Robert Reich sees 2025-10-18 as a “huge success” because millions of people “who never before participated in a demonstration showed their solidarity” with the victims of DJT’s fascism and with those who oppose it.  Dunno how Reich counted newbies into the millions, but the day clearly did go well, with large peaceful crowds and with American flags as well as protest signs.  So much for the Rethuglican attempt to brand the events as “hate America” rallies.

My own contribution was modest.  The yard sign I put up for No Kings Day 1.0 suffered from being exposed to weather from then thru Independence Day, but I refurbished it and found a stand that would let me mount it higher than before:

Another idiosyncratic way to participate was with poetry.  Speaking of poetry, there’s a memorable pair of lines in America the Beautiful that always was more aspirational than actual:

Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears.

The aspiration was widely shared and was (until recently) inching toward reality.  That hope and progress (not greed and cruelty) made America great.  Whatever else it accomplished, No Kings Day 2.0 reminded true patriots that they are far from alone in their determination to make America great again.