No Kings Protest
By: Gabrielle Bernabe
“We must look forward to a world based on four essential freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression … The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way … The third is freedom from want. The fourth is freedom from fear.” — President Franklin D. Roosevelt, delivered to a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 1941.
For such a lovely declaration supporting the First Amendment and the lives that the American people are entitled to live, 80 years later to the day marked the largest scale of domestic terrorism ever reported in America. “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” However, those who do not comprehend history will fail to hear the dog whistles and then wonder why the dogs are barking.
Protesting is a First Amendment–assured right. It allows people to take into their own hands the choice to be governed, and by whom. This is a concept called “consent of the governed,” which was developed by John Locke in 1689 and used by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence. It is the basis of why America went to war years ago. Citizens no longer wanted to be ruled by a tyrannical king and sought to gain their freedom by any means necessary.
It is clear that within the last year, the consent of the governed has declined significantly. Each action that the current elected official has taken in office has negatively affected every minority group except for the rich white men he surrounds himself with. Following a comprehensive wishlist or manifesto—the word usage depends on how insidious one feels the nature of the 900 pages is—it seems that the actions of this administration parallel the ideals of authoritative and fascist governments.
Stemming from the previous protests in June, there was another nationwide effort for the American people to have their voices heard. On Saturday, Oct. 18, thousands of people all over the country came to show their support and vent their frustrations toward the idea that Donald Trump views himself as some kind of king.
Here in Hartford, CT, over 12,000 people gathered around the Capitol to protest. Down in New Haven and other cities, even larger demonstrations took place. The photos attached to this article are from the efforts in Hartford, with the title card being a personal favorite—right in time for Halloween. In nearby states like New York and Massachusetts, the protests made world news, with around 100,000 in NYC and another 100,000 in Boston. Driving through the states, there was a clear, united effort against the injustices and rights being stripped from the American people.
As the shutdown continues, a common belief is that people should simply stop paying attention. As the days go on, it has risen to the second-longest shutdown, with the first and third positions both held by Republican presidents, and first place belonging to the current president himself.
Many feel like the world as we know it is erupting in flames while the people who told us that everything will be just fine—as long as we followed their path—now shut the doors in our face and then blamed us for the lack of opportunities.
It is hard. It is daunting. It often does not feel worth it. Everywhere one turns there is bad news, and morning brings even worse news. Yet, despite all of that, it is worth it.
Everything that students studying, passionate about, and putting your heart into is worth it, especially at a time like this. There is motivation to get through this trying time. Everything one does in this world has a purpose.
Even writing for this paper initially began as a hobby—a way to return to writing somewhat creatively. For others, this can be the foundation that leads them to become reporters who may one day cover the president in Washington, D.C. These fundamental ideals are important, which is why efforts to undermine them are deeply concerning.
Our Midwestern peers over at Purdue University had their own clash with the First Amendment. Their school newspaper advisor faced repercussions for not telling students to stop writing about what is going on in the world. Rarely has such a large-scale act of suppression been so public. This is partially due to the internet. With Americans now having access to global perspectives—particularly through platforms like TikTok— it is harder to fall for propaganda the way many did during the Red Scare and beyond.
Even in Washington, D.C., for the first time since the 1970s, major news organizations have left the White House. Reporters have done so to avoid signing the new media contract—which placed strict limits on what they could cover and only allowed preapproved news to be released. All but one outlet refused to sign.
These attempts to eliminate good and authentic journalism show exactly how important this line of work is, and how necessary it is to protect it. Journalists dedicate their lives to spreading information and ensuring the public know its rights.
America does not serve a king. Americans do not serve a king. We have not done so since 1776. Two hundred forty-nine years of American life and ideals have not been perfect in the slightest, but the foundations remain.
My advice: Touch grass. Paint. Dance. Sing. Fuel your hobbies. Feel your feelings. Study. Become the best person you can. A shift is happening now, which means another one is coming. In that shift, it will be this generation’s turn to do right by ourselves and future generations—to actually make life better for everyone.
Are you ready?
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