Will you join me, and millions of other patriotic Americans, in a protest for democracy, and against tyranny, by peacefully demonstrating in the streets, on Saturday, June 14, Flag Day, for the “No Kings” mass protest?

Ordinary people “NO” to the King of England in the Revolutionary War and in 1776 founded this nation based on a commitment to each other to have a government where citizens are equal before the law, have a say in the government, and have the right to a fair share of resources. We, the people grant authority to the Congress, the Executive Branch, and the Judiciary to work for us!

The president is planning to spend about $45 million in taxpayer dollars to throw himself a lavish military parade, on his birthday, June 14, in Washington, D.C. He apparently wants a party fit for a king.

On May 22, the president met with the House of Representatives, in the middle of the night, and strongly pressured Republicans to pass a budget reconciliation bill that gives huge tax cuts to the wealthy; increases the deficit; slashes Medicaid; triggers automatic cuts to Medicare; cuts research money for cancer, agriculture and green energy, which will decrease U.S. competitiveness and increase China’s ability to dominate the market for cutting edge technology, defunds the judicial system to limit its ability to enforce contempt of court orders; increases funding for ICE and detention centers and seeks to build a $25 billion golden dome constructed by Elon Musk’s company. If this bill becomes law, it will harm most Americans.

On May 22, the president also held a dinner at his golf course for purchasers of his cryptocurrency: he gave wealthy donors, many foreigners, private access to the office of the president. He has personally amassed about $2 billion since taking office.

He recently accepted a “gift” of a jet from Qatar and plans to spend over a billion tax dollars to convert it into Air Force One.

The president is doing exactly what he campaigned against: using taxpayer money for huge government waste and corruption. He is violating all ethics of his office; he is violating the foundational rule of law in this country; he is not complying with Supreme Court orders.

The people of this country need to collectively rise up and clearly tell the executive and congressional branches of our government, as well as news outlets, law firms, universities, and corporations: no kings!

We need to overshadow his bloated ego trip by having millions of people peacefully celebrating democracy, on June 14, everywhere but in D.C.

Throughout history the people have succeeded in preventing authoritarian take-overs, or in kicking out authoritarians, when at least 3.5% of the population protest and pressure leaders, institutions and the military to stop what they are doing.

Will you please show your patriotism by showing up on the streets, on June 14, Flag Day, to help defeat this out of control wanna-be king?

In Marquette: 10:30 a.m.-noon, U.S. 41 and Wilson Street (by Wendy’s Restaurant) and spread out to the west.

In Escanaba: Noon-4 p.m., at Ludington Park

In Ironwood: Noon- 1 p.m. CDT, 150 N. Lowell St.

in St. Ignace: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 13 S. State St., at the Marina.

Bring American flags!

For more information and to find other event locations, go to nokings.org.

Many thanks to the Marquette City Police Department for safely supporting peaceful protests and to The Mining Journal for publishing letters in support of democracy.