Katie Bethell writes:
Recently, I had the honor of standing shoulder to shoulder with 200,000 protestors at the flagship No Kings rally in St. Paul, Minnesota. I asked the audience: What do we do when they attack our neighbors? What do we do when they try to steal the election? What do we do when they declare forever wars? The answer came roaring back to me from the crowd: WE SHOW UP. I’m still carrying that energy with me.
Across more than 3,300 communities, more than 7 million people showed up—some for the very first time—to say, clearly and collectively: Our democracy belongs to all of us. Not to kings. Not to authoritarians. To the people.
And it happened only because of supporters like you. Watch a brief recap of that historic day by clicking here.
You are one of MoveOn’s dedicated donors, and your support has been instrumental in powering the No Kings mobilizations and all of our days of action. Nationwide mobilization doesn't happen by accident; it requires resources, coordination, training, and sustained organizing. Because of your contributions, we were able to train volunteers, organize rallies, create protest signs, galvanize significant media attention, and bring millions of people together to take action.
There is something profoundly moving about being in a crowd where everyone understands what’s at stake. I met people who had driven hours to attend their first protest. I saw families with kids on their shoulders, elders who have been marching for decades, and so many handmade signs filled with humor, truth, and determination.
Moments like these remind me why I’ve spent more than two decades organizing. Protesting isn’t just about making noise—it’s about building power. It’s about reminding our leaders that they are accountable to us. And it’s about transforming feelings like fear, anger, and isolation into collective action and hope. They turn concern into action. And they build the kind of community and momentum that can carry us forward for the long haul.
I also want to say a heartfelt thank-you for posting and sharing your photos from the weekend. Seeing these moments through your eyes—your communities, your creativity, your courage—means so much. These images tell the story of a movement that is growing, joyful, and unstoppable.
I’ve been sharing many of those moments across my social channels—and it’s been incredible to see how quickly this community is growing. If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to follow along there: Instagram, Facebook, Threads, BlueSky, X. It’s one of the best ways to see more photos from the No Kings events and stay part of this momentum.
I’m deeply grateful to be in this work with you. Together, we showed what’s possible when millions of people come together. And with your support, we’ll keep building the movement our democracy needs.
Thank you for everything you make possible.
Katie Bethell
Executive Director of MoveOn
