By John Q. Hosedrinker 
House Speaker Mike Johnson is attempting to demonize the upcoming “No Kings” protests, which are planned to take place across the country. Johnson and other GOP leaders have made inflammatory claims that the protests are filled with people who hate America, using language to paint protesters as violent and dangerous. Ezra Levin of Indivisible believes that the speaker is afraid of “mass, organized, peaceful people-power”. Experts have noted that these attacks are a classic authoritarian tactic, designed to demonize opposition and justify a crackdown.
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It’s crystal clear why Mike Johnson and other figures within the Republican Party are so vehemently attacking the “No Kings” protests. The core reason boils down to a fundamental fear: the apprehension of mass, organized, peaceful dissent. This isn’t a complex equation; it’s the simple reality that an administration facing significant unpopularity trembles at the sight of its citizens uniting to voice their discontent. Ezra Levin, from Indivisible, nailed it: an unpopular regime is terrified of the power of the people. This isn’t about hating the country; it’s about demanding better from it. Just look back at history; voting rights for Black Americans and women were hard-won battles fought through persistent and often brutal struggle that extended far beyond weekend gatherings.
The right to protest is enshrined in the Constitution for a reason – it’s a powerful tool. Yet, the playbook of painting any criticism as “anti-American” or “un-American” has been a staple of the GOP for decades, a tired tactic now being revived to delegitimize dissent. They’re scared because they’re facing the consequences of their actions. The very act of organizing and showing up is what’s needed. The Trump regime has been slow-rolling an authoritarian agenda and it seems to have had some effect. The GOP fears the protests because their grip on power is being threatened. The goal is to make these people scared and realize the fight is real.
Some have decided to resist the administration by withholding their taxes and donating them to causes that are important to them as a form of protest. Tax resistance, while a bold move, is an effective form of protest, a way to directly impact the financial resources available to the current administration. The more who resist, the more impactful the protest becomes. They are also submitting a protest letter along with their tax forms to explain why they are resisting taxes.
The media’s portrayal of protest has shifted in recent years, pushing a narrative that peaceful demonstrations are illogical or even foolish. This is almost as though the establishment wants to isolate anyone who protests and makes them outcasts. However, we would not need to protest if we had a competent president and administration. Some are voicing frustration at the current administration and voicing their frustrations until this administration stops embarrassing our country. Mike Johnson’s responses to questions from reporters are a symptom of his deep-seated anxiety: his lies are on the verge of being exposed. He is afraid.
The attacks on the rallies are, at their core, an attempt to stifle dissent and maintain control. It echoes the historical tactics of those who would rather cling to power than address the concerns of the people. Mike Johnson and others within the GOP are part of a political show, they care about the rich and powerful, even if they are pedophiles. Their goal is to maintain power and screw the general population of the United States. His actions show his willingness to side with those who seek to suppress freedom and silence opposition. Their attacks on the protests are proving the point of the protests and why they are necessary.
What is happening is the GOP is trying to seed a narrative ahead of these protests turning into police riots. They need to be sure their voting base won’t be sympathetic to images of peaceful protestors being tear gassed, beaten, and arrested by jackbooted thugs. The GOP is trying to do anything to scare the general population of the United States to hold power. The rhetoric inflames MAGA to push for a violent confrontation, and dehumanizing “the left” makes it easier for a dictator to arrest, disappear, bankrupt or even kill opposition. The “No Kings” protests are necessary. This is just a continuation of the right-wing disinformation machine. Mike Johnson would’ve been on the side of the red coat during the revolutionary war.
It’s crucial to understand that achieving rights was not just about protests. It involved decades of organized action, legal battles, and immense pressure. The right-wing machine is attempting to control the media narrative. The reality is, they control everything, they are not scared of people going out on one day to hold signs and chant. They are not scared of the protests themselves. Instead they are desperate for protests with images of violence, which gives them a basis for continued suppression of free speech and other authoritarian goals. Yes, we should protest and make it clear not all of us back them, but the reality is they don’t care about people going out to chant.