No diversity in ‘No Kings’ rallies
On a bright, sunny day last week, the national “No Kings” protest event popped up in Middletown Township and the boroughs of Morrisville, Doylestown, and Perkasie — brought to you by the Bucks County Democratic Party.
At home and in cities across the nation it was all about Donald Trump, the duly elected president they claim is an authoritarian, a dictator, a wannabe king. But Trump’s in office for the next three years — are they advocating for impeachment, overthrow of the “king,” or just crazed because he got elected?
About 2,500 “No Kings” events were held across the nation and in Bucks County last week. Our events were small potatoes compared to others where greater crowds gathered to exercise their right to “dissent,” which was the word of the day, plus singing, dancing and fuming about the guy in the White House.
It’s obvious to me the No Kings theme events were not only baseless, but at times, downright silly. It was nothing more than political disruption by Democrats in disarray and the usual cadre of people who can’t stand the president.
Meanwhile, the upcoming election is fueling this “No Kings” fire in Bucks County, more so than the “king.” Scattered around the county, the local events attracted the woke, white, middle-class, middle-aged Democrats and Trump-haters who treated the event like a day in the park. Nowhere to be seen in the crowd were big clusters of young people or minorities, the stereotypical Democratic stalwarts. Where were they?
The hundreds who came in Bucks County, lemming-like, held various signs, some about love, some about hate, some about the “king,” some reminiscent of the 60s (“We Shall Overcome”). But the better organized national protestor placards and signs were a grab bag of grievances amid colorful inflatables, costumes, and Boomers.
In Bucks, the Democratic Committee had a major presence at the local protests. But it seemed to be more about political candidates in the upcoming municipal races when they hope to take over the county row offices of sheriff, district attorney, controller, recorder of deeds, and prothonotary. Certainly they’re fanning the anti-Trump fever to attract a crowd, but more so urging votes for their Democrats in the election two weeks away.
Meanwhile, busy national Democrats have their sights set on several gubernatorial races this year and the all-important 2026 midterms. It’s their chance to take over Congress and pursue an ultimate clampdown on the Trump agenda after that, which may be why the Middletown No Kings protest was staged outside Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick’s (PA-01) office on the Newtown Bypass. (Democratic Bucks Commissioner Chairman Bob Harvie is planning a run for Congress next year).
Top all this political intrigue with the family feud within the Democratic Party. Old Guard leaders like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), feel pressure from the small, noisy and rising left wing of the party, led by U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). And don’t exclude her new “disrupter” friend, the communist running for mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani.
But all of the above is not what the average middle-class white women and handfuls of grandparents were thinking when they demonstrated their unified rage against the so-called “fascist” in the White House. They, like the organizers, Democratic leaders and fellow-travelers, are boiling over, not because of imagined authoritarianism, fascism, or the destruction of democracy, but because the “stinker” won, and that’s the truth.
On the home front, everything was set up by the local Democrats in conjunction with the national “No Kings” organizers. And they did show up en masse: Speakers included Harvie; Bucks Democratic Committee Chairman and State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-Doylestown); and Democratic row office non-incumbent candidates, Danny Ceisler (sheriff), Joe Khan (district attorney), and Donna Petrecco (prothonotary), an appointed member of the Pennsbury School Board. Also, Nancy Sherlock, Morrisville Democratic leader and former councilwoman was there too, fighting “authoritarianism.”
I say we don’t have a “king” in Donald Trump, and take note of the people showing up in the “No Kings” movement — a select group of Trump haters, not a diverse mix of the citizenry, and not so smart.
If Trump were a fascist or a king, there would be no protests against him, no protests against federal authorities, and the government/“kingdom” would not be shut down for one day, much less three weeks.
Read more about the October 18 Bucks County “No Kings” protests in Publius Pax’s latest column.
Pat Wandling hosts Speak Your Piece weekdays at noon on WBCB 1490.
