The following is the opinion and analysis of the writers:
Mitch Anderson
Phineas Anderson
We live in a rural area, down in a valley, with a good number of conservative neighbors, about 23 miles north of Tucson. They know, among other things, that we feel the country should not live beyond its means, that healthcare is a right, not a privilege, that strong financial support of public education is essential, and that we must have a strong military to protect our country, along with appropriately funded social programs like childcare, food assistance, housing subsidies and unemployment benefits.
They also know we are very concerned about the direction of our country and that we are worried about Trump finding ways, legally or not, to keep his hold on Congress come the midterm elections.
One couple, who have always voted Republican, asked us what the No Kings protests are all about.
They said they are having serious doubts about President Trump and his drift toward autocracy.
What follows is a summary of our discussion in relation to their No Kings question and the state of the nation.
The first No Kings was a nationwide protest held on June 14 of last year, with over 5 million people demonstrating across the country at more than 2,000 locations. A second No Kings occurred on Oct. 18, 2025, with more than 7 million people participating in over 2,500 sites.
No Kings has been primarily organized by a grassroots movement called Indivisible; the American Federation of Teachers; the Human Rights campaign; the League of Conservation Voters, and some 200 partner organizations.
A third No Kings will occur on Saturday, March 28, and over 3,000 locations have already signed up, and it will, without a doubt, be the largest single-day protest in American history.
We told the couple that these No Kings protests were based on the premise that Americans never again want an autocrat like King George III. Americans who come out to these protests feel Trump is overreaching his authority, is ignoring the Constitution and the Rule of Law, puts loyalty before merit, and places his personal interests before what is best for the country.
We found out that what particularly irritated this couple about Trump was his pardoning of the “insurrectionists who invaded our Capitol” and going to war with Iran. U.S. intelligence services said Iran was not an imminent threat. Trump did not seek approval from Congress and now wants $200 billion to support the war, which if passed, will make living in America even less affordable. “And look at these gas prices!” they exclaimed.
We suggested that they Google nokings.org to find the locations of protest sites in Tucson and join us for the “8 miles of Action” along Oracle Road from Wetmore Road to First Avenue in Oro Valley from 9-11 a.m. on March 28.
They said they would.
We encourage others, particularly those Independents and Republicans who know in their hearts that Trump is leading our nation in the wrong direction, to take the first step toward resistance and join one of several peaceful No Kings 3 protests in Tucson.
