On Saturday, No Kings Day protests were held in cities and towns all across the country, in all 50 states. The Trump administration tried to belittle and miscast these protests.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said, "It’s all the pro-Hamas wing and, you know, the antifa people.” Trump said, "I don't feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved." Senator Marshall said that protests were “a Soros-paid-for protest where professional protesters show up..... We'll have to get the National Guard out. Hopefully it will be peaceful. I doubt it."
However, their words, intended for their supporters, distort the truth. When writing the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson devoted most of it to a recitation of all the grievances the colonists had against King George's abuse of his absolute power, as well as his establishment of a "tyranny". And the Founders stated that it is their "right and duty" to "throw off such government and provide new Guards for their future security."
What were some of the things included in the recitation of the King's abuses?
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
How do these complaints relate to what we as citizens are experiencing under the presidency of Donald Trump?
He has ruled by Executive Order, bypassing Congress. He has rendered Congress, which is the elected representative of the people, virtually null and void by placing his fellow Republicans in such fear of his power that they do whatever he asks.
He has attempted to make the judiciary subservient to him either by appointing judges who will do what he asks or by arguing for the impeachment of any judges who rule against him.
He sent DOGE into those areas of government that he was critical of, aiming to reduce their programs and staff, so that they were unable to perform their duties.
He has ordered the National Guard and Marines to patrol cities and arrest people without the consent of the mayors and governors concerned.
And he has staffed the executive branch with people who will do anything he asks; it's all about loyalty. If someone in the Executive Branch does not do as they are told, or if in the past they have done something against Trump, they get fired.
When the Founders drafted the Constitution and designed the new government, they were determined that no one person would ever hold such tyrannical power over the country. To that end, they designed what is called "the balance of power." Under this system, there are three independent branches of government: the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Each provides a check on the exercise of power by the other.
However, that system has been significantly weakened by Trump, as I've just described. Every day, we read in the news more examples of Trump's king-like authoritarian actions.
So, No Kings Day is something that the Founders would wholeheartedly support. It goes to the very heart of what the colonists were rebelling against. It is thus as American as the Revolution, which, in this case, will hopefully be accomplished through the ballot box and the process of representative democracy.Ronald L. Hirsch is a teacher, legal aid lawyer, survey researcher, nonprofit executive, consultant, composer, author, and volunteer. He is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Chicago Law School and the author of We Still Hold These Truths. Read more of his writing at www.PreservingAmericanValues.com
