No Kings Day: A Stand Against Power and Injustice

This Saturday, people will rise across 2,000 U.S. cities, including Tampa, united in one unflinching message: “No Kings.” This is not a protest born of idle dissent. It is a fierce rebuke of President Donald Trump and a social order built on abuse of power. Flag Day plus Trump’s 79th birthday equals a military parade costing taxpayers $25–45?million. The implicit message? A cult of personality masquerading as patriotism (um-insight.net, thecut.com).

For United Methodists grounded in Wesleyan conviction, this is intolerable. John and Charles Wesley stood against social evil, not in quiet tones but with prophetic boldness, calling out power when it crushes the least among us. That same courage calls us now to confront policies that tear at the fabric of our communities.

Trump’s parade is more than ostentation. It telegraphs authoritarian intent. Tanks rumble past, and troops march in formation — all for a one-day show pushing personalities over principles. Critics call it “dictator cosplay,” a chilling echo of autocracy (newyorker.com). When domestic dissent, even peaceful protest, is met with comparisons to enemy state attacks and militarized responses, we are no longer witnessing public service. We are seeing the dismantling of democratic norms.

Never did we imagine Marines, National Guard, and federal troops would be deployed on American soil against the American people. Yet that is precisely what happened. Trump sent Marines to Los Angeles to crush immigrant?rights protests. He overrode California’s leadership, seized state Guard forces, and advanced on prayer vigils (um-insight.net, apnews.com).

This is an unmistakable move toward internal militarization. For United Methodists, this mirrors the worst of empire—a government turning its weapons on its own people. Our theology reminds us that God’s power is love shown on the cross, not tanks in the streets.

Since June’s ICE raids began, families across the nation have been torn from their homes and communities. Reports speak of people snatched from stores, courts, and schools, even including U.S. citizens and veterans (umnews.org). Our Methodist doctrine calls us to “do no harm” and care for those on the margins. Yet, policy now justifies trauma, separation, and fear. One Los Angeles pastor wept at the vigil, placing flowers before armed soldiers as a plea for mercy (umnews.org). Weep, we must. But then we act.

Court rulings have blocked parts of Trump’s executive orders on immigration and elections, even halting Medicaid rollbacks (theguardian.com). Yet Trump continues — threatening protesters with “very big force” (en.wikipedia.org). Judges and governors alike have branded his actions an “assault on democracy” (apnews.com).

We must not stand idly by here in Tampa as our system fractures. Our call is to active discipleship — to demand that the government obeys the law and not the whims of its chief. Wesley reminds us: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can.” Saturday, we do it in crowds, chants, signs, and solidarity.

Our church has not stood silent. Across Los Angeles, United Methodists joined immigrant?rights vigils to comfort the frightened, support the dislocated, and de-escalate imminent violence (umnews.org). The UM Committee on Church and Society has issued statements condemning inhumane rhetoric and acts (facebook.com). The denomination is rallying behind peacekeeping, nonviolence, and prophetic protest.

In Tampa, that same Spirit asks us to stand, to claim our pulpit on the streets, and to live our theology in solidarity with those crushed by power.

This is no passive event. Authorities across states warn of “big force” — Florida’s governor says peaceful speech is allowed, but anything else will be met with full enforcement. Brevard’s sheriff even threatened lethal force (people.com). We do not advocate violence. We reject it. But we refuse to be intimidated. Civil courage is not optional — it is the heart of a Christian witness.

The movement is building on the momentum of previous protests: 50501, #HandsOff, “Day of Action.” Millions have stood up before in defense of democracy, health care, immigrant rights, LGBTQ rights, Social Security, and public education (en.wikipedia.org). This Saturday, we turn that momentum into a message: power must be held accountable.

As Wesley taught, “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God… and I could shake the gates of hell.” Let our anger be holy. Let it kindle righteous fire that clears corruption and lights hope. Let our fists be opened palms of grace. Let our signs declare both judgment and love.

We are angry at injustice. We are committed to peace. We are demanding change.

If you stand in Tampa this Saturday, do it with intention. Learn nonviolent methods. March with de-escalation. Pray for all present — civilians and law enforcement alike. Carry a theology of care, justice, repentance, and hope.

Feel fear, but don’t yield to it. Feel grief, but let grief fuel action. Feel righteous rage—repentant, disciplined, and transformative. We greet power not as victims but as faithful stewards of systems that demand our voice. We walk not as rebels without cause but as children of a God who brought freedom out of chains.

Saturday, Tampa will join a thunder across our nation. No Kings. Not today, not ever. We will march not as subjects but as citizens, not as kings but as neighbors.

In that, we are faithful to our Wesleyan calling and our call to discipleship.

Sources

• United Methodist Insight: “Why Religious Communities Are Rallying Behind the ‘Protest Me'” — https://um-insight.net/perspectives/why-religious-communities-are-rallying-behind-the-protest-me/
• United Methodist Insight: “United Methodists Witness to Compassion, Humanity in Demonstrations” — https://um-insight.net/in-the-world/advocating-justice/united-methodists-witness-to-compassion-humanity-in-demonstr/
• United Methodist Insight: “Keep Calm and Resist: Be a Peacekeeping Protester” — https://um-insight.net/perspectives/keep-calm-and-resist-be-a-peacekeeping-protester/
• NPR: “Peaceful Protesters Tear-Gassed To Clear Way For Trump Church Photo-Op” — https://www.npr.org/2020/06/01/867733530/peaceful-protesters-tear-gassed-to-clear-way-for-trump-church-photo-op
• Washington Post: “Trump’s Authoritarian Response to Protesters” — https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/01/trump-protests-authoritarian/
• LA Times: “In LA, We Prayed. Trump Sent the Military” — https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-06-05/la-prayer-vigil-military-police
• Florida Today: “Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey Warns Protesters About Violence” — https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2020/06/06/brevard-sheriff-wayne-ivey-warns-protesters-violence/3163641001/
• CNN: “Trump Orders National Guard to Suppress Protests” — https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/02/politics/national-guard-trump-protests/index.html