Oct. 19, 2025 Editor, The News-Gazette: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s denigration of the nationwide No Kings protests on Oct. 18 as “pro-Hamas” and “hate America” is grossly incorrect. These were peaceful demonstrations, grounded in our First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly. To denounce such protests is to ignore the power that protest has held throughout our nation’s history, from the women’s suffrage movement to the civil rights era. Exercising our constitutional rights is, at its core, profoundly pro-American.
The No Kings protesters Johnson mocks are not extremists. They are students and professors; they are veterans and army brats; they are members of local civic groups and grassroots organizations, but also Republicans and independents who disapprove of the Trump administration’s abuse of executive power and cronyism.
We the people have grown tired of unchecked power, corruption, and disregard for the rule of law. Amid a government shutdown, our assembly should be celebrated and commended, not defamed. If our leaders truly love America, they should start by respecting the community members who voluntarily made these gatherings possible.
I am reminded of a sign I saw at the protest yesterday. It read: “We Love America/Don’t Let Them Lie to You.” I hope our politicians learn from this that dissent is not hatred, and that demanding a more accountable government is one of the most patriotic acts of all. ANNA MARTIN Lexington
