Peter Espeut | Those ‘No Kings’ marches

Last Saturday will probably go down as the largest day of peaceful protest in the 250-year history of the United States of America (USA). Organisers said nearly seven million people – much more than twice the population of Jamaica – turned out at more than 2,700 “No Kings” protests in cities and towns in all 50 states across the USA. This represents about two per cent of the total population of the USA, and more than seven percent of Americans over 18 years old. Amazing!

The Jamaican equivalent would be over 155,000 adults turning out to protest – enough to fill the National Stadium just under four-and-a-half times over!

The turnout last Saturday was two million more than the five million that turned out on President Trump’s birthday four months ago (on June 14) for the same purpose: to express profound disapproval with his dictatorial and undemocratic approach to governance.

I wonder how many will turn out for round three?

The basic point of the “No Kings” protest is that the USA is not a monarchy, but a democracy headed by an elected president. Parliaments (Houses of Representatives) guided by constitutions make laws which determine how a country is run. Kings rule by decree. King Charles III of the United Kingdom – a genuine King – cannot decree that a government department be abolished, or that development aid to nations or NGOs be halted, or that the British Army march on Liverpool or Birmingham, or that those who criticize him be arrested.

EXPANDED THE SCOPE

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has expanded the scope of presidential power, using executive orders to dismantle parts of the federal government and to deploy National Guard troops to US cities despite objections by state governors. He has also called on the administration’s top law enforcement officials to prosecute his perceived enemies.

What can go so?

It is said that following the nationwide ‘No Kings’ rallies, Donald Trump mocked protesters by posting AI-generated images and videos portraying him as a crowned king on his personal, official, and affiliated social media accounts. The claim is that Trump posted videos on Truth Social showing himself wearing a crown, flying a “KING TRUMP” jet and dropping brown liquid on crowds. Furthermore, the official White House account posted an image of Trump and Vice President JD Vance wearing crowns. Google them, and take a look!

At least he is honest and truthful!

What are the facts? Since becoming President in January this year, Trump has issued 210 executive orders (in less than 10 months), or about 20/month – an average of about one per working day.

President Biden issued 162 executive orders in four years, or an average of 40/year or much less than one per week. President Obama issued 277 in eight years, or on average 35/year – even less than Biden.

It seems that several of Trump’s executive orders may be unconstitutional; court orders have halted the execution of several of them. The courts seem to be the last bulwark against dictatorship. In the US system it is the President who nominates the judges on the US Supreme Court. This is not a good system. In Jamaica the Prime Minister names the Chief Justice. That is not good either. We must change that.

BE VERY CAREFUL

Jamaica seeks to do away with the British monarchy to become a republic; but for God’s sake, let us avoid at all costs the kind of republic that the USA has turned out to be. We must be very careful not to swap one type of monarch for another. Quite frankly, that is what the mock Constitutional Reform Committee set up under the previous administration was trying to do.

We Jamaicans need to take a leaf out of the book being written by civil society in the USA, and make our voices heard loudly, and in no uncertain terms: We really want to do away with the monarchy! “No Kings”! Of any sort!

Donald Trump was elected (for the second time) as President of the USA less than a year ago, with 49.8 per cent of the popular vote. Separate polls by Reuters/Ipsos and the Pew Research Centre find that only 40 per cent approve of Trump’s performance as president – a loss of about 20 per cent of his support in just less than a year – while 58 per cent disapprove; Gallup has it as 40 percent approve to 56 per cent disapprove.

Just because someone recently wins an election does not mean that – months later – they enjoy majority support. Plus, there are many ways to win an election – cunning ways for politicians to market themselves.

In New York on Saturday, sections of the huge crowd regularly erupted into chants of “This is what democracy looks like” as a near-constant drumbeat boomed in the background. What does democracy in Jamaica look like?

Speaking to the crowd in Washington DC, Vermont (Independent) Senator Bernie Sanders said “We’re not here because we hate America, we’re here because we love America”.

Many of us love Jamaica, and want the very best for this land and her people: sustainable development, schools that work, accountability in governance, participatory democracy, a genuine improvement in the standard of living, an end to corruption and waste.

Is that where we are heading?

If it looks like the plan is to increase and concentrate power in a few self-interested hands, and we are about to crown another King, what say you?

Peter Espeut is a sociologist and development scientist. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com