A lot of us are feeling exhausted by the news lately, feeling like the scales of justice are being tilted. The "No Kings" movement is a line in the sand. It's a wake-up call that matters because it's the spark needed to move communities toward a specific goal: the 3.5% it takes to change the course of history.
It's easy to feel small when looking at headlines from Washington, D.C. You might think, "I'm just one person; what can I actually change?" But political scientists have found that no government can withstand the challenge of 3.5% of its population engaged in active, nonviolent resistance.
So, why does "No Kings" matter for that goal?
It clarifies the stakes: It moves beyond policy debates and gets to the core question: Do we live in a republic or a monarchy? That clarity can turn observers into participants.
It’s a local signal: When people show up in their communities, they signal to their neighbors that accountability isn’t optional. It also makes it easier for others to speak out.
It shifts the "normal": When 3.5% of people take action — whether at a town hall, through letter writing or by organizing in public spaces — it changes what is considered acceptable behavior for those in power.
The "No Kings" movement isn't about being "anti-government" — it's about being pro-citizen. It's about ensuring that the person in the Oval Office, regardless of party, answers to the public. The country does not need a miracle to sustain its democracy; we just need about 3.5% of you to decide, on March 28, that "We the People" still means something.
I'm Abbey Harris, and that's my perspective.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent
