To the editor:

On June 14th the nation will be subjected to the spectacle of a military parade the likes of which we generally do not have in our country, and to make matters worse, the chief executive of our country wants us to celebrate his birthday on that day.

Fortunately, on that day Americans of all stripes, colors, ages, genders, sexual orientation and the many other categories we fall into, will be celebrating in over 1,600 rallies all over America, celebrating 250 years of our democracy. Our day of celebration is called No Kings Day. 

And why is it called No Kings Day? The answer lies in our Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson and signed by 56 delegates to the Continental Congress. Rhode Island had already severed ties with England by declaring its independence on May 4, 1776; nonetheless, our state was represented on the Declaration of Independence by signers Stephen Hopkins and William Ellery.

Included in the Declaration was a Bill of Grievances which is a long list of grievances against King George. The signs that will be at the June 14th rally will serve as our long list of grievances about the current administration running our country; the signs will be held by ordinary Americans like the ones Patrick Henry referred to in his much beloved document The Crisis:

“These are the times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

On June 14th we will see all over our country citizens standing up to say YES to democracy and NO to kings!

Carol Anderheggen

Islanders for Democracy

Portsmouth