Why Black Americans and Anti-racists of all colors should demonstrate on “No Kings Day.”
There comes a time when silence is betrayal and when staying home is surrender. No Kings Day is not just another protest. It is a declaration that in America, no man is above the people, no leader is above the Constitution, and no government has the right to turn back the clock on freedom, especially for Black people and other minorities. For Black Americans and anti-racists, participation is not optional — it is necessary. History teaches us that progress doesn’t rise from the comfort of the sidelines. It swells from the courage of people joined in a common purpose.
We remember the lessons taught by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the freedom movement: demonstrations work. Marches create political change. Protests open doors. Organized people defeat organized oppression.
Do not be misled. Those who fear justice often fear protest. They know that when Black America shows up, history moves forward. We have marched before. We have created change before.
We dismantled a century-old “Jim Crow” regime of state-sponsored terror and discrimination in the South and if we stand together today, we can build a better future.
And here is why we MUST act:
First, opportunity is under attack. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs opened doors that had been closed for generations. These programs helped Black workers get hired, Black businesses get contracts, and Black students get opportunities. Without them, discrimination can quietly return, wearing a new suit and tie. When opportunity is threatened, we must respond with unity.
Our voting rights are under pressure. From urban districts to cities like Atlanta, voter rolls and election procedures are being contested. There is a bill right now in Congress that would disenfranchise millions of Americans. Our ancestors bled for the ballot. The right to vote is the right that protects all other rights. When the vote is weakened, democracy is weakened, and Black people are left powerless and without a voice — just like in the Jim Crow South.
Health care matters. Black communities already face higher rates of chronic illness and lower access to medical care. When funding is cut, and premiums skyrocket, our neighborhoods often feel the pain first and longest.
Education is the bridge to tomorrow. Our children need books, teachers, and opportunity — not censorship and neglect. Every attack on public education is an attack on the dreams of Black youth.
Economic policies hit the poor the hardest. Tariffs and price increases function like hidden taxes. Studies of past tariffs have shown that American consumers — especially low-income households — bear most of the cost through higher prices on everyday goods. Connecticut and Illinois have sued the federal government, asking for a refund of $1700 per person for the cost of tariffs. In total, 24 states have sued for refunds. When groceries cost more, and rent climbs higher, working families struggle the most.
We must remain vigilant about civil liberties and due process. History reminds us that systems built for one purpose can be misused for another. The protection of constitutional rights must apply to all people, without exception. Attacking DEI programs is another tactic to insidiously strengthen majority dominance and White privilege.
Our history must never be erased. Harriet Tubman guided the enslaved to freedom. Jackie Robinson transcended the color line in baseball. We cannot let these accomplishments, along with the accomplishments of thousands of Black pioneers, inventors, and leaders, be forgotten. Our children and future generations are depending on us to protect their right to know their history. The story of slavery and the struggle for freedom is part of America’s history. When truth is hidden, justice is delayed.
Black immigrants and refugees deserve dignity and respect. Haitians, Somalis, and others seeking opportunity should not be mocked or dehumanized. An attack on Black immigrants is an attack on all Black people. When any Black community is attacked, all Black communities are affected.
We must resist the normalization of racism and division. Words matter. Leadership must lift the nation higher, not drag it down. We cannot live in a country where it is okay to use racial slurs to describe our children or to depict former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle as apes.
We cannot forget our global family. Policies affecting Africa and the developing world can have life-and-death consequences. America’s withdrawal of medical and humanitarian support via USAID will likely result in an estimated 750,000 lives lost in the past year. Our humanity does not stop at the water’s edge. We care about Black people wherever they live.
We cannot just watch TV, complain about how bad things are, and then do nothing.
The time has come for action.
There is no turning back. But to go forward, we must march. We must demonstrate.
We must make it clear to anyone and everyone that Black people and our allies will not tolerate the rise of fascism nor a return to segregation and degradation.
No kings. No fear. No Racism. No turning back.
