want people to feel isolated. The 'No Kings' movement intentionally incorporates 'mirth,' joy, and community building into its protests as a direct counter. Dancing, funny signs, and collective laughter are seen as powerful threats to an authoritarian regime that 'doesn't understand' such expressions.
Leaven recounts an expert saying, 'Ezra, they they don't understand mirth.' He adds, 'They hate that you're showing up in a unicorn costume. They hate your funny signs. They hate the fact that you're dancing and laughing and building community cuz that's a real threat to them. They want you to be alone.'
Bottom Line
Authoritarian regimes are uniquely vulnerable to 'mirth' and joyful, community-oriented resistance, as these expressions run counter to their desired atmosphere of fear and isolation.
This suggests that movements should actively cultivate joy, humor, and strong community bonds in their actions, not just as a morale booster, but as a strategic tool to disorient and weaken the psychological control of authoritarian powers.
Organizers can design protest events and ongoing activities that prioritize creative expression, shared laughter, and social connection, making participation more appealing and the movement more resilient against attempts to instill fear.
Key Concepts
The 3.5% Rule
This principle, cited by anti-authoritarian experts like Erica Chennowith, suggests that if 3.5% of a population actively participates in non-violent resistance, it is highly likely to succeed in achieving its goals. The 'No Kings' movement uses this as a target for its mobilization efforts.
Lessons
- If a protest is not within 30 minutes of your location, organize your own event, even with short notice, to expand the movement's reach.
- Beyond attending a protest, text three people who are not typically activists and invite them, framing it as a 'gift' and an 'incredible party' to build community and make history.
- Engage in deeper, sustained organizing efforts beyond one-day protests, focusing on actions that can create societal impact, such as boycotts or community-led shutdowns, to push back against authoritarian actions.
Recruit Non-Activists to Mass Protests
Identify three individuals in your network who have never attended a protest or are not typically activist types.
Craft a personal invitation via text, framing the protest as an 'incredible party' that is 'powerful, historic, fun, and community building.'
Emphasize the positive aspects of participation: community, joy, and making a historical impact, rather than solely focusing on the political grievance.
Notable Moments
The movement's response to political violence, specifically the murders of Melissa Hortman and Alex Prey.
Despite security concerns and attempts by the regime to quell dissent through violence, local organizers in Minnesota 'demanded' that protests proceed. This demonstrated a powerful resolve to exercise First Amendment rights and counter fear with continued, non-violent action, reinforcing the movement's resilience.
Quotes
"If the only thing you're ever doing is showing up on a Saturday protest, regardless of how historic and size it is, you're you're not going to save democracy."
"They hate that you're showing up in a unicorn costume. They hate your funny signs. They hate the fact that you're dancing and laughing and building community cuz that's a real threat to them. They want you to be alone."
Q&A
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