How to Talk About "No Kings" with Folks on the Right
Conversations now can reframe and clarify the protests' purpose in the face of propaganda and misinformation.
I’m enjoying writing this new “How to Talk About…” series, but as I’ve said before, the challenge is choosing a topic each week when A) we continually have new fears and outrages and what feel like democracy emergencies, and B) they often blur and meld together; connecting, informing, deriving from each other. (Charlie Kirk’s murder -> Jimmy Kimmel -> free speech; The Shutdown -> healthcare costs, etc.)
Right now, how we talk about this weekend’s No Kings marches and rallies with Trump voters may not, on the surface, feel like the heaviest issue of the moment (as ICE and CBP harass citizens in Portland and Chicago), but as I noted above, these things all feed into one another. I do feel this week, ahead of Saturday’s events, is a good time to talk with Trump supporters about what these rallies, marches, protests, and actions are and are not, starting, as always with getting the other person’s take on the issue first.
In the past, I’ve always been a writer/talker, not much of an activist/marcher/protester, but I attended the June No Kings in downtown Chicago, and found it to be an exciting, empowering, inspiring, and motivating experience.
To me, marches like this serve a number of purposes parallel to Smart Politics’ persuasion and conversation goals:
They build community, lower feelings of isolation and hopelessness and despair
Especially in smaller rural areas and Red States, they tell folks on the Left and Blue Dots that they are not alone in their mostly-red communities
On the national media level, they make a news splash and help support the wider narrative of a loud and growing portion of the nation that will not put up with and go gently into authoritarian fascism, brutality, suppression, corruption, and cruelty
In response, the Trump Administration and GOP are working overtime in the Messaging Mines to preemptively frame this weekend’s No Kings events as “Antifa Pro-Hamas Hardcore Extreme Left Terrorist Hate America Soros-Funded Rallies of Professional Paid Actors.” This plays directly into Trump and Miller’s salivating for an excuse to label all Democrats, leftists, progressives, and protesters as dangerous “terrorists,” enact the Insurrection Act, and turn ICE and the military loose on them.
Which is why I’m concerned Trump, Miller, and Noem aren’t just smearing the No Kings protests as Antifa Hate-America Fests, but hoping for violence at the rallies to create “incidents” they can plaster all over the media to justify sending in the troops. This is what ICE has been trying to do every day in Chicago and Portland, fortunately to no avail so far. (Thank you, Portland’s Giant Inflatable Peace Frog and Friends!)
So, a reminder (one I’m sure we’ll hear from every local No Kings organizer and safety coordinator) to stay peaceful and positive when possible, don’t be goaded into reactance by ICE and other agitators, and to keep an eye out in the crowds for instigators with questionable motives who may try to commit acts of violence (like throwing stuff) and rile up the crowd.
Whatever “Hate America” fear-mongering messaging the GOP is spreading this week, I want to be clear that non-violent protesting is important, powerful, and empowering, and I encourage any and all of you who are able to participate in a No Kings rally this Saturday.
Find an event near you: https://www.nokings.org/#map
It is my deepest hope that, as in June, everything this Saturday goes smoothly and peacefully with no major incidents or violence. But God forbid something does happen, it helps if we’ve already started having conversations ahead of time with folks about the No Kings message and intent.
Friends, family, loved ones, and neighbors on the Right, who may have voted for Trump, or are part of the disengaged, uncommitted middle might have pre-existing dismissive or disapproving attitudes toward marching and protesting. And to the extent they pay attention to progressive activism, they’re now being fed disinformation about No Kings’ nature via the GOP, Fox News, or social media.
So, let’s talk about it with those folks about No Kings prior to Saturday. Let’s correct the GOP lies and framing and share who we are, who we aren’t, and why we’re participating.
By now you probably know the drill, but if you’re new to Smart Politics, first, welcome in! Second, check out some of our past articles that explain why we believe in political persuasion and how we go about it:
Don’t start with…
As we always say, these may be the first, most passionate things on our minds, but we’re not having this conversation initially to share what we think—we want to find out what they think. We may get to these points eventually, but the start of the conversation isn’t the best time.
Take those heated first reactions in our minds—the things animating and upsetting us—and set them back until we’ve heard what the other person has to say and have built that all-important connection and trust.
Telling them what No Kings is or isn’t
Let them tell you what they think first; find out where they’re at. It’s important to hear their honest understanding and characterization of the marches, even if we disagree, even if we know it’s not accurate.
Complaining about GOP and Right-wing-media lies and propaganda
It’s easy and understandable to want to first firmly push back against the “hardcore Antifa America-Haters Club” accusations but hold back until you’ve let the other person share their views.
Insisting protesters aren’t paid and Antifa is an idea and movement, not a terrorist organization
If we ever struggle to hold our tongues early on when our emotional buttons get pushed, we should remind ourselves that our sputtering, incensed outrage is what the GOP wants. Yes, they lie about it to their followers, but they also want us progressives constantly running in circles, blinded by fear and frustration, trying in vain to counter all their lies, to put out all their messaging fires. Don’t give them what they want. Don’t chase the squirrels. (Do mix your metaphors.)
Do start with…
How do you feel about the No Kings events coming up this Saturday?
As always, listen calmly and patiently to all their answers. Reflect what you hear. Validate their emotions and agree with any shared values or common ground. Follow-up with sincere, curious questions that continue to help you better understand where they’re coming from and most importantly, the emotions behind their takes.
What do you feel is the point or purpose of these No Kings rallies? What are they trying to do?
Let them explain their understanding of the protests. They may genuinely understand the core messages, even if they don’t agree with them or think they’re silly or misguided. Or they may have distorted, misinformed perceptions. Either way, we’re learning where they’re at and opening the door for us to later share our reasons for marching.
Do you have any thoughts or concerns about how these nation-wide rallies are organized and funded?
Again, they might reply with conspiracy theories about shadowy anti-American organizations or individuals, but any information on what they believe helps us better understand. This is also an opportunity to validate and agree that yes, large nation-wide protests like this are planned and organized and staffed by numerous groups, primarily Indivisible—logistically they have to be. It’s just not as nefarious and clandestine as Trump and the GOP would have us believe.
Did you follow or hear about any of the No Kings marches in June of this year?
Obviously, since Trump took office, there have been two other major nation-wide days of protest—”Hands Off” in April and the first “No Kings” in June. (And countless smaller, weekly actions.) Asking the other person their awareness of and reaction to those previous marches can help them put Saturday’s protest in a more accurate context.
Who do you feel attends marches and protests like this one?
Again, if they have a negative perception of this activism, let them get any stereotypes or digs in. (“Whackos, crazy leftists, Antifa terrorists, clueless white liberals.”) Or maybe they have a more positive, charitable view of the attendees—they may simply see them concerned citizens, even if they disagree with those concerns or feel they’re misguided. Remember, we’re sitting there in front of them as an example of who may attend this Saturday’s march—our presence and willingness to listen says as much as our words.
Would you ever attend any sort of march or protest for something you believed in?
What would be an issue or cause you might protest about?
Are they someone comfortable with activism (from their side), or are they not the kind of person who sees themselves doing this sort of thing? If they share what might move them to march and protest (from the Right or Middle), we can build a connection with them—we’re both passionate about how we’d like to improve things and are willing to go out and march to raise awareness and voice our concerns.
Finally…
Only after we’ve listened and built that trust and connection should we offer up our reasons for participating in No Kings events.
“I really appreciate you sharing your take on these protests. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to tell you how I feel about No Kings, my experiences with past protests, and why I’m planning to march this Saturday or support those who do.”
We can share the wide variety of types of folks we’ve seen at protests and marches. If we’ve participated before, we can share how the experience was positive and peaceful. Share why we act and why we think its important.
At worst, they may think we’re deluded and ineffectual. Or they may feel our activism is performative or virtue signaling. That’s okay—that’s better than being dangerously misinformed that we’re a threat, or that we hate America or are secret Leftist extremists.
The Antifa / Terrorism Issue
I’ll likely write an entire upcoming “How to Talk About” piece on The Whole Antifa Thing, but if it comes up this week in our discussions around No Kings (which is likely), we should be prepared to follow up with similar questions about their thoughts and feelings about “antifa” and who and what they think it is.
When appropriate, gently share what “being antifa” means to you and your experienced reality with it and these protests. I personally like to explain “antifa” as like being a “punk rocker” or “heavy metal head” or “country music fan”: It can be ideological; an attitude, philosophy, or core belief. It can be a movement or an identity. It can even be a community. But what it’s not is any sort of central, organized, sinister, subversive, organization. It’s just folks who want a better, more progressive future for our country.
Who may or may not be wearing giant inflatable frog suits.
What is the Smart Politics Way?
Smart Politics encourages and teaches progressives to have more productive conversations with Trump voters. We believe the most effective actions for achieving short- and long-term progressive goals involve talking one-on-one with and listening compassionately and constructively to folks with different opinions.
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Locke Peterseim is the Smart Politics Content Manager.