No Kings: Millions demonstrate against Trump, want to do more than vote for Democrats

The third No Kings Day, March 28, was the biggest yet, with at least 3,300 separate actions involving some 8 million people reported by the organizers. An estimated 90,000 to 100,000 people demonstrated in a massive two-mile march through downtown Seattle, while in New York City tens of thousands of people marched down Seventh Avenue from Central Park South to Times Square.

Protests were by no means limited to large metropolitan areas; there were six protest sites in Pinellas County in Florida, each drawing on people in the immediate local area. The action in Largo, Florida, had a good spirited turnout of several thousand people lining the sidewalk for several blocks. Similar scenarios were repeated in scores of small towns and suburbs, from the West Coast to the East Coast and from Northern Alaska down to Texas and Florida.

This is a momentous development that challenges President Donald Trump’s fascist, white supremacist agenda.

Unfortunately, as its theme makes clear, the official message of No Kings is focused on opposing Trump and getting out the vote for the Democratic Party in the November midterm elections. However, grassroots anti-imperialist, anti-war and pro-migrant voices were heard loud and clear at many demonstrations.

The Seattle march had many more anti-war signs and sentiment than previous No Kings Marches. There were also more anti-racist and anti-sexist signs, and many slogans against Immigration and Customs Enforcement invasions of immigrant communities, along with a strong anti-imperialist contingent organized by Seattle Against War and supported by Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Democratic Socialists of America and Workers World Party. People in the contingent chanted, “From Iran to Jenin, Stop the U.S. War Machine!” Many posters along the route called for a mass workers turnout for May Day.

‘ICE is our enemy, not Iran!’

In New York City a contingent from Workers World Party brought a sharp and powerful political message, carrying signs against the U.S./Israeli war on Iran, the blockade of Cuba, ICE’s attacks on immigrants, the imprisonment of Venezuela President Maduro and First Combatant Cilia Flores, and in support of Palestinian and Iranian resistance. One sign proclaimed, “ICE Is Our Enemy, Not Iran,” which elicited thumbs up and fist bumps from the crowd. 

Many people eagerly stopped to take photos of the signs as the contingent stood on a corner distributing Workers World newspaper and a statement about the protest. The exuberant protesters included a labor contingent with large banners stating, “No Kings,” “No War” and “No ICE.” The dynamic Rude Mechanical Orchestra roused protesters, playing and chanting “No ICE, No KKK, No Fascist U.S.A.” and “Free, Free Palestine.” 

There was no hostility to this newspaper. People asked if the paper was communist; when party members said yes, they took it and thanked them. Overall the sentiment seemed to be about 99% anti-ICE, 90% against war on Iran. 

In Atlanta, where many thousands protested at the Memorial Drive Greenway adjacent to the Capitol, members of the No War on Venezuela Coalition distributed a flyer opposing all U.S. wars of aggression against Iran, Palestine, Cuba, and Venezuela. Likewise Workers World Party members passed out copies of this newspaper with the headline hailing the heroic resistance of the people of Iran.

In Philadelphia there were fewer U.S. flags than at previous events and more Palestinian flags. Lots of signs supported immigrants/migrants. One sign read, “Billionaires are the only minority ruining this country.” WWP members distributed newspapers and leaflets with a recent “No kings — no capitalism” editorial and articles on Iran and the cost of the war. WWP’s signs against the war were photographed several times. There were other signs against the war throughout the crowd, although there should have been more.

As in New York, there was no animosity toward this communist paper and distributors found some opportunity to have discussions with people about the war. One disabled woman came over to a WWP member to talk about how the money being spent for war should have been used to provide healthcare to the people losing their insurance.  

Sharon Ayling, John Catalinotto, Dianne Mathiowetz, Jim McMahan, Betsey Piette and Brenda Ryan contributed to this article.