Are We American Spectators or American Patriots?
This is the question every American and the media must ask in this moment.
The “No Kings” protests, which began as a collective outcry against authoritarian overreach and for democratic renewal, are not just a passing moment of outrage. They are a national pivot point — and if we treat them as fleeting, we risk missing the most powerful pro-democracy surge this country has seen in a generation.
Let’s start with the numbers.
According to the ACLU, an estimated 5 million Americans have taken to the streets under the banner of “No Kings.” That’s 1.5 percent of the U.S. population — a staggering figure by historical standards. And here’s why that matters: research on nonviolent movements shows that if just 3.5 percent of a population engages in sustained resistance, real political transformation becomes not just possible — but likely.
That tipping point — roughly 12 million people — is within reach. We're nearly halfway there. And more importantly, we’re not marching alone.
A recent YouGov poll found that 38 percent of Americans strongly support the No Kings protesters. Another 11 percent support them more moderately. That’s nearly half the country standing with the movement in some form. To put it simply: This isn’t the fringe. This is the majority stirring.
A majority of support that mostly is sitting on the sidelines, but a majority you and I can reach to move from spectators to patriots and join with us in this fight.
That means when you speak up, when you ask someone to join the No Kings movement, you’re not a lone voice in the wilderness. There’s a 1 in 2 chance they already agree with you, and a 1 in 3 chance they feel as strongly as you do. Even 18 percent of Republicans say they support the protests — proof that this isn’t about left vs. right. It’s about democracy vs. authoritarianism. Millions who agree with us are out there — we need to get them off of the sidelines and to visibly become patriots in our movement.
The No Kings movement is rooted in a single, powerful truth: We are citizens, not subjects. We reject the rise of strongman politics, the normalization of political violence, the slow drift toward tyranny masked as populism. We are saying no to impunity, no to performative patriotism, and no to the idea that one man can place himself above the law.
And yet — as millions march and tens of millions nod in support — much of the mainstream press still covers this as a curiosity, not a movement. Reporters still ask whether democracy is really in danger, while the architects of autocracy promise openly what they plan to do. Silence is no longer neutrality. It is surrender.
This isn’t the first time the American press has been asked to choose a side. During the Revolutionary War, colonial newspapers did not sit back and “both sides” the fight for independence. Many — like the Pennsylvania Journal, Massachusetts Spy, and Virginia Gazette — became instruments of resistance, rallying the people to the cause of liberty and publishing the arguments that helped forge a new nation. The press was the revolution.
And in the 1930s, the opposite happened: much of the Western media remained neutral as fascism rose in Europe. Major American outlets downplayed Hitler’s antisemitism and Mussolini’s violence — treating fascist regimes as just another form of governance, rather than a threat to civilization. That failure of neutrality helped normalize evil and made catastrophe possible. When the stakes are this high, neutrality is not journalism — it is negligence.
The American press must now decide whether it wants to be a spectator at the funeral of the republic or a participant in its defense. Just like the public, the press has a choice: stay on the sidelines or join the fight.
This moment calls for more than protest. It calls for civic reinvention — for Americans to reclaim the mantle of citizenship and take responsibility not just for ourselves, but for one another. We must create a culture where civic participation isn’t a chore, but a source of purpose. Where being a citizen once again means being a custodian of democracy.
The No Kings protests are not the end of something. They are the beginning of something vast — a realignment of political energy around the values that once defined us: liberty, accountability, community, and courage.
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But make no mistake: We are out of time for hesitation. The next wave must be bigger. More united. More committed to building not just resistance, but a new democratic culture.
All of us must call on the press to stop being neutral spectators and on every American who supports our cause to stop sitting on the sidelines.
To every American who still has a beating heart for self rule over tyranny the time is now to stand as a patriot and join this fight.
Don’t underestimate this moment.
Don’t let it pass.
The message is so simple. Let it ripple across the country and at every rally let these words be spoken: “Find one more friend, one more family member, one more co-worker to join us in this fight. Bring them to the next protest.” This is how we grow.
This is how we win.
Thanks, Joe. Your words keep hope alive and the energy to keep moving forward. Indeed: "This is how we grow. This is how we win." Well, said. Take care.
Wow! I loved reading this piece! Thanks for your writing. I have served as a precinct worker for many elections and taking the oath to uphold the constitution always inspired me to tears of awe. Also in that role I recognized the increasing importance and need for civic education. Some of the voters seemed on remote-going through motions w/o depth of understanding People seemed (some) to be confused about their franchise. I have for a long time wanted to launch public service education about electoral procedures and process. I hear Harvard is doing something now. We can’t wait. So go go go Lincoln Square and others to galvanize our citizens. Off the bleachers and into the streets!