No Kings: Myths and Facts
The biggest misconceptions about No Kings.
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Before March 28 gets here, you are going to hear a lot of things about No Kings, again.
Some people will come to you with honest questions and others will be deliberate attempts to make peaceful civic action look dangerous or illegitimate. We watched it play out before the last 2 No Kings. Republican leaders and Trump officials tried to discredit the protests before they happened. Speaker Mike Johnson called them a “Hate America” rally and said you’d see “Hamas supporters,” “antifa types,” and “Marxists.” Karoline Leavitt separately told Fox News that Democrats “cater to pro-Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals.” They all had the same goal to make lawful, peaceful protest look dangerous before people even showed up.
Then nearly seven million people showed up peacefully at more than 2,700 events.
“Is it violent?”
No.
No Kings’ public guidance states that a core principle of all events is a commitment to nonviolent action, that participants are expected to de-escalate confrontation and act lawfully, and that weapons of any kind, including those otherwise legally permitted, should not be brought. Fiftyfifty.one is equally direct: 50501 is a peaceful movement and violence of any kind will not be tolerated. The coalition is running safety marshal trainings, de-escalation scenario planning, and rights-awareness sessions through March 25. Nonviolent discipline is a strategy and it’s the framework of the mobilization and the expectation organizers are setting for local events.
“Is it illegal?”
No.
Peaceful protest is protected by the First Amendment. The ACLU has described prior No Kings actions as a day of peaceful, lawful protest against abuse of power, and the coalition is hosting ACLU-led trainings on the constitutional right to peacefully protest and how to reduce risks at demonstrations. The No Kings organizer guide directs events to public spaces and tells organizers to obtain permits where required. When people imply that showing up to a lawful, peaceful protest is inherently criminal, they are not clarifying the law. They are trying to hurt participation.
“Is it just about Trump?”
No.
The immediate context is this administration, but the principle is larger. 50501 is a movement to uphold the Constitution and end executive overreach. No Kings frames March 28 around the idea that power belongs to the people, not to a ruler above the law. Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin has said publicly that No Kings is not just a slogan or a single day of action, it’s a broader principle carried into ongoing civic life. The question at the center of March 28 is whether constitutional limits still mean something when they are inconvenient for the person in power.
“Is it a fringe partisan stunt?”
No.
The coalition’s public materials show participation from civil-liberties, labor, education, faith, reproductive-rights, and grassroots organizations. Official No Kings materials and statements support the inclusion of groups such as MoveOn, the National Education Association, SEIU, Public Citizen, the Human Rights Campaign, Sunrise Movement, and the American Association of University Professors, among many others. For past marches, Ms. Magazine reported that No Kings partnered with almost 300 organizations. These groups don’t agree on everything. They agree that concentrated power and attacks on democratic freedoms are serious enough to organize against together.
“Is it disorganized chaos?”
No.
The coalition confirmed over 1,000 locally organized events by mid-February, with many more anticipated as March 28 approaches. More than 260,000 people have attended or watched coalition trainings so far. TIME reported that the coalition is building real security and support infrastructure, including formal de-escalation trainings and closer coordination with legal observers. This is infrastructure at national scale.
“Is it only for activists?”
No.
It’s for anyone who believes they have a role in defending democracy. Fiftyfifty.one links to Marching 101, Digital Safety, Know Your Rights, and a Welcome Guide built specifically for first-timers. The March 19 kickoff call is explicitly framed for people who are brand new as well as seasoned organizers. All you have to do is prepare, know your rights, stay nonviolent, look out for each other, and show up with purpose.
March 28 is just over two weeks away. People can decide for themselves whether to attend. But they should make that decision based on truth, not fear or propaganda.
Forward this to someone who is skeptical.
This is the post that will help answer their questions.
Find your event at nokings.org. Find 50501-specific actions at fiftyfifty.one/events.
Sources & Additional Reading
Washington Post | Reporting on GOP efforts to brand No Kings as “Hate America” rallies, including Johnson and Leavitt remarks
NPR | October No Kings recap noting overwhelmingly peaceful protests across 2,700+ events
Brookings | Protester surveys showing significant decline in support for political violence at October No Kings
Scientific American | Reporting that D.C. participants were markedly less supportive of violence than at earlier 2025 protests
ACLU | “Seven Million People Unite at Peaceful No Kings Protests to Defend Our First Amendment Rights”
No Kings Coalition | January 28 release with Levin, SEIU, NEA, and other partner statements
No Kings Coalition | February release confirming 1,000+ events on initial March 28 map
No Kings | Full training schedule through March 25, including safety marshals, de-escalation, and movement building
No Kings | Partners page with core nonviolent action principles and coalition partner list
TIME | Reporting on March 28 planning, Eyes on ICE training, and coalition security infrastructure
Ms. Magazine | Guide to finding March 28 events, noting nearly 300 partner organizations for past marches
Fiftyfifty.one | 50501 Movement mission, resources, and nonviolence principles
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Let us know what’s holding you or people you know back from attending in the comments:
I've made two really cool 'Faux-King Fascists' high res posters for NO KINGS protests in US and UK using some free images. Happy to share the files with anyone who would like them.
substack.com/home/post/… to download.
Nothing’s holding me back. It’s been on my calendar for months. My only concern is what to put on the other side of my sign. I already have Save Our Constitution from October; thinking about printing a Steve Brodner illustration on the other side. It shows Trump’s combover blown back to reveal a swastika.