Republicans are setting a trap ahead of Saturday’s ‘No Kings’ rally

Republican leaders are setting a trap ahead of Saturday's "No Kings" rally by painting the event as a dangerous and unpatriotic protest, according to organizers. The name of the rally says it all: America is a democracy, not a dictatorship. It's surprising to see Republicans try to downplay this message in advance, given their history of carefully crafting talking points to keep certain viewpoints from being expressed.

In reality, Republican leaders are trying to sow fear and divide among Americans by using language that creates a sense of urgency and threat. However, the organizers of the rally have stated their intention to stand up for justice and defend the rule of law, just as our founding fathers did 250 years ago.

It's clear that some Republicans no longer want to govern for the American people but instead seek to establish themselves as absolute leaders, suppressing dissent and attacking free speech. This is a recipe for erosion of civil liberties and authoritarianism, which is precisely what protesters are trying to push back against.

The question remains: where are other voices? Why haven't former presidents like George W. Bush spoken out about the danger of authoritarianism? The silence from these leaders is not only disappointing but also dangerous, as it sends a message that defending democracy and moral courage is optional.

In contrast, the protesters gathering on Saturday are standing up for their rights under our Constitution by exercising peaceful assembly to express themselves. They see Donald Trump's actions as a threat to American values and want to push back against them in the most American way possible: through civil disobedience.

As one former RNC chairman noted, having the voice of President George W. Bush added to this movement would make it even more powerful. Even if he may not agree with everything being said, his presence would carry significant weight and resonate with many Americans.

Standing up now is not radical; it's what Americans do when they see a wrong being committed. We are once colonists, beholden to the whims of a mad king, but today we are Americans, empowered by our faith in "We the People."

this whole thing feels like a slippery slope - first they're trying to downplay the rally as unpatriotic and now it's all about fear & division what happened to just standing up for justice & defending democracy? i'm not surprised that some republicans want to suppress dissent, but come on guys - we're america, supposed to be the land of free speech & assembly why are they so scared of a peaceful protest?

I gotta say, this whole thing with the "No Kings" rally and the Republicans trying to spin it is wild . It's like they're trying to flip the script on what America really stands for - democracy ! But you know who gets it? The protesters, that's who . They're not afraid to speak up against the system when they see something wrong, and I respect that .

It's also kinda crazy how some Republican leaders are trying to silence them by saying it's unpatriotic . Like, what even is that? The fact that they're more worried about losing power than defending the rule of law is just mind-boggling .

I wish someone like George W. Bush would come out and support these protesters - it would be a game-changer . But you know who's not surprised? Me, I'm used to some people being silent when they should be speaking up . It just goes to show that the more power you have, the less likely you are to use it for good .

omg i feel like the rnc is trying to gaslight us again they're really trying to make us believe that anyone who's against trump is unpatriotic?! it's so sus. i'm actually planning on going to this no kings rally with my squad and we're all super hyped! we need to stand up for our rights and defend the rule of law, you know? it's not just about trump, it's about the values that america is supposed to represent... like freedom of speech and assembly. i'm so down for this movement and i wish more people would speak out against authoritarianism

can you believe these republicans are trying to shut down this rally?? its like they think americans cant handle some free speech and criticism like whats next? them trying to silence us with their propaganda machine? no way man! we need more ppl speaking out against authoritarianism and trump's shady moves george w bush should definitely make an appearance at this rally, it'd be a major win for the cause we gotta stand up for our rights and our democracy like our founding fathers did 250 yrs ago

this is so true... republicans trying to silence people who are against them is like, totally not how america works at all. i mean think about it, our founding fathers were like "hey we want to make a new country based on freedom and justice" and now some ppl are like "nope let's go back to dictatorship mode ". meanwhile ppl who disagree with them are just trying to stand up for what they believe in... peaceful protests are not radical, that's just basic human rights . i wish more leaders would be like george w bush and speak out against authoritarianism

[Distracted cat sitting on a throne](https://i.imgur.com/9X7zWmB.jpg)

[ Politician facepalm GIF ](https://i.giphy.com/GdLkYvM2nK4oI.png)

[Dying to be free](https://i.imgur.com/a0XbF4V.jpg)

[Trump is a king, but we're not afraid of him!](https://i.giphy.com/MuPvGzWtIgRd6.png)

[Colonist face GIF ](https://i.giphy.com/7JrLQ4w9q0EoI.png)

OMG you guys, this whole thing with the "No Kings" rally is SOOO on point ! I'm literally shook that some Rep leaders think they can sway ppl into thinking it's unpatriotic to stand up for what's right. Newsflash: protesting against autocracy is actually kinda American ! And yikes, the fact that they're trying to create fear and divide among Americans is just super concerning . I'm all about ppl standing up for justice and defending the rule of law – it's like, our founding fathers did it 250 yrs ago, so why can't we?

And what's with all the silence from former presidents like Bush? Like, where are they? It's kinda eerie that he hasn't spoken out about this stuff... it's like, super disappointing and kinda scary too . But on the flip side, the protesters on Saturday are doing their part to stand up for their rights under the Constitution – that's so cool!

I think if Bush were to show up at this rally, it'd be a total game-changer. Even if he doesn't agree with everything being said, his presence would carry so much weight and ppl would listen . And honestly, standing up for what's right isn't radical – it's just what we do when we see something wrong happening . We're Americans, empowered by our faith in "We the People" !

I'm so done with this whole thing . Republican leaders trying to spin "No Kings" rally as some kind of treasonous event is just laughable . Like, come on guys, America's a democracy not because we're afraid of a monarch but because our founding fathers actually believed in the power of the people . And now they're trying to erode civil liberties and create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation? No thanks .

I mean, where's George W.'s "leadership" when it matters most? The silence from him is deafening and it's not just about being a disappointment, it's about sending the wrong message . We need people who are willing to stand up for what's right, even if it means going against the party line .

The fact that protesters are exercising their peaceful assembly rights is actually pretty inspiring . They're not being radical, they're just being patriotic and standing up for what America's supposed to be about: justice and equality . And if some high-profile leader like Bush were to speak out in support of this movement, it'd carry even more weight . I'm all for a little civil disobedience when the system's broken .

I'm so sick of these politicians trying to spin this whole "No Kings" rally thing into something it's not! They're just trying to control the narrative and manipulate people into thinking they're the good guys. Newsflash: we see right through that, folks! Those Republicans are just trying to create a sense of fear and division among Americans so they can silence dissenting voices and push their own agenda. It's a slippery slope, and if we let them get away with it, we'll lose our democracy for good.

I'm calling out all the silent voices - George W. Bush, anyone? Where are you when it matters most? Why isn't Donald Trump using his platform to speak out against authoritarianism instead of trying to cling to power like a bad habit? We need leaders who will stand up for what's right, not just when it's convenient.

And let's be real, this whole "No Kings" rally thing is more about the fact that Republicans are terrified of losing control. They're scared we'll wake up and realize they've been lying to us for years. But you know what? We see through the lies! It's time for some real leaders to step up and defend our democracy, not just talk a good game.

This is what it means to be an American - standing up for our rights, even when it's hard. Even when it's unpopular. Especially when it's hard. We're not colonists anymore; we're citizens of the world! So let's keep pushing forward, folks! We got this!

I'm loving this rally energy ! Republican leaders trying to spin it as unpatriotic? Give me a break . They're just scared because they can't control the narrative and their own ideology is being called out for what it is - anti-democratic . Meanwhile, these protesters are speaking truth to power and standing up for their rights. That's what we need more of in this country . And omg, if George W Bush showed up, that would be the ultimate stamp of approval . But honestly, even without him, I'm all about this "No Kings" movement . It's time to stand up for democracy and not let anyone silence us . Bring it on, Saturday!

[Image of Grumpy Cat holding a sign that says "I'd rather be protesting"]