No Kings Coalition Press Briefing: Nationwide Demonstrations Against Government Overreach

Addressing Smears and Misinformation

• 🎯 Speaker Johnson's claims of the "No Kings" protests being "hate America rallies" are called "ridiculous and outrageous," with speakers emphasizing the transparent falsity and attack on First Amendment rights.
• 💡 The "No Kings" name itself is highlighted as a direct counter to the idea of monarchy, with a past event featuring the Pledge of Allegiance to demonstrate patriotism.
• ⚠️ The protests are framed as a response to a broader authoritarian playbook involving threats, smears, and lies to suppress organized opposition and peaceful dissent.

ACLU's Defense of Democratic Cornerstones

• 🏛️ The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reaffirms its commitment to defending the First Amendment rights of speech, press, and assembly.
• 🚨 The Trump administration is accused of abusing power by directing ICE to kidnap individuals, undermining elections through gerrymandering, and attempting to limit First Amendment rights.
• 🛡️ The ACLU has trained tens of thousands on their rights when encountering immigration agents, law enforcement, and military troops, with "Know Your Rights" materials to be distributed in 10 languages.

Move On's Reality Check on Protestors

• 📍 Peaceful "No Kings" events are happening nationwide in rural, suburban, and urban communities, including in Republican districts, organized by teachers, federal workers, nurses, and families.
• ✊ The protests are described as a fierce love of country, with millions coming together to assert that "the power belongs to the people."
• 🗺️ Over 2,600 events are planned, with specific examples in Louisiana, North Carolina, Iowa, and Michigan, including food bank donations as part of an event.

Grassroots Movement and Accountability

• 🌟 The movement is built and named by everyday Americans, with local organizers planning events for the first time, including faith leaders, teachers, and veterans.
• 📉 Protesters are impacted by issues like tariffs, the kidnapping of neighbors, and the cost of living crisis, pushing back against authoritarianism.
• 🗣️ Speakers reject the notion that the protests are anti-American, stating they are about loving the country and demanding accountability from those in power.

Lawfulness and Administration's Actions

• ✅ Millions of Americans will participate in peaceful, nonviolent, lawful, pro-constitution, pro-democracy protests.
• ⚖️ The current administration is characterized as the "most unlawful" in history, citing illegal firings, efforts to shutter agencies, illegal assassination programs, and illegal kidnappings.
• 🚫 The administration is accused of selectively enforcing laws, pardoning corporations, and attempting to stifle dissent unlawfully through the weaponization of the DOJ and intimidation of the media.

Union Support and Demands

• 🤝 SEIU 32BJ, representing 185,000 service employees, mobilizes for justice, dignity, and respect for working families, immigrants, and targeted communities.
• ✊ The "No Kings" movement is peaceful, disciplined, and union-strong, with trained marshals and community safety teams.
• 💰 Protesters are demanding healthcare for all, childcare for all, strong unions, immigrant justice, and a democracy that works for the people, not billionaires or politicians.

Educators' Commitment to Democracy

• 📚 The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) proudly supports the "No Kings" movement, emphasizing the First Amendment right to peaceful assembly.
• 🇺🇸 The movement is rooted in the founders' idea of a nation of laws, not kings, and is about loving America and fighting for a democratic future.
• ✊ Protests are a moral obligation to fight for the people, ensuring the country remains a democracy, with a commitment to nonviolence.

Responding to Specific Concerns

• 📍 Regarding California protests and potential highway closures, organizers are continuing with safety measures and are not deterred by attempts to disrupt momentum.
• 💰 The movement is fueled by people power, not oligarchic interests, with questions raised about funding for opposing political figures.
• 📣 The "No Kings" protests are happening nationwide due to widespread public backlash against the current administration's policies and attacks on rights, occurring at an unprecedented scale.
• 🛡️ Organizations are prepared for potential National Guard deployments, emphasizing that deployments must obey state laws and not violate protestor rights, noting public disapproval of such deployments.
• 🤝 Safety and security are paramount, with extensive training in deescalation and safety planning, while also questioning why the administration is inciting agitation against peaceful protesters.
• 📈 Over 2,600 events are planned, with millions anticipated to attend, and a strong commitment to nonviolence as a driving principle.
• ⚠️ While committed to nonviolence, speakers note the administration's daily use of violence and threats, such as masked agents and armed patrols, intended to intimidate.