The author, John Varner of Amherst, reflects on his participation in the No Kings Day demonstrations, where he joined hundreds on Route 9 near the Coolidge Bridge. He notes strong public support, with most drivers showing approval through honks and gestures, while only a few expressed opposition. His personal sign criticized Trump and what he describes as an alliance of oligarchs and manipulative figures undermining national integrity. Nationwide, turnout reached over 7 million, with similar actions seen in European cities. The central question now, he argues, is how to escalate momentum.
Varner calls for nonviolent yet impactful measures, such as organizing a general strike or a week-long consumer boycott targeting corporations linked to Trump supporters—like Amazon, Whole Foods, and Home Depot. He also suggests avoiding travel to and investment in states dominated by Republican leadership, along with permanently cutting ties with institutions that enable Trump’s agenda. Reducing reliance on social media platforms that amplify misinformation is another key recommendation. Above all, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining community connections and solidarity through groups like No Kings.
He observes that participation in No Kings Day grew by at least 2 million from the previous summer, reflecting rising resistance to actions by Trump, his associates, and enforcement forces operating in Democratic-led cities. The strategy of overwhelming the public with constant scandals, which Varner refers to as “flooding the zone with sh*t,” may eventually backfire when the public backlash becomes unsustainable. He urges accelerating that turning point.
— news from Amherst Indy
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Opinion: No Kings. The Next Step is Economic Disruption
I assume many of the readers of The Indy also attended No Kings Day demonstrations. Personally, I stood on Route 9 just west of the Coolidge Bridge with scores or hundreds of others. Drivers tooting horns and giving thumbs up outnumbered those flipping us the bird by at least 20 to 1. There were also two guys holding “Trump 2024” signs – because that’s what democracy looks like, and that’s what this administration’s support looks like around here. n nMy sign: “Trump and his Grifters Oligarchs and Psychopaths Betray the USA”. The demonstrations around the country were huge, estimated at more than 7 million people, and were echoed in European cities as well. But where do we go from here? n nMore direct action is needed. n nI’m not advocating violence or destruction of government property, as happened in the ’60’s. A partial list of actions might include a general strike; a week of consumer non-purchasing, especially at companies like Bezos’s Amazon and Wholefoods, Home Depot, and other companies run by trump supporters; abandoning vacations and divesting in red states; permanently boycotting companies and institutions that have caved to Trump’s demands, or worse, directly aid in his self-aggrandizement or spreading his propaganda; getting off “social media”, diversions that are increasingly tilted toward trump’s efforts to mislead and inflame the public; and above all, staying connected to others, and to organizations like No Kings to offer mutual support. There is strength in numbers. n nOctober’s No Kings Day drew at least 2 million more people to the streets than the No Kings day last summer. With each outrage perpetrated by Trump, his minions, his shadow ICE mercenaries and his tin soldier army prowling the streets of Democratic-run cities, the anti-Trump sentiment grows. His stated strategy of “flooding the zone with sh*t” (piling on one outrageous act or idea on top of another in order to exhaust the opposition) will end when the flood of excrement drowns those who have unleashed it. We must ensure that time is nigh. n nJohn Varner is a resident of Amherst.