“No Kings” day in the United States has come and gone. It brought protests to some 2,000 communities across the country, in all 50 states.
There were gatherings in eight cities in South Dakota: Brookings, Chamberlain, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Spearfish, Watertown and Yankton. There was no reported violence at any of them, except for a lone gunman in Utah, who seemed to be upset and following the demonstrators; and in Los Angeles, where the president, acting like a king, had earlier sent the National Guard and U.S. Marines against the wishes of the governor and local officials.
Our local community of Brookings added about 500 people to the millions gathered non-violently to express their displeasure with this administration.
After a long walk to the protest site, my wife and I were increasingly concerned about whether we would be able to stand for the two hours of the vigil, and then be facing that long walk back to our vehicle. We should have taken chairs.
The first person we met, a friend and protest organizer, recognizing our need, quickly secured two chairs and set them in the front row for us. Signs were available, and I chose the one that most appealed to me: Hands off Medicare! Without Medicare, we would have had to sell our home this year. Because of a stroke and then heart surgery in March, my charges from providers so far in 2025 amounted to $259,361.95. Without Medicare and Medica we would be bankrupt. How many millions of Americans are in a similar situation, and worse?
If on Medicaid, with this Republican administration and Congress, the chances are Medicaid will be cut and there will be a work requirement. As if we are a nation of free-loaders. Who but free-loaders on the system would think that?
Before the protest began, a friend from Aberdeen had written me. She wanted me to meet a friend of hers from another community who planned to attend the Brookings event. She gave me a description. I determined to look for her, but when I saw the large crowd lining the street and spilling into the park, I wasnt confident Id find her. But once again, another friend in the crowd met that need, knew where she was, and pointed her out to me. We were able to exchange greetings, discover some of our shared political leanings, and even have a picture taken together.
Back in my chair, others found us. One friend with several rhubarb beds offered to bring us some rhubarb. Three people engaged me with thanks, for a previous column I had written about our president.
And a friend from Austin, Texas, stopped to visit. She related how she had been walking along the sidewalk when a woman asked her if she would take a picture. The woman and her husband wanted evidence of their unplanned participation in the demonstration. They were on their way to North Dakota when they saw what was happening and joined. She agreed to take the picture and soon discovered they were also from Austin, Texas. You never know who you will meet, or where they are from, at a No Kings protest.
For me, the demonstration in Brookings was an experience and example of power with rather than power over. The latter was taking place in Washington, D.C., as the tanks rolled down the street and the troops marched in procession at the pleasure of the president. Here, people were gathered around common concerns and functioning as a community, not following the dictates of a king in the confines of a kingdom.
Just the word kingdom sends a person to the biblical record. Two passages stand out for me. One phrase is common and is repeated often in Christian circles.
This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
I dont think Gods Kingdom functions on tanks and troops and helicopters. I dont think thats the way we invite heaven on earth. In fact, heaven on earth is much more likely to come not from kings or presidents or officious congresspeople, but according to the words of Jesus, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
No Kings day is behind us. But the challenges of our time remain. With love, care and non-violence, we must continue to build communities of concern that focus on a positive future and the needs of those little children, instead of permitting old and failed attempts at kingly power and control. Heaven on earth, heaven on earth. What better goal.
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