Millions showed up across the nation on Saturday, October 18th, to exercise their First Amendment right to free speech in protest to the authoritarian policies of Donald Trump. Indiana showed up for No Kings Day across more cities and small towns than ever before.
People need to see regular folks standing up for their country and against tyranny. They need to see that what they are being fed on Fox News or Facebook algorithms about a “war in Portland” is simply not true. That’s why I was excited to participate in a “Motorcade Against Monarchs” traveling to Martinsville (Morgan Co.), Nashville (Brown Co.), Bloomington (Monroe Co.), and even Spencer (Owen Co.) for a post-rally Hog Roast and Auction!
The nonviolent movement to build 3.5% across the nation is slowly becoming a reality. But too many still do not realize why we protest or even see what is happening to our nation. The fact that Donald Trump, the President of the United States, chose to respond to US citizens (whom he also represents!) by posting an AI-created video with him wearing a crown, flying a fighter jet that is dropping feces on a crowd of peaceful protesters, is not only ridiculous, but unworthy of the office he holds.
When I was considering what I wanted to give as a speech, I realized we are a country struggling to remember who we are, both in reality and aspirationally. I remembered how our Declaration of Independence listed the grievances against King George III, which now reads like a checklist for the tyranny we are experiencing daily. I think it is important that we remind others, too. So, here is the speech I gave at both Martinsville and Nashville.
Hello! My name is Michelle Higgs. I’m the Founder of the Indiana Rural Summit, Co-founder of Organizing Indiana and candidate for Indiana House District 60. I’m here today to join my voice with others to say NO to tyrants and wanna-be-kings. To say No to greed, ego, retribution and insatiable appetites for power.
On this No Kings Day, where we are all gathered to oppose authoritarianism and a tyrannical government that has elevated some above the law and one in particular to become a despot, I thought it fitting to remember what brought our country to declare that we are a nation Of the People, By the People and Forthe People. These were aspirational words that matched the earlier idea that All Men Are Created Equal. While we have yet to fully embrace that equality, which must remain our North Star, we stand together today to remember a previous generation who rose to oppose tyranny.
In our Declaration of Independence, these words were written to King George III. Let us now listen with new ears to understand how their grievances have become our own:
—-------
The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.● He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. . . .
● He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices...
● He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our legislatures.
● He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
● For protecting them by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
● For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
● For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
● For depriving us in many cases of the benefits of Trial by Jury:● For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences . . .
● For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us
in all cases whatsoever.● He has abdicated Government here by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
● He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
● He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. . . .
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms.
Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.
A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. . .
Wow! Are you hearing some similarities? Since this is from OUR Declaration of Independence, why would we ever surrender to another king?
FAVORITE PICTURE from Martinsville No Kings Day
These two arrived separately as strangers and left as friends, one in a lobster costume and one wearing red, white, and blue which also happened to sport a red lobster. When they said we should “Find Our People”, I doubt they thought it would be at a No Kings Protest in 2025!
"Antifa, It's a family thing": Antifa (which stands for Anti-fascist) has become a weaponized term by the Trump Administration. Traditionally, WW1 and WW2 veterans would be considered "antifa". This protester is showing her relatives who served in the military to stop fascism.
