On Friday, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to allow the president to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area. It’s a move that could determine whether Trump will get the green light to use state-based military forces in American cities.
That request will likely be on the mind of the millions of Americans and folks overseas who plan to take to the streets on Oct. 18 for the second round of No Kings Day protests. An estimated 2,600 peaceful rallies and marches against the authoritarian turn of the Trump administration are expected, with attendees demanding a democracy that actually serves its people.
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A partner in that effort is State Voices, the country’s largest progressive civic engagement network. Representing more than 1,000 grassroots organizations across 32 states, the group is using its vast infrastructure to ensure efforts to protect democracy go beyond protests.
“No Kings is a movement for anyone and everyone who has felt the harm caused by this current administration,” the network’s CEO, Alexis Anderson-Reed, tells Word In Black. “Whether you’re struggling to make ends meet, or you can’t afford your healthcare this month, or you’re scared for your Black and Brown neighbors because of federal troops and ICE on our streets. This movement is for all who have struggles that need to be heard at this moment.”
Black people are always, and expected to be, on the frontlines, but our issues are often the first to be neglected.
Alexis Anderson-Reed
Indeed, Reed says No Kings is a reminder that diverse communities can work together and collectively refuse to surrender their country to the powerful few. “We can harness that energy for midterms,” she says. “We can harness that energy to be bolder with our policies and the leaders we support. Our communities clearly see the necessity for change, but they need to know it’s possible and within reach.
In this conversation with Word In Black, Anderson-Reed explains how State Voices plans to turn mass resistance into lasting civic power:
WORD IN BLACK: What’s the central message behind No Kings Day, and why does State Voices believe this moment demands a mass mobilization?
ALEXIS ANDERSON REED: Millions of people oppose this administration’s recent actions, whether it be its handling of the economy, rampant voter suppression against communities of color, or the militarization of our cities. No Kings is an opportunity to send a clear message to the federal government that we won’t stand for it, and for our communities themselves to realize their collective power.
No Kings is about rejecting the idea that the country that working people and communities of color have built belongs to an ultra-wealthy ruling class.
State Voices is a proud partner of No Kings because the people should have the power, not presidents masquerading as kings. When we rise as a collective, across different states, regions, and backgrounds, we’re stronger for it.
WIB: How is State Voices using its network to turn protest energy into long-term civic power?
AAR: We’re telling our entire network to get involved and support in any way they can. But we’re also encouraging people not to stop there. Whether it’s attending a community board meeting, attending a local rally, or door-knocking in your neighborhood, there are so many ways to stay informed and engaged.
State Voices understands the importance of local organizing and how these efforts can be supercharged by a national infrastructure that can mobilize folks at large. As the largest nonpartisan civic engagement network in the country, we’re in a position to engage, share tools and resources, and win on critical issues from the hyperlocal level to the national. And we’ve already done it with worker rights, voting rights, reproductive freedoms, and more in even some of the toughest states.
No Kings serves as an inflection point this year, one that proves that there are still organizations and people committed to this cause, and we won’t stop fighting for progress, no matter how hard it becomes.
WIB: What are Black folks telling you about how this administration’s actions are affecting their daily lives?
AAR: We know Black communities are disproportionately hurting from this administration’s actions. Folks are concerned about how to afford their groceries and support their families. Healthcare feels increasingly inaccessible, especially in Southern and rural areas. A shrinking job market, coupled with anti-DEI rhetoric, has dealt yet another hand. Black people are always, and expected to be, on the frontlines, but our issues are often the first to be neglected. Frankly, Black communities are tired, and it’s well warranted.
We’re fed up! The communities we work within have had enough. We don’t want to be targeted. We want to be able to lead healthy lives. We want to be able to pay our bills. We want fair and equal political representation. And we’re willing to fight for it all.
We also recognize that this is only the beginning. We’re in this for the long haul, and it means we’ll need to be more strategic about how we build power and expend energy.
WIB: How does No Kings Day connect to your “Real Change, Not Pocket Change” campaign — and what real change are you fighting for?
AAR: During the last election, we were told by the people in charge that tackling inflation would be a top priority. Instead, our government is handing out tax cuts to billionaires by cutting down our healthcare and food stamps.
Real Change, Not Pocket Change, demands and fights for policy solutions that benefit working people. Leaders in charge have not delivered on the kitchen table issues that matter most. We can — and must — change that.
No Kings is one opportunity to demand that our leaders address these realities for many Americans. We refuse to be forced to choose between rent, groceries, seeing a doctor, and keeping the lights on. We refuse to barely make ends meet while an ultra-wealthy ruling class hands down policies that line their pockets while burdening working people.
Real change entails policies that truly work and level the playing field, whether it’s raising the minimum wage to a living wage for all, freezing rent and building affordable housing, expanding the child tax credit, or expanding state Medicaid programs.
WIB: Some people feel burned out or cynical about politics. How are you re-engaging those who’ve tuned out or lost faith in democracy?
AAR: We must remind people that this is ultimately the goal of those in power right now — they want us tired, distracted, and divided. They think they can have us believe that solutions are out of reach and our power is void.
But we know that’s not the truth. And as much as we’re fighting against this wave of authoritarianism, we must keep sight of what we’re fighting for: livable wages to support our families; healthcare that doesn’t thrust us into debt; a just and accepting society.
At the same time, part of activism is practicing self-care. Activism doesn’t need to look the same every day, or for every person. This is very much a marathon, not a sprint. Organizations like ours are ready and willing to meet you where you are. But the most crucial part is getting involved and staying engaged in some shape or form.
WIB: What gives you hope?
AAR: Massive, millions-strong movements like No Kings give me hope. State Voices and our commitment to building a true, multiracial democracy give me hope. The legacy, as well as the struggles of the civil rights and worker rights movements, give me hope. It’s not the first time we’ve had to fight or face obstacles. But against what felt like impossible odds, they resisted. They won. It’s that perseverance that must drive our work today.