I was out of the country for the first No Kings protest on June 14, and finally got a chance to attend one of these rallies here in Pittsburgh at the end of March, and oh, how things have gotten so much worse since June. In light of the heightened violence and terror that is coming from all directions at the hands of the Trump administration, these protests feel not quite useless, but aimless.
I have seen leftist Instagram warriors argue that “we do not have a king, so what is the point of these protests?” And although this is not the most effective way of debating No Kings, it raises a good question — what are these protests trying to do?
As an attendee, I saw no clear demands in the sea of signs mocking Trump. Worse, many of these posters, held by an overwhelmingly white crowd, were clearly AI slop. This hypocrisy made the protest feel about as performative as posting a black square during the summer of 2020.
There were several speakers at the event. Most made the typical speeches about voting — which remains important — and calling your representatives to demand change. Sadly, not only can Summer Lee not impeach Trump singlehandedly, but as someone who worked in a U.S. senator’s office, I can say that although staff members listen to your voicemails, if something is not already on a politician’s agenda, it’s likely not going to happen, no matter how many days in a row you call.
The majority of the political actions I see from Democrats and liberals follow this trend — they are confined to the systems that allowed the U.S. to get to this point in the first place. At the same time, the radical left is on such a high horse that rather than collaborating and educating more mainstream political coalitions with similar goals but ineffective activism, they spew insults and belittle those who go through accessible networks for change.
More so, it seems that these people may be doing less than the Democrats they detest. When I look at the profiles of those posting these slides on their Instagram ridiculing No Kings, I find white men with mustaches who live in gentrified neighborhoods and think wearing Carhartt gives them the right to speak on behalf of the working class. Plus, from personal experience, I can tell you that many of these leftists did not even vote in 2024.
In my experience at No Kings last month, I found that this protest is a far greater example of grassroots activism than posting on a social media page subject to digital authoritarianism. Grassroots activism, at its heart, is ordinary people coming together to address a specific problem. Voters have the leverage to put pressure on their local and state representatives when they stand together because it pulls people’s attention to a cause. Career politicians want nothing less than re-election. It is a less isolated act than calling a representative, and it is a catalyst to inspire more people because protests take up space. That is how grassroots movements demonstrate their power in a “bottom-up” approach to change.
Instead, we are divided, while the systems that oppress us all get stronger. I will be honest and admit that this protest was a bit too center of the aisle for me. No one expressed much interest in my handmade sign that demanded, “DISMANTLE THE RULING CLASS.” The mass calls to reinstate American democracy disappointed me. This democracy never really served the working class nor anyone who falls outside of the status quo, and it was never intended to help us. Dishearteningly, the police blocked traffic on the protest’s walking route. Chances are, if the police support a protest, it is not going to cause much change, or at least the change that those against Trump are hoping for.
But by no means do I offer these critiques to turn people away from attending these protests. As I mentioned, they are extremely valuable tools for organizing more movements and educating the masses. One of my favorite speakers at the recent No Kings protest 1Hood Power, who urged people to collaborate with organizations in Pittsburgh owned and led by people of color, spoke on how white supremacy is the foundation for the MAGA movement’s oppression and violence. Jasiri X’s speech spoke to the systems of power that Democrats tend to ignore but are crucial to undermining the radical right.
Even though this protest was not in totality the radical call to action I was hoping for, it empowered me to search for more opportunities to be an active part of change. As we walked and the crowd’s chants died down, I decided to try to start something on my own. I shouted “NO ICE. NO WAR.” My friends repeated my shouts, and in my nervous silence, after a few repeated rally calls, I heard the chant work its way down the block and back up to me.
This was an inspiring moment for me. I learned I have some power amidst all of this defeat. I can shout, and people will hear me. Community gives us the strength to resist. We, the people, are hungry for dissent. Let’s work together to gather, discuss and plan what we can do to satisfy our appetites. Additionally, those of us who have access to the education to understand how deeply corruption and injustice are rooted in America’s history have a great responsibility to use our privilege to educate and work with others.
The privileged position that allows so many of us to get an education does not give anyone the right to attack people on the internet who take a less radical approach than us. It takes allies to win a war. Hate is not going to get us anywhere worth going. I know this sounds silly, but we must go forward with revolutionary love. No one’s experience is less than yours, even if their thoughts are hateful or ignorant. Calling others names will only make people on the opposite side of a debate think less of the views you represent.
Of course, the perpetuation of injustice will make you angry. It should! So instead, follow educated activists like @angelfromthebloc on Instagram to feel less alone and get inspired. Contribute to a mutual aid cause. Support a black-owned business. Use all that energy to volunteer at a local nonprofit! Keep protesting with grassroots movements. Lead with compassion and lead loudly.
Julianna is a junior who studies social work and political science. She enjoys writing about politics, pop culture and the tribulations of being a woman in your 20s. Respond to her column at [email protected].