Donald Trump and maga Republicans cannot supress the peaceful enthusiasm infused throughout the No Kings demonstrations

Echo opinion letters published in the Los Angeles Times and on Yahoo.com #NoKings👑❗

#No Kings👑 Signology

Letters to the Editor: 💌Readers across Southern California share their experiences at 'No Kings' 👑rallies.

To the editor: I wish to share with my Angeleno friends and former neighbors my experiences and thoughts about the rally here in Petaluma (“SoCal ‘No Kings’ 👑protests draw tens of thousands alongside massive rallies nationwide,” October 18).

Among my fellow marchers were a woman in her 40s on crutches and with a boot on her foot; a paraplegic boy, about 12, in a wheelchair, with his parents; and several elderly folks using canes or walkers.

After the rally, I congratulated two elderly women, a mother (with walker) and daughter, for participating. The eldest one told me, “I wanted to march twice before, but I figured the third time was the charm. I was only able to go three blocks today, but I’m so glad I did.” Then she added with a grin, “I feel like a kid of 80!”  Said her daughter: “She’s 90, and a lifelong Republican.”

Signs were snarky, funny and varied. The rally organizers suggested wearing yellow as a sign of unity, which I found arbitrary. I emailed the organizers: “At the next rally, I think we should all wear blue — baby blue, royal blue, navy blue, any blue — because team blue ain’t yellow!”

From Bob Canning, in Petaluma California..

To the editor: I am an 82-year-old who protested at the “No Kings”👑 rally in Oakhurst, California on Saturday, October 18. According to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Donald Trump, that basically makes me an anti-American terrorist. According to several in the GOP, I must have been paid to be there. I haven't seen the check yet, though — maybe lost in the mail❓

I served our country for 44 years, beginning with designing landing trajectories for Apollo to the moon, Galileo to Jupiter and most every U.S. space mission in the solar system. 

I retired from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2012, as the chief engineer for flight mechanics. I am proud of my country and will fight against the fascist takeover to my last breath.

From Dennis Byrnes, in Oakhurst, California

To the editor: We had thousands at our "No Kings" 👑protest in the Los Angeles area. All of the people were peaceful, and none expressed hatred of America, contrary to deliberately false claims about what would take place, made beforehand by Speaker Johnson on Fox (Fake❗) News.

Those protesting are people who see Trump acting unlawfully and showing extreme disregard for, and disrespect of, our Constitution, a view supported by the many judges ruling against Trump's actions. Our founding fathers dumped a king two and a half centuries ago. Now, it's our responsibility to preserve our democracy by protesting this wanna'be👑 king. Where are you, GOP❓ 

Where are you Congress❓

From David Michels, in Encino, California

To the editor: I had an unexpected emotional moment on Saturday attending the "No Kings"👑 rally here in Venice (Los Angeles), California, close to my home. For the first time since my father gave it to me, I wore a cap that commemorated the crew of the USS Lawrence, a destroyer on which my father served in 1939, and early 1940. I have treasured the cap for many years, but never wore it because he served, not me.

Well, this past weekend, I felt he would have been honored for me to wear his cap at this rally. I imagine he would have been there himself if he was still with us. When a woman stopped to say, "Thank you for your service," I found I couldn't speak for several moments as I teared up. Finally I said, "It wasn't me, it was my dad."

From Mark Ryavec, in Venice, Los Angeles, California

To the editor: I went to the protest in Westchester and saw some printed signs saying “No kings👑 in America since 1776.”

I disagree with the statement “No kings in America” as a whole. America did once have a truly great and popular king; his name was Elvis Presley, 🎸👑 “The King of Rock and Roll.”

As he said, “Don’t Be Cruel.” America needs a lot more “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” instead.

From Robert Samuelson, Marina del Rey, Los Angeles, California

To the editor: It's great that so many people were united enough to protest on "No Kings Day"👑 Saturday, but unless these people go to the polls on the midterm elections, the protests will be all for naught.

We cannot allow our country to become a dictatorship, so hopefully the polls will have a record turnout once the midterm elections commence. It's up to us.

From Liz Brown, in Simi Valley, California

Right wing Republicans are election deniers: Vote Blue!

Election denier right wing Republicans are being sold a "pig in a poke". 

"Something that is bought or accepted without knowing its value or seeing it first. i.e., 'the unwary were apt to buy a pig in the poke'."

To the editor: If you’re one of the millions of Americans who believes the 2020 presidential election was stolen, I’ve got bad news for you — former guy Trump has played you for a fool.

As Jackie Calmes notes in her excellent column, the House January 6th committee has provided an overview of the many ways in which Trump tried to cheat his way into remaining in power after losing the election. After repeatedly failing to win election challenges in courts, Trump motivated his followers to storm the U.S. Capitol by telling them the election was stolen even though he had no credible evidence of fraud.

There is a failure here, and it’s not the committee’s. It’s the failure of many Americans to grasp the seriousness of Trump’s malfeasance — malfeasance that is damaging our democracy by eroding the trust that Americans have had in one another.

And, it’s this trust that has provided America with peaceful transfers of power for the 220 years prior to 2021.

From David Michels, Encino, California

Trump supporters as fools

To the editor: There will not be closure on insurrection until Trump is arrested, convicted and incarcerated for committing seditious conspiracy. What he has done is indefensible. Rioter Ashli Babbitt and the police officers who died during the attack or in the aftermath would be alive today but for Trump’s behavior.

The House January 6th committee has done a remarkable job proving its case, but the Republican Party needs to acknowledge the error of its ways and support the Department of Justice as it investigates and possibly prosecutes Trump.

For now, it is up to the American people to vote Republicans out of office so a Trump-style insurrection never happens again.

From Craig Simmons, Northridge, Los Angeles, California

#VoteBlue  #VoteDemocrat