On March 28, one day before celebrating Jesus’ procession into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, millions of Christians processed through the streets to declare “No Kings!”
Protesting the Trump administration’s authoritarianism, Christian nationalism, violence at home, and war abroad, people of faith joined their neighbors to stand for democracy. More than 3,000 events took place across the globe, mostly in the U.S., with Minnesota—where there has been strong, communal resistance to immigration agents’ violence—serving as the flagship event.
Sojourners asked our readers to send us their photos and reflections from their own participation in No Kings protests. Below are your contributions.
Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Charles Kowalski, Tokyo:
“The Christian nationalists claim to want a Christian nation. To that I say: Amen.
Jesus said that the peacemakers are blessed, but those who take the sword will perish by the sword. So, a truly Christian nation would lead the world in peace rather than war. Jesus said to heal the sick, and that we who freely received should freely give. So, a truly Christian nation would provide free health care. Jesus said to love our neighbors, and by ‘neighbors,’ he meant the stranger, the poor, all those on the margins of society. So, a truly Christian nation would judge itself by how well it treated those who, by the world’s usual standards, deserved it least.
To all these things I say: Amen. And to the Christian nationalists, I say: Be careful what you wish for.”
Molly Daichendt, Scottsdale, Ariz.:
Jenna Coakley Hardy, New Hampshire:
“I am a believer since age 8. I attended a Christian high school, a Christian university, worked at a Christian school, and was a children’s pastor at my local church here in New Hampshire.
I attended No Kings yesterday with my parents, and one of my daughters. It is horrifying to me to have my faith co-opted by people seeking power and dominion when that is the OPPOSITE of the way of Jesus and it hurts the witness of the church. It is heartbreaking, and I need my non-Christian friends to see me standing with them, so they know I TOO find it appalling.”
Karen Muir:
Isaac Lewis, Austin:
“Today for the No Kings rally, I carried a flag used by a regiment of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. It carries a motto, that ‘Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.’
This motto was proposed by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson to be our national motto, which didn’t happen, but Jefferson still used it as his personal motto on his seals.
I wanted to remind people that the impulse behind our protest today is anchored in thoroughly American and Christian traditions.”
Phil Woitaszewski:
Lauren Hopper, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.:
“Hi! Just wanted to send you my selfie from the protest today in Champaign-Urbana. I’m a Christian who is anti-Trump and against Christian nationalism.”
Olivier Hazan, Pennsylvania:
“Great event in small town Pennsylvania. About 1,000 neighbors attending. Zero ‘counterprotest.’”
Chris Blidan:
“My double-sided sign gets lots of positive reactions. At today’s No Kings rally a woman raved about the Honor Your Oath side, but when I flipped it to the Christian Anti-fascist side, she said, ‘Hmm. I'll have to think about that.’”
Shannon Eidson:
“A post asked to have pictures as we stand for righteousness and speak truth to power. Here are a few of my reasons for speaking out today.”
Jessica Johnson:
“#NoKings but Jesus, whose gospel does not include overthrowing the ‘Romans’ to give his followers political power.
We lead through peace.
We lead through faith.
We lead through love.”
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