By Pious Ali
On June 14, at historic Lincoln Park in Portland, Maine, I stood in community with many others who came together not just to protest power but to reimagine it.
At a rally with the theme “No Kings,” we raised our voices to reject authoritarianism and to remind ourselves and those in power that the United States was never meant to be ruled by one person, one party, or one ideology.
In this country, we have a presidency, not a monarchy. And yet, in recent years, we have witnessed democratic norms being tested and stretched by movements that aim to centralize power, silence dissent, and erase entire communities.
This is not just political disagreement. It is a threat.
In this version of America, immigrants are detained and deported without due process. Families are separated. LGBTQ+ people are targeted by laws designed to erase their rights. Protest is criminalized. Voting rights, especially for Native and Black communities, are constantly under assault.
This is about more than one individual. It is about a dangerous cultural shift where freedom is interpreted as the right to dominate and patriotism is mistaken for unquestioning loyalty
We must respond. And simply resisting is not enough.
We must commit to building a better version of democracy. One that does more than survive political storms. One that grows stronger because people care enough to improve it. A democracy where everyone belongs, and no one is left behind.
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That includes Native Americans, the original stewards of this land, whose sovereignty continues to be undermined and whose communities still face displacement and chronic underinvestment.
It includes African Americans, whose forced labor helped build the nation and who still face systemic inequities in education, housing, voting rights, and safety.
It includes immigrants, who contribute in every sector yet are often treated with suspicion and denied the dignity they deserve.
It includes LGBTQ+ people, especially trans youth, who are being targeted by a rising wave of legislation that denies their basic humanity.
The question we must ask is not just what we are against. We must also ask what kind of country we are willing to stand up for.
If you hold any form of privilege: citizenship, education, income, racial identity, or political access, this is the moment to use it.
Use it to speak out against injustice in your workplace, your place of worship, your neighborhood, and your own family.
Use it to support and protect those most impacted by harmful policies.
Use it to lift up the voices of people who have been pushed aside. And be willing to step back when others need to lead.
Democracy is not something we watch from the sidelines. It is something we practice together. It is imperfect, challenging, and deeply collective. It needs more than frustration. It needs commitment and courage.
Freedom is not limited. It grows stronger when it is shared.
When Native rights are honored, when Black communities are safe, when immigrants are included, and when LGBTQ+ people are protected, we all benefit. Justice is not a zero-sum game. It is expansive by nature.
“No Kings” is not just a chant. It is a declaration that we will not allow fear to dictate leadership. We will not accept authoritarianism hidden beneath patriotic slogans. We still believe in a multiracial and inclusive democracy, even if it has not yet fully arrived.
Real power does not live in the White House.
It lives in the people.
It lives in communities.
It lives in our shared belief that something better is possible.
Let us stay visible. Let us stay courageous. Let us stay engaged.
We are not only protecting democracy. We are transforming it into something worthy of us all.
