‘March on’ Trump protesters. Prolonged, mass protests can — and have — succeeded
Re: “No Kings rally has lost even this sympathetic critic of President Donald Trump,” Oct. 19 commentary
Krista Kafer has forgotten why we dumped the tea in the harbor in the first place. Revealing latent Tory sympathies, Kafer suggests the “No Kings” marches should be curtailed because the events aren’t changing any minds.
Perhaps Kafer shouldn’t be so sure about that. Did her Sunday column change any minds?
One march might not change a mind, one march does not create a movement. But as the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements demonstrated, prolonged protests can create political momentum and, in the end, can change minds. The Voting Rights Act is one example of that. You know, the same Voting Rights Act the Trumplicans want to dismantle.
There are so many reasons to protest Trump. No Kings marchers attend for different reasons.
March on, my brothers and sisters.
Barry Noreen, Denver
For those who claim the No Kings demonstrations are worthless and ineffective, look at America during the last 110 years. Women fought and won the right to vote through peaceful demonstrations. The protesters were confronted with many being sent to jail. Men were directed to prohibit their wives and daughters from participating in the marches with men physically assaulting the protesters. Rights for women prevailed.
In the 1950s and 60s, protesters marched for civil rights for people of color, often being met by extreme violence perpetuated by racists and bigots. The Civil Rights Act was passed because of the bravery of those demonstrators. Today, the No Kings protesters face accusations from the GOP that No King demonstrators are paid, violent domestic terrorists. If you look at images of yesterday’s rallies, you will find grandmas and grandpas, sometimes using walkers, parents, and children chanting they love America and loudly reminding all that these demonstrations is what democracy looks like. Yes, the demonstrators stand behind antifa, antifascism. Antifa is NOT a ‘dark’ organization. It is taking a hard stand AGAINST fascism.
My question to those who criticize these marches, why aren’t you a follower of the antifa belief? If you disagree with antifa, then you support fascism, dictatorship, and the abolishment of our Constitution. The millions of people who marched and rallied on Saturday are true patriots who are demonstrating to protect our country, our democracy, and our Constitution.
Gary Johnson, Greeley
Krista Kafer is the kind of Republican I can respectfully listen to. I don’t always agree with her, but she often offers perspectives that are worth considering. But her criticism of the No King’s rally was disingenuous. Did she really think millions of people gathered with the idea they were going to convert MAGA supporters? Did she think those at the rally thought U.S. Speaker Mike Johnson was going to see the crowds and get the cojones to become a leader rather than a minion?
Saturday’s rally sent a message of hope. It was a boost to battered spirits that we are not alone. It is elevating to realize there are many kinds of Americans who share the idea America should not cave to the ugliness and self-interest of people like Donald Trump or Stephen Miller.
Reasonable people know good people can do bad things and bad people can do good things. If the Gaza peace deal survives, kudos to Trump for giving it impetus, but that doesn’t erase the genuinely destructive effect of his domestic policies. The No Kings protest was a joyful acknowledgement that there is still a lot to love about America, and it was out in force on Saturday. It was a shout, “We still have hope!” The fact that Kafer didn’t get that says more about her than about the protesters.
A. Lynn Buschhoff, Denver
I have found myself agreeing with much of what Krista Kafer has said recently, until Sunday. In her opinion piece, she argued against the No King Rallies by saying “Trump is no king”, which most people would agree is technically a true statement. However, a king governs absolutely, ignoring the rule of law and ignoring all democratic principles. This is exactly the way Trump is attempting to govern. All his social media posts last Saturday, showing himself garbed as a king, are representative of how he sees himself and his unlimited power.
The No Kings rallies all over the world were in support of the philosophy that we don’t want someone leading the United States who thinks they can govern like a king, ignoring all our democratic principles and laws.
Lynne Montague-Clouse, Highlands Ranch
I agree that someone could have come up with a more pertinent title for the No Kings event. But please, don’t disparage the entire event.
Yesterday, I attended my first No Kings rally, and I can say it was empowering to see so many like-minded people getting together to make a statement. I felt empowered to do more. These events are extremely important, especially in an age where most people sit at home looking at screens. These events are a very visible and tangible statement of how people think and feel, and have been since at least the 1960s. Ms. Kafer asks, “Did this event change a single mind?” Of course it did! It changed my mind!
Bart Cox, Denver
Kings employ rule by fiat, edict, intimidating shows of force and acts of retribution, along with personal attributes of arrogance, hubris and entitlement. These characteristics are clearly in practice and on full display by President Trump. Their enumeration will not all fit on a protest placard. Neither will the admitted litany of President Trump’s negatives listed in Krista Kafer’s Sunday column.
She mistakes the vast number of protestors as having the same platform as she does for elongated expressions of their positions of discontent.
Criticizing the expressions used by the throngs of protestors is shortsighted. A column in a newspaper is not needed to remind Trump and his minions that while we hear him declare he is not a king, the tried-and-true axiom “actions speak louder than words” is wholly applicable.
In statistics, there is a widely accepted term known as a representative sampling. Based upon this statistical application, the numbers in the streets on Saturday depicted a larger level of discontent with the Trump administration. While we applaud the Middle East’s progress towards a peaceful existence, between the tens of millions there, as we approach 400 million here, we are as concerned with our own freedom as we are with theirs.
Bill Starks, Arvada
Disingenuous has never been more applicable than with Krista Kafer’s assertion that “No Kings” lacked clarity. She knows the gaudy gold fittings and lack of the symbolism of royalty are not the issue. It is his actions against the citizens of his own country. The good he has done with Israel and Palestine is not going to be the salve that binds him to his clear-eyed and fearful detractors.
She is intentionally obtuse when she claims the lack of regalia is more relevant than Mr. Trump’s moves toward authoritarianism and a unitary presidency than his actual deeds of sending masked police into cities with the military, people being swept off the street and their whereabouts unknown, the wholesale termination of the employment of persons perceived to be disloyal, the unctuousness he demands of his minions and his threats to other politicians, even in his own party.
Well, Ms. Kafer, if that doesn’t qualify him to be in the ranks of the Putins and Maduros, I am not sure what more evidence you need. If you do not understand this, then I guess you are not paying attention. So, just keep laughing at the “overwrought” who are concerned and marching for our future.
Mary Wamsley, Denver
What did No Kings accomplish?
Kafer is lost. The No Kings march was not about Israel or any of Trump’s policies, but his tactic to act in a belligerent and autocratic manner to sweep power from Congress, corporate America, universities and states. The conceptual connection between the name “No Kings March” and Trump’s first months back in office should be obvious.
Ms. Kafer never addressed her central question, so I will:
• Informed citizens. We learned the incremental shift in our democracy to an autocratic and dictatorial form of government.
• Galvanized patriots. Division and chaos are Trump’s tools. This march brought unity and a vision for millions of patriots marching towards the 2026 elections.
• Therapeutic outlet. Many have experienced shock and awe, anger, bewilderment, depression, and even stained relations with family and friends from Trump’s charades. This march reminded us that we are not alone and there are groups to join and actions to take.
• Motivating force. Within 24 hours of the FOCO march, I donated $100, flaunted my No Kings badge at the CSU homecoming game, and wrote this response.
• Messaging. Seven million patriots sent a loud message of unrest to Democrats, Republicans and independents. The honeymoon is over, and we will not cower before an authoritarian regime.
• GOP embarrassment. Trump and his jesters look like fools here and abroad for their lies and belittlement of this “we the people” march.
• Momentum. The 2026 marches will be bigger and in every gerrymandered district!
Glenn Haas, Fort Collins
I looked at your online photo of tens of thousands of “No Kings” protesters in jaw-dropping disbelief. The throngs outside the state Capitol dome, gleaming in the sunshine, were reminiscent of the civil rights march on Washington in the ’60s, or at the very least, a Broncos Super Bowl win. I was so happy, I cried.
Then I turned to Perspective and saw the huge, page two headline on Krista Kafer’s column putting down the protests and my bubble burst. I was transported back to the grim reality of the many Americans who still support the tactics of a dictator. It isn’t hyperbole to say that.
I wrote this for the same reason people were demonstrating — not to have an immediate impact, but to support and validate other people like myself.
Beverly Bennett, Aurora
Krista Kafer decided to avoid Saturday’s No Kings rallies, because she had to look up the purpose of the rallies on a website.
How precious.
It’s tempting to paraphrase the Declaration of Independence — e.g., obstructing the administration of justice; dissolving our legislature; refusing his assent to our laws; affecting to render the military superior to civil offices; imposing taxes without our consent; quartering large bodies of armed troops among us — to paint the parallels between the Trump administration and King George III.
It is sufficient to observe Ms. Kafer’s extenuating apologies notwithstanding, Trump thinks of himself as king. He posted a crowned image of himself flying a fighter jet emblazoned with “King Trump,” and dumping sewage, sludge, or feces on a No Kings march. His disdain for Americans is palpable.
Randy Livingston, Denver
Regarding Krista Kafer’s op-ed, where she does not know what “No Kings” means, I would direct her attention to Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent in Trump v. United States, where she said, “the relationship between the President and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.”
Mark Risner, Englewood
Sign up for Sound Off to get a weekly roundup of our columns, editorials and more.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.
