At Home: No Kings! (Well, Charles is OK)

On June 14, between millions of people across the United States participated in what was called the "No Kings" rallies, expressing their displeasure in how the government, specifically by President Trump and his cronies in the cabinet and Congress, was being run. Sources vary between five and twelve million with "over five million US" being the most reported, but there were international demonstrations in 20 countries as well. (Personally, I think the event was badly named. Kings aren't necessarily bad but dictators are.) You can pretty much get the idea of what was happening here by the creative signs many displayed! Most rallies were peaceful, but some in larger cities had some elements of violence. 

I was one of them.

At the rally with friends Kate and Mike, who took this pic!

This is the largest of the protests that have been taking place since April. I was pleased to be a part of the rally in Lansing, MI at the state capitol. It was a gorgeous day, warm but not hot, a gentle breeze. Between 5,000 and 7,000 (depending on your news source) were part of the Lansing rally. I have to say, I've never seen a more polite and pleasant group of people.

 

Our group included  people of all ages (I was pleased to see so many younger people there -- which in this case I define as between college age and 40.) Many who attended were physically challenged. We also saw many veterans and a number of people came up to the veteran I was attending with to acknowledge his service.

 

There were many tables on site representing different groups. One was handing out pocket constitutions. They later said they ran out of them.

 

Protest has always been a key part of the American culture, the right to free speech and assembly guaranteed in the constitution. We've done it for women's rights, civil rights, and to protest wars. This time the cause is greater. It is to protect our democracy.

 

The right of free speech, and many others, are being threatened by the current president who acts as a dictator or a king (not ALL kings! I rather like Charles). 

 

For those of you in other countries and don't see the news from the US often (or don't really care!), you may wonder what is going on and what all the commotion is about. These are basically protests against a president who signs something called the "executive order" with the speed of a well-published author autographing books at a festival or a film star signing photos for fans. Unfortunately, these orders have terrible repercussions. It is reminiscent of days of old when a king had absolute power. 

 

"Don't you have a Congress to protect you?" some ask. Yes. Our constitution made a separation of powers between the executive, congressional and judicial branches. But our Congress, particularly the Republicans, follow the president blindly, fearing his retribution and losing their seats in the next election if they don't. And yes, many thought he would "Make America Great Again," but ironically many of those who voted for him will be the first to feel the effects of his actions. At the moment, the courts are, in general, doing their best to override these actions. The government appeals up the "food chain," which takes a long while. Many judges are partisan appointed and it is clear that some will OK actions that a lower court prohibited. The end game is the Supreme Court but that often takes time.

 

Those actions have removed funding from projects affecting us all but with greatest impact on the poor and middle class. in no way is this clearer than in the arrest and deportation of migrants without benefit of trial. Many of these men, women and children have a legal right to be in the country. Many hold jobs Americans will not do, including those working the nation's farms, leaving our food supply in some jeopardy. Others work as cleaners, in restaurants, hotels or in other jobs. Trump promised to bring down the cost of food, but without farm workers (it looks like he's backing down on that) and with international tariffs, those costs are already rising, as grocery-shopping Americans already know. (Please don't misunderstand me -- Immigration is a terrible problem in our country but this is not the way to go about it.)

 

The immigration officials who come in are often masked and armed. It is terrifying. 

 

But that's not all that's happening. Individual rights are being challenged. Valuable services that people have come to rely upon are being eliminated, most affecting the poor and middle class, food and medical benefits among them. Meanwhile, the proposed budget will make the rich even more so. 

 

And, from a medical point of view, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (who is a piece of work in himself) has decimated the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration, cutting valuable research and testing of vaccines, among other things while spouting non-confirmed, often spurious alternatives.

 

A president who is vindictive of his enemies seeks retribution the most recent example being a battle with Harvard University, pulling all their research money, wanting to take control of things that are or are not being taught and telling them they can accept no international students. Some of these things are in the courts now, but universities everywhere are concerned.

 

Aid provided to other countries is being slashed, even eliminated. Hundreds have died in Africa because the US cut off AIDS medications with no plan for those who required and depended on them. Others in less developed countries relied on US support for food. Here in the US, names of people of color and LGBTQ heroes are being scrubbed from official US military sites and ships, including the web tributes on the pages of Arlington National Cemetery. 

 

In short, we are becoming a Fascist country, in many ways no better than the Taliban in Afghanistan or the era of Nazi Germany.

 

And so, I'm proud to be out there with these thousands of others. Until we can vote to replace our Congress (the president has three more years in office) all we can do is express our anger, support our courts, and do what we can to protect the rights of the American people, whether it is by calling our Congressional representative and Senators to express our opinions or actively working to replace them.

 

We must not be silent.

 

And on that note, a parting request if you live in the US. The House of Representatives voted to rescind the previously allocated funding for public broadcasting (PBS and National Public Radio or NPR) and the measure will be voted on by the US Senate next week. If you support public broadcasting and what it does -- even if you are not a regular viewer or listener, please let your U.S. Senator know your support as soon as possible. It will also be cut from the budget that is going through the House and Senate. Your voice matters.

 

Thank you.