As America gears up for the largest weekend haul of hashtags since sliced sourdough—aptly dubbed the “No Kings” protests against President Trump’s birthday-military-parade mash-up—organisers are bracing for a tidal wave of peaceful resistance.
But we've been here before and protests that start out peaceful seem to go off in a violent direction when troublemakers are allowed into the mix.
Nearly 2,000 protests are planned to ring out across all 50 states on June 14th, under the banner of the 50501 Movement (50 states, 50 protests, one movement).
But if democracy’s going to dance, we’ve got to keep the rats off the dance floor.
I would hope that the organisers of the 50501 movement have taken steps to provide the proper message to their followers and have taken steps to protect their followers in this 50 State call for organised protests by the 50501 Movement.
The following guidelines are a suggestion and will help keep the message on point and hopefully avoid chaos and injuries to police and protesters.
This is opinion only and is a re-write of a past article to be inclusive of the upcoming NO KINGS protest.
It is also my opinion that organisers of these various protests are responsible for promoting Safety FIRST.
And organisers should be responsible if they were aware that their call to protest could cause crime and chaos and that they didn't try to mitigate the threat by providing control and direction to followers and trying to preventing crime and violence.
1. Remember the Rights… and the Responsibilities
Yes, the First Amendment gives every American the right to peaceably assemble.
But if you brandish a brick, you’re no Robin Hood—you’re just Robin the neighborhood store. As one seasoned protest sage put it:
“The flag doesn’t belong to President Trump. It belongs to us,” declares the No Kings manifesto, urging, “On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t — to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings.”
Fine rhetoric.
Yet any movement that can’t eject a looter in its midst risks losing that right altogether.
After all, freedom isn’t a free pizza coupon—it demands lifelong civic cardio and a weekly dose of responsibilities.
So: #KnowYourRights—but also #CheckYourComrades.
2. Recruit Your Own Peace Brigade
If you’ve ever attended a city council meeting, you know the power of volunteers in neon vests.
Hopefully the organisers of the No Kings protesters are forming and deploying “Peace Marshals” at these events. The Peace Marshals sole mission is to sniff out would-be arsonists, looters and other dangers that could over-shadow their cause before they can do damage.
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Mission: Gentle escort, zero force.
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Uniform: Bright vest, calm demeanor.
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Motto: “Be the leash your protest needs.”
When someone’s window-shopping at a flagship electronics store—literally shopping—it’s your job to say “Thanks, but no thanks”—and boot them out before your cause looks like a Cyber Monday frenzy.
3. Clear Signs, Clear Morals
Your marching for “Democracy, not Despotism”—but does your sign double as a shield for smash-and-grab? If your banner can moonlight as a battering ram, you’ve lost the direction of the whole cause.
As one local organizer warned:
“This is a shame, and we as a country must be a better example.”
So shout from your megaphone:
“Violence, looting, theft—NOT ALLOWED! We’re a peaceful protest crowd!”
And mean it.
4. Spot the Profit-Hunters
There’s always one who sees dollar signs in democracy.
Last spring’s TikToker who cut down shoefiti to resell sneakers proved that some folks will monetize any movement.
If someone’s case-checking ATMs or hustling “revolutionary merch” off-camera, call out the grifter: Keep your eyes peeled. If they’re there to loot, not liberate, they’re out!
5. Disperse with Dignity
When it’s time to disperse—do it peacefully.
A planned “safe zone” lets your crew fall back without funneling into police lines.
Remember, your cause deserves respect, not headlines about teargas.
6. Clean Up Like Champions
After the last chant, swap that “Acid-washed Resistance hoodie" for gloves and trash bags.
Looters leave chaos; good protesters leave communities clean.
Nothing says “we’re the responsible ones” like a sea of volunteers tidying parks and sidewalks afterwards.
7. Amplify the Good, Mute the Bad
Flood social media with #GoodProtestMoments:
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Granny handing out water bottles
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people chalking “No Kings, No Tyrants” on clean pavement
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Peace Marshals escorting vandals away
Drown out the viral clips of broken glass with clips of unity.
Because public faith in your cause hinges on one thing: that you won’t tolerate the few who would hijack the voices of the many.
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#NoKingsDay
#CivicCardio
#PeaceMarshals
#RightToProtest
#ResponsibilitiesToo
#WeAreNotLooters
#GoodProtestMoments
#DethroneNoOne
#DemocracyDance
#PolishYourProtest
#CleanUpCrew
#SayNoToBricks
#LootersOut
#FreedomWithChecks
#SafeZoneSignal
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