NO KINGS 3.0 Rally in Lawrence, KS
3 – 5pm, Watson Park, West 6th Street & Kentucky
After the NO KINGS rally in Topeka join together with your neighbors here in Lawrence and line the streets from all directions starting at Watson Park (Train Park).
From the Lawrence rally organizers-
“Freedom is never guaranteed; it erodes when good people stay silent, making us the antidote to blind obedience and the remnant that remembers humans were born to rule themselves.
These gatherings are for those who believe personal freedom matters more than top-down control. We come together to openly challenge systems that demand compliance over critical thinking.
This is a non-violent event, and ALL attendees enter into an unwritten agreement to be non-violent throughout the event and/or while connected to the event or associated in any way.
You may want to arrive early, as last year’s event in October had 8,600+ people in attendance, so parking becomes limited!
Make sure that those who need seating bring their own and that everything brought in is taken back out! Thank you!”
The Persisters singing group, will be performing in the Watson Park gazebo.
The organizers would like this rally to be about visibility. They would like us to line up where cars can see each of us. Even if that means stretching all the way to Iowa St. or over the bridge to I-70. The rally marshals will be in fluorescent vests to show attendees where to spread out.
Everyone will be encouraged to keep the sidewalks clear so that people can get through.
There is still a need for marshals and crowd counters. Please reply to this post to be connected to the organizers.
Lawrence is a great community, and one of the things that makes it strong is that people care enough to show up, speak out, and participate. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right, and it’s encouraging to see organizers emphasizing non-violence.
I find myself wondering what messages people may be hearing that lead them to believe we have a “king.” That simply isn’t true under our system of government, and it’s unfortunate if some coverage or commentary gives that impression. It also raises a broader question about how media—national and local—chooses to frame and emphasize certain narratives, and why these “No Kings” rallies receive so much attention. It’s a good reminder for all of us to seek out multiple sources and perspectives before forming conclusions.
It’s also important to keep perspective about how our system actually works. We don’t live under a king—we live in a constitutional republic with built-in checks and balances, specifically designed so that no single person or group holds power for long without accountability.
- The president serves a four-year term.
- Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are elected every two years, meaning the entire House is regularly up for reelection.
- U.S. Senators serve six-year terms, with elections staggered so that about one-third of the Senate is on the ballot every two years.
This constant cycle of elections ensures that government is continually subject to the will of voters over time. In addition, courts can review actions, Congress can pass or block legislation, and state and local governments maintain their own authority. These overlapping layers help prevent any one branch or individual from having unchecked power.
At the local level, it’s worth asking how we can best use our time and energy to strengthen our community in practical, lasting ways:
- Helping someone get a driver’s license or proper identification
- Assisting with voter registration and encouraging people to register to vote
- Supporting job placement and employment opportunities
- Connecting people with housing resources
These are the kinds of efforts that make a real difference in people’s day-to-day lives.
In that same spirit, if the goal is to reduce the role of immigration enforcement in our neighborhoods, one of the most constructive approaches is to help immigrant friends and neighbors navigate the system successfully:
- Connect them with trusted local resources
- Help them find and understand the correct official websites and processes
- Support them in getting their documentation and paperwork in order
When families are fully documented and following the legal process, enforcement becomes far less relevant in their daily lives. In that sense, one of the most effective ways to make agencies like ICE unnecessary in our local community is to come alongside people and help them get everything in place the right way.
Peaceful gatherings can raise awareness, but it’s reasonable to ask what outcomes they lead to. Standing on a corner asking for honks may bring visibility, but long-term community progress often comes from rolling up our sleeves and working together in ways that directly help our neighbors.
We can disagree on policies, priorities, and leadership, but we should be careful about language that suggests we’ve lost our system of self-government. That kind of framing can deepen division rather than encourage thoughtful, productive conversation.
Lawrence has always been at its best when people engage respectfully, listen to each other, and remember that we’re all part of the same community.
Here’s another idea for the City of Lawrence to consider—one that builds on the same energy and passion people are already showing:
What if, alongside or instead of a “No Kings” rally, we created a community action event focused on helping our neighbors in practical, lasting ways?
Lawrence is full of people who care deeply. If we channel that energy into hands-on support, we could make a real difference right here at home.
One of the most impactful things we can do is help people fully participate in our system. Imagine booths focused on civic education, where people can learn:
- When and how to vote in local, state, and national elections
- What different offices do and how they impact daily life
- How regular election cycles work and why they matter
- How those regular elections help maintain balance over time
Alongside that, the event could include simple, accessible booths where people can:
- Get help obtaining a driver’s license or proper identification
- Register to vote or check their voter status
- Connect with local employers or job placement resources
- Learn about housing assistance programs
- Get guidance on navigating paperwork and important documentation
We could also expand that into broader community support:
- Financial literacy and budgeting help
- Small business and entrepreneurship resources
- Volunteer sign-ups for local service projects
- Health screenings or connections to affordable care
- Tutoring or educational resources for kids
- Neighborhood clean-up and beautification opportunities
- Connections to local nonprofits offering ongoing support
Instead of standing on a corner asking for honks as cars drive by, this approach gives people a chance to take real, positive action—helping neighbors, solving problems, and making a lasting difference.
These are the kinds of efforts that bring people together—Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike—because they focus on strengthening the community we all share.
If we’re looking for a name that reflects that positive, forward-looking spirit, a few ideas could be:
- “Lawrence Community Action Day”
- “Stronger Together Lawrence”
- “Lawrence Community Solutions Rally”
The goal isn’t to take anything away from people’s right to protest—it’s to offer a path that builds on that same motivation and turns it into something tangible and lasting.
Lawrence has always been a place where people show up for one another. This could be an opportunity to take that one step further—not just showing up, but building up our community together.