A letter to the editor published on Apr. 18 voices support for keeping the ‘No Kings’ slogan as the rallying cry for recent protests. The writer, Chris Pender from Eugene, responds to previous suggestions that the name of the No Kings rallies should be changed.
The letter highlights that slogans can play a key role in motivating people to participate in civic action. Pender says, “I like the No Kings slogan. It is what got me out to protest. Kings are anathema to democracy.”
Pender also refers to an upcoming event where King Charles III of the United Kingdom is scheduled to address the U.S. Congress on April 28 and expresses hope that Oregon’s congressional delegation will not attend.
Reflecting on recent events, Pender notes, “We just had 8 million people march in No Kings rallies across the country, and now the King of the U.K. is going to give a speech?! What is he going to talk about? How his mother and father gave birth to him and how he was the luckiest little boy in the world?”
The letter concludes with criticism of hereditary privilege: “He didn’t create anything, he didn’t work for anything. He was just lucky. Doesn’t congress have anything better to do?”
