Veterans Lead Calls for Accountability at ‘No Kings’ Democracy Protests

It was cold in October, and the steps of the Lincoln Memorial were once again a meeting place for Americans who wanted to hold their government accountable. Before the "No Kings" protests across the country on Oct. 18, about 150 soldiers and activists got together in the nation's capital to speak out against what they see as the Trump administration's abuse of power.

Citizens' group Indivisible organized the four-hour Unite the DMV event, which brought together veterans, former government workers, and local organizers to protect democracy.

The president of Veterans for Responsible Leadership, Bobby R. Jones, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, said that his group joined because "veteran organizations must remain at the forefront of protests like the 'No Kings' rally."

Jones said that every service member swears to support and protect the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both at home and abroad. "Today we have a commander-in-chief who is clearly abusing his power and seems to want military members to forget the oath they took to protect it."

Jones said the administration was not doing a good job of addressing veterans' issues. He used hiring problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the government shutdown as examples. He said, "Many veterans feel forgotten or even worse, abandoned."

Peter Kasperowicz, a spokesman for the VA, said that the agency has "multiple safeguards in place to ensure these staff reductions do not impact veteran care or benefits."

Michael McPhearson, who is the head of Veterans for Peace, agreed with Jones. He said, "The administration is authoritarian and is moving toward being authoritarian and fascist." " The government said it would take care of veterans because they served, but it is not keeping that promise."

Jermaine Collins, a veteran of the U.S. Army and the lead for Common Defense in Washington, D.C., was among those who spoke on Friday. Collins said, "When I wore the uniform, I did so with pride." "But what I have seen going on in D.C. and other cities across the country are not in the name of freedom." This represents the gradual, deliberate dismantling of freedom.

He said the National Guard's presence in the capital was "not about security, but intimidation."

Collins said, "We do not call that freedom when the military is used against its own people." "That is what we call authoritarianism."

Over 200 partner groups, such as veteran-led groups, the League of Women Voters, and the ACLU, joined more than 200,000 people on Pennsylvania Avenue the next day for the "No Kings" march.

The protest was personal for Shawn Howard, who is a Marine veteran and the founder of American Veterans in Defense of Democracy. Howard held a sign that said, "USMC combat vet Iraq, tell me I hate America." He said he came "because our democracy is in danger."

"When Trump first came into politics, I was worried because it was clear he was not committed to our democracy or liberal ideas," Howard said. "I knew I had to fight against what was going on after January 6, 2021."

The protest was not about Jones, McPhearson, Collins, and Howard's party loyalty; it was about protecting the values they swore to support. Jones said it was a reminder that "no one, not even a commander-in-chief, is above the Constitution."