06/11/2025
NO KINGS RALLY SATURDAY JUNE 14, 2025, BARTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE SQUARE STARTING AT 11 AM
by Kent Roth
Our 79 year old President likes everything to be about him. Last Tuesday at Fort Bragg in North Carolina Donald Trump suggested the number of active duty Army present was larger than the crowd his predecessor might have had even though the active duty Army members had no choice, but to attend. Trump's obsession over crowd size was once again put on full display.
In his first term, President Trump appeared before a Boy Scouts of America Jamboree and gave a crass political speech. Trump's first Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, a former Eagle Scout and President of the Boy Scouts, was present and clearly put off. About the same time following a military briefing at the Pentagon on the importance of a strong Military, Rex Tillerson called the President a "F...ing Moron." Recent decisions by President Trump show nothing has changed.
Now, I want to talk about you and your values which bring you to attend this No Kings Rally...
Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Lutheran pastor in Germany. In the 1920s and early 1930s, he sympathized with many N**i ideas and supported radically right-wing political movements. But after Adolf Hi**er came to power in 1933, Niemöller became an outspoken critic of Hi**er’s interference in the Protestant Church. He spent the last eight years of N**i rule, from 1937 to 1945, in N**i prisons and concentration camps. Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for his postwar statement, which reads:
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
In recent weeks, we have seen Deportation without due process which refers to situations where individuals are removed from the United States without fair hearing, the right to challenge the deportation, or sufficient notice of the proceedings. While the U.S. Constitution guarantees due process to all people, including those who are not U.S. citizens, President Donald Trump has flown in the dead of night suspected Gang Members to serve indefinite terms in a gulag type prison in El Salvador. His initial Court argument was that once the person was outside the United States only the President of El Salvador could release and return the individual. There was no reason given as to why the President couldn't or wouldn't do the same to any member of any other group.
In recent days, President Trump has ordered National Guard Troops and Marines into Los Angeles, California despite the Governor of California Gavin Newsom not requesting or consenting to the use of the military.
The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 generally prohibits the U.S. military, including the National Guard in federal service, from participating in civilian law enforcement activities. It was enacted to prevent military involvement in civilian affairs, stemming from abuses during the Reconstruction era.
In the 1800s, it was Red States former Confederate States protected from Federal Military Troops on their land unless consented to by the Governor. Today, Blue States are being targeted. The rule of law treats both equally. We must remain a Nation ruled by law.
A more far-reaching law then the Posse Comitatus is the Insurrection Act, originally enacted in 1792, this law might allow Trump to override the Posse Comitatus rule and deploy the U.S. military domestically against Americans if Martial Law is declared.
The Insurrection Act can be invoked to suppress rebellion, violence or enforce the law in certain situations.
“In theory, the Insurrection Act should be used only in a crisis that is truly beyond the capacity of State civilian authorities to manage,”
Declaring an insurrection amounts to martial law and one might expect an effort to postpone the midterm elections which would keep Trump's slight Party advantage in the House of Congress. Full, Free and Open Elections are the foundation upon which our Democracy stands.
The Founding Fathers adopted a Constitution which rejected rule by a Monarchy in favor of Elected Civilian Control of our Government with checks and balances so our system of government would never return to rule by a King. The Declaration of Independence correctly labeled King George as a Tyrant.
Enough is enough. The Trump Administration has defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services. We must not allow postponement of our mid-term elections, but rather use the process to make changes. The corruption has gone too far. No thrones. No crowns. No Kings.
Trump is holding a military parade in the District of Columbia today, but the biggest story of the day is the actions you and others are taking rallying on No Kings Day to reject strongman politics and corruption.
No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance. From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really looks like.
Thank you for your attention.
