Many millions on the streets this Saturday all over the country loudly proclaiming: No Kings! Yes to Democracy!–followed on November 4th by victories for Mamdani in NYC, Sherrill in NJ, Spanberger in Virginia, redistricting in California, and more–could this be truly “world changing?”
On one level, no. This is not a Presidential election year or a Congressional election year. It’s an off-year electorally.
But it’s not an off-year politically. The battle is fully joined between the forces of democracy and the forces of authoritarianism, between the resistance and blind Trumpism. And because of this, what happens over the next three weeks could be a decisive turning point, victories for the significant majority of US Americans who are saddened and outraged by the lying, divisive, destructive and dangerous Trump federal government and its billionaire co-conspirators.
Think about it: potentially the biggest mass demonstration ever in the USA, in every single state and literally thousands of localities, organized by a broadly-based progressive/liberal/independent coalition of hundreds of organizations that is not going away. That alone is a huge thing at this challenging time for the US and the world.
A Zohran Mamdani victory in itself will be a huge deal, a non-sectarian, democratic socialist becoming the Mayor of the country’s largest city, the financial capitol, a melting pot of diverse peoples and nationalities and which often leads the country as far as political shifts.
Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger winning the Governor races in their states will not be the same thing. Neither are consistently progressive, definitely not socialists, but there’s no question that many people to their left support them over the Trump-supporting Republican opponents. Combined with October 18 and a Mamdani victory and continued progressive organizing at the grassroots, that will make a difference in how they govern.
If California comes through and neutralizes Texas’ brazen, Trump-pushed, Congressional redistricting plan to try to gain 5 more Republican House seats from Texas next November, that will be important both practically and politically.
There’s something else, less visible and obvious but critical, that must be said about why we are at this point, why the popular resistance movement for democracy, justice and our threatened ecosystems is at this historic moment: we have learned how to unite.
It’s not unity based on following one great individual, usually a man. It’s not unity concerned very little with the internal culture, the health, of the organizations that make it up–just the opposite, in general. A critical mass of us of all ages, nationalities, genders and classes have internalized positive values and ways of working together which are making a huge difference in how we have responded, and will keep responding, to the efforts to impose a form of 21st century fascism in the USA.
The Trumpists are in trouble, and they know it. That’s why, one week before No Kings! Day, House leader Mike Johnson and others began publicly attacking it, lying about who we are and what we are about, trying to scare people away from coming out that day.
It’s not going to happen! There ain’t no power like the power of the people, united and organized, and when we are, nothing and no one can defeat us. Si, se puede!
Ted Glick has been a progressive activist and organizer since 1968. He is the author of the recently published books, Burglar for Peace and 21st Century Revolution, both available at https://pmpress.org. Read other articles by Ted, or visit Ted's website.
Terrorists: NOT a Love Story!
by Philip A. Faruggio / October 16th, 2025
Being a baby boomer who protested against the Vietnam debacle, what the Trump regime is now doing is disgusting. All this week we see Republican Congressional minions and members of the Trump gang standing in front of cameras calling those who peacefully protest as Terrorists. Webster’s dictionary defines a terrorist as ” A person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.” The sad irony is that it was the mob on January 6th, 2021 at the Capitol building who acted like terrorists, especially when they invaded the legislative chambers using their violence and intimidation against the Congress people (civilians). That day alone added up to the need for the Department of Justice to indict Trump once he was no longer president. A more recent irony is how many of the ICE agents, hiding their faces, have used terrorist acts against civilians? I ask any decent and law abiding American ‘ How can they make these types of people into ICE agents?’ Storm trooper would be a better term for them.
So, this Saturday there are plans nationwide, and even worldwide, for peaceful protests encompassing millions upon millions, once again declaring ‘No Kings’. Imagine the utter audacity of this president, led by his inner circle, to consider using the Insurrection Act of 1807. The few times in our recent past that it was used was when Presidents Eisenhower and JFK used it to enforce desegregation laws in certain Southern states when violent mobs of whites were threatening black citizens. It was used after Hurricane Hugo in 1989 when looting was excessively prevalent, and in Los Angeles in 1992 during the violent riots after the Rodney King case set free the LAPD cops who savaged him, after being caught on video.
When the group I had organized in 2004 to protest the illegal ( and immoral) invasion and occupation of Iraq, we stood peacefully on the same street corner each Tuesday at rush hour. One week, we had visits from more than one police officer as we found our spots on that corner. First they informed us incorrectly that we ‘ Had to keep moving our picket line’. They went away when told that this was not a strike, rather a demonstration. Then a supervisor drove up and told us that “We got a call that you folks are going out into the road and hassling the motorists.” A lie and he then disappeared. I immediately called our city’s mayor (a diehard libertarian) and complained to him. He said, “Phil, you folks have been out there peacefully for weeks. You have every right to protest and I’m going to call the police chief and smash this nonsense.” And he did.
Perhaps it’s time for all those so called Republican libertarians and civil liberty backers to get off their asses and let Trump and company know how they feel, before this goes way too far.
Philip A Farruggio is regular columnist on itstheempirestupid website. He is the son and grandson of Brooklyn NYC longshoremen and a graduate of Brooklyn College, class of 1974. Since the 2000 election debacle Philip has written over 500 columns on the Military Industrial Empire and other facets of life in an upside down America. He is also host of the It’s the Empire… Stupid radio show, co produced by Chuck Gregory. Philip can be reached at paf1222@bellsouth.net. Read other articles by Philip. 
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