When does a political organization or spontaneous protest rise to a political movement? Has NO KINGS reached the level of being a movement comparable to and in opposition to MAGA? Yes. It meets the definition and is similar to others in scope and size. Per Google AI: "A political movement is an organized effort by a group of people to promote, resist, or change political and social conditions." Elements of a political movement include organized action, shared goals, tactics such as protests, demonstrations, boycotts, lobbying, political campaigns, and creating public awareness, and a common identity. NO KINGS meets the definition, for sure, but how big and how effective are also elements to consider. My own view is that to be a movement, it must be outside a political party structure, though political parties can participate. I would add the element of being large enough in size and scope to effect change. NO KINGS is close to meeting that more restrictive definition, as well.
Some of that rise of NO KINGS to a movement status is due to the fact that the established Democratic party has no single voice or even a unified direction to counter MAGA. It has failed the leadership test. NO KINGS has stepped into the void. A wide variety of organizations are partners in NO KINGS, with the prime leadership by Indivisible and 50501, coordinating and training leadership in peaceful protests and mass demonstrations.. That NO KINGS is primarily a pro-democracy/anti-autocracy movement is their common identity.
Per some political scientists,, 3.5 % of the population must be engaged in protest to cause regime change.. Seven million turned out in October; around 11 million would be effective enough to effect regime change, and as the midterms for Congress are still a year away, that is quite possible to show that kind of strength. Americans Continue To Build a Peaceful Mass Movement To Force Trump Administration Changes - Center for American Progress
Poll: Americans approve NO KINGS protests v MAGA: Americans approve of No Kings protests by 16 points(49-33), Trump approval 39% with 20% approval among Gen-Z: Economist-Yougov : r/fivethirtyeight
I have been a skeptic that the political science approach to political advocacy is a winner. This is despite the fact that I am motivated by being pro-democracy, anti-autocracy, and a political science major, and a life of political involvement and a junkie with hands-on experience with autocracies and dictatorships. That the concept of democracy under attack would get so many off their couches has surprised me.. I still think, in the very short term, pocketbook affordability issues will be the determining factors in the 2026 midterms.
However, in the long term, NO KINGS is by far the more important movement. The reason? The people can complain all they want about government policies hurting their ability to live an affordable life, but if they lose democracy and support a dictator or one-party rule that tramples First Amendment rights, they have lost their ability to affect the very pocketbook issues that bug them. Instead of government of, by, and for the people, in an autocracy it becomes a government of, by, and for the autocrat —or one-party rule —and how much they are concerned about those they govern depends on how much people contribute to the autocracy gaining and staying in power. Otherwise, those they govern only get the news that favors the autocracy, and opposition ideas and activists are suppressed by whatever means and power the autocrat has. Once in full control, it is nearly impossible for people to dislodge. So far, MAGA and Trump are not quite there yet. An autocracy can most easily be stopped early in its efforts to seize control. That is where MAGA is now and why 2026 and 2028 are the last chances for NO KINGS to stop it. Republicans are ridiculing ‘No Kings.’ A striking new poll shows Americans aren’t laughing | CNN Politics
MAGA is definitely an example of a political movement...a few democrats, some independents and and many registered Republicans who are loyal to Trump with near cult like adoration and are devoutly supportive. Whatever Trump says goes, whatever he does is OK if it advances whatever drives those who share his values. In my own view, it is primarily racially driven by the prospect that white domination will soon be replaced by multicultural racial demographics. MAGA is so focused on cleansing the country of "people they do not deem to be like them," manifested by the immigration issue, that it is racial more than any other single issue, pocketbook, or sociological class and peer pressure. In 2024, the racist, "pro-lifers," and homophobes made cultural issues their mantra and won. In 2026 and 2028, that is no longer the top of anyone's political issue list, I have seen in polls.
Trump did not invent MAGA, other than giving it its name as a political slogan, Make America Great Again ("again" back to which date undefined or openly stated by its members ). He has, however, exploited the racist nautre of many for political and personal advantage, from his days of media and TV, from opposing the Central Park Five, Birtherism against Obama, the Golden Escalator, Charlottesville of some very fine people are neo Nazis, and unleasing paramilitary ICE and Border Control to kick out of the contry more than those who were criminals (other than being undocumented which at best is only a misdemeanor). The figures are hard to grasp, but somewhere around 60% of those in ICE detention have no criminal record or warrant, and have some degree of legal status; it is quite OK for the MAGA adherents.
Trump's top advisors are radical extremists and ideologues on immigration policy (Stephen Miller) or in rolling back government to the pre-1930s depression era, wiping out any vestige of the New Deal, social security, food assistance, and medical care with affordable access(Russell Vought). Both are adherents of white Christian nationalism ideology and bent on destroying any governmental priority or reference to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: What if it is true: Trump's got dementia as some claim
There are MAGA voters who are fellow travellers who are not the hard core and maybe "squishy". There is a segment of GOP adherents who are the business- self-interested side seeking low taxes and deregulation, willing to lend support to the movement, and some others who are traditional Republicans who could never vote for a Democrat, but they are not in the hard core and could be motivated to stay home on election day or actually vote for the Democratic candidate in 2028. tHIS is the ground where MAGA and NO KINGS will be duking it out to gain or keep political power.
How justified are NO KINGS in opposing Trump's regime as autocratic? One MAGA supporter on another FB site called it "concocted". Here is my FB response:
This is an extremely important editorial from The New York Times. It cites ten markers of what ends democracy and becomes a country ruled by an "authoritarian"based upon the study and history of authoritarians.. It makes a case of whether we are there already or it is in process. The general gist is that if we are not yet fully there in some markers, but in others, he has already done it. Please take this seriously. I am. I am gifting this for you to read. The 12 markers and reasons for it are graded by whether we are on the way, have started, and to what degree, or are already there. For the reasons and evidence regarding each of these markers, go to the text of the editorial itself: I have gifted it and hope you can access the full text. https://www.nytimes.com/.../trump-autocracy-democracy...? I like this approach because it is based on what Trump has done or tried to do, is devoid of inflammatory language, and is grounded in facts and examples. Here is a summary by marker headings.
Of the markers of Democacy's demise in terms of what markers of authoritarianism Trump has already accomplished are
-persecutes political opponents
-declaress national emergencies on false pretenses
-vilifies marginalized groups
-creates a cult of personality
-uses power for personal profit
Of the authoritarian markers Trump has already started and yet to have fully accomplish:
-stifles dissent and speech
-bypasses the legislature
-issues military for domestic control
-controls information and the news media
-tries to take over universities
-manipulates the law to stay in power
FROM GOOGLE AI:
A political movement is an organized effort by a group of people to promote, resist, or change political and social conditions. These movements are driven by a shared ideology and use collective action to achieve goals like promoting rights, reforming government, or seeking social and political change. Examples include the Civil Rights movement, the women's suffrage movement, or the environmental movement, which use various methods from protest and lobbying to elections and advocacy. Key aspects of a political movement
Organized action:
Movements are not random events; they involve people working together with a shared purpose. Shared goals:
The objectives are to either change the status quo or to preserve existing political and social structures. Methods:
Tactics can include protests, demonstrations, boycotts, lobbying, political campaigns, and creating public awareness. Collective identity:
Members of a movement often share a common identity and a belief that they are working to address a common problem.
Examples of political movements
A movement that sought to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans through nonviolent protests and civil disobedience. A movement that fought for women's right to vote. A movement that works to address environmental issues such as pollution, climate change, and conservation. A movement that advocates for the rights and acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.
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