We had a wonderful No Kings experience in Ann Arbor yesterday–as always. People’s creativity with signs and banners is always remarkable, and it is hard to imagine gathering with a more thoughtful group of individuals. Conversations are always good — this has been true at all of the No Kings protests that Barb and I have attended, in Michigan and New York.

Participation in No Kings rallies has grown from 5 million to 7 million to over 8 million (some estimates I’ve seen say 9 million yesterday). We must keep the momentum going, and it is good to know that two more No Kings events are in the works–as well as other rallies, like plans for nationwide May Day rallies focused on labor issues. We the People have been abandoned by Congress; we must act ourselves.

And it is essential–and existential–that we do so. This article in The Nation details the rapid decline of American democracy, according to the V-Dem Institute, the premier tracker of democracy around the world. V-Dem has concluded that the US is “no longer a liberal democracy” and that the rapidity of our slide into autocracy is “unprecedented.” Thank you, Supreme Court and Republican Congress. As a friend said to me in conversation yesterday, the Founders built in checks and balances precisely to counter despots like Trump. What they could not have imagined was that Congress would simply roll over and let despotism happen. (One of the posters we saw yesterday was covered with little fuzzy pompoms and a message that said “Free Balls For Congress.” I’m sorry I didn’t get permission to post a picture.)

The good news is that this crisis gives us an opportunity, if we the people are prepared to seize it–and the growth of No Kings suggests we are. Robert Reich lays this out nicely on his Substack: Toward a Pro-Democracy Movement.

Keep Hope Alive!