By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Contrary to GOP expectations, the No Kings rally in Washington, D.C., was a peaceful and family-friendly event, drawing an estimated 200,000 attendees. The atmosphere resembled a lively farmer’s market with live music, speeches, and various activities. Attendees, including a vast and diverse group of Americans, expressed concerns about constitutional issues. One participant, dressed in an Uncle Sam eagle costume, emphasized the importance of voting and peaceful protest as American values.
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**Republicans Should Be Afraid—Just Look at Who Joined No Kings Protests**
It’s clear, the Republican strategy of fearmongering about the “No Kings” protests backfired spectacularly. Instead of the anticipated chaos and violence they predicted, the protests drew a diverse crowd of Americans, not just the “Marxists” and “antifa” that were so readily invoked. The sheer breadth of the participants—retirees, teachers, students, and former government employees—should give Republicans pause. It shattered the carefully constructed facade of a radical, fringe movement and revealed a broad coalition of people concerned about the direction of the country.
The Republican playbook often involves labeling dissent as un-American, yet in this case, the protesters seemed to embody the very ideals of the nation they were fighting for. The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, characterized anti-fascism as inherently un-American, a telling statement that betrays the right’s fear of any opposition. The fact that prominent conservatives, who had previously been quick to condemn the rallies as “terrorist” and “anti-American”, were largely silent in the aftermath suggests their concern about being out of step with the public sentiment.
It’s important to recognize that the right’s response to the protests reveals a disconnect from reality. Their reactions, ranging from the absurd, like AI-generated videos of Trump as a king, to the blatant misrepresentation of the event, highlight their struggle to grapple with the growing discontent. The attempts to portray the protests as dangerous and violent were thoroughly contradicted by the actual events on the ground, where the atmosphere was more akin to a community gathering than the anarchy they predicted. This miscalculation is a sign of their failing grip on the truth.
The fact that the rallies were co-signed by figures like Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris should have immediately exposed the absurdity of the “antifa” narrative, yet Republicans clung to this falsehood. The “No Kings” protests clearly weren’t fueled by the violent ideologies they accused, but by a genuine concern for democratic principles and a desire to hold power accountable. Their dismissal of the protesters as “useful idiots” for those with sinister intentions further exposes their disdain for the public.
One of the most revealing aspects of the Republican reaction is the deafening silence from the vast majority of prominent conservatives. Instead of addressing the issues raised by the protesters, they retreated into their echo chambers, revealing a fear of engaging with the broader public. The lack of any organized counter-protests is also significant. It suggests a lack of enthusiasm among those who would have typically been eager to oppose such events.
The focus on “Marxists” and “antifa” is ultimately a shallow attempt to demonize their opponents and distract from the actual grievances of the protesters. The fact that the rhetoric employed is almost entirely based on fear of a nebulous threat suggests that their usual tools of political theater are not working anymore.
Their attempts to undermine the protests by insinuating that they were funded by George Soros, and the outlandish claims of impending violence, did not hold water. When the protests were peaceful, they couldn’t get the usual suspects to create chaos. The irony of the situation is that, on the one hand, they say their opposition are anti-American and fascist, and on the other they are admitting their own party is just that.
Instead, the events were overwhelmingly peaceful, reflecting a deep-seated desire to uphold the values of the Constitution. To use the government to suppress political opposition is not only un-American, it is fascist. And it should be viewed as such.
It seems to be a case of the emperor having no clothes. The right-wing, instead of facing the reality that their base and policies are becoming increasingly unpopular, have resorted to a campaign of misinformation and fear. This attempt to paint the protesters as something they are not, will only further erode public trust in the Republican Party.
The protests served as a powerful reminder that the fight for democracy is not just about elections, but about defending the foundational principles of a nation. If Republicans continue down the path of distortion and dismissal, they risk alienating not only their opponents, but a significant portion of the electorate that is rightfully concerned about the future.