The Right and Wrong Way to Protest, Troubling signs

The Right and Wrong Way to Protest, Troubling signs 

By Curtis Anthony Neil. March 30, 2026  

 

There is a right way and a wrong way to protest in America. 

The right way respects the First Amendment: open, unmasked faces on sidewalks, spaced responsibly, with clear messages and no disruption to public streets, businesses, or daily life. It persuades through dignity and accountability rather than coercion. 

 

The wrong way crosses into infringement and lawlessness: blocking roads, surrounding or attacking vehicles, throwing objects at officers, looting, arson, or vandalism. These actions violate others’ rights to free movement, safety, and livelihood — and they are not protected speech. We saw both patterns again this past weekend during the latest nationally coordinated “No Kings” actions on March 28, 2026. Many daytime gatherings stayed calm, with participants expressing genuine frustration.   

 

However, videos and reports from multiple cities showed the familiar escalation: crowds blocking public roads, surrounding cars trying to pass (with at least one incident appearing to involve a person being struck while obstructing), throwing rocks, concrete, bottles, and other objects at law enforcement, and creating dangerous confrontations that endangered protesters and bystanders alike.  

 

These tactics do not advance any legitimate cause. They erode public support and reveal that some participants treat public space as their personal domain to control.Troubling Timing and OpticsEven more concerning was the deliberate scheduling of a massive “No Kings Day” on the eve of Palm Sunday (March 29) and the beginning of Holy Week, leading into Easter. 

This timing also overlapped with Passover observances for the Jewish community.  

 

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem — crowds waving palm branches, shouting “Hosanna,” and publicly declaring Him King. It was a humble yet bold challenge to earthly powers, pointing to a higher Kingdom. For Christians, “Christ is King” is not political rhetoric; it is a confession of ultimate allegiance. Proclaiming “No Kings” in blanket political fashion, right on the doorstep of this sacred weekend, carries very poor optics. 

 

To many believers, it can sound less like targeted resistance to one administration and more like a broader rejection of any king at all — including the One millions of Americans confess as the King of Kings.  

 

Some progressive faith leaders actively tried to merge the two, calling Palm Sunday “the original No Kings protest” and encouraging participants to wave palms at rallies while carrying political signs.  

 

 That fusion risks subordinating transcendent faith to partisan timing and messaging.This pattern fits a larger picture. We are seeing a growing willingness on parts of the left to push full anti-Judeo-Christian positions. In Canada, just days ago on March 25, 2026, the House of Commons passed Bill C-9 (the Combatting Hate Act) on third reading.  The bill removes key religious exemptions from hate speech provisions in the Criminal Code — a change that critics, including Catholic bishops, conservative MPs, and faith communities, warn could criminalize quoting Scripture, expressing traditional religious views on moral issues, or peaceful dissent. 

 

While framed as combating hate, many see it as another step toward institutional marginalization of Judeo-Christian beliefs and practices. The bill now moves to the Senate.The Feudal-Like Worldview Behind the ScenesThese coordinated efforts often rest on a feudal-like mindset: an elite circle that champions grand progressive causes in exchange for loyalty and deference from the “lower sorts.” In return, they offer moral signaling and targeted benefits.  This worldview has little room for an independent middle class — small business owners, farmers, entrepreneurs, and working families — who simply want to operate without constant disruption or top-down control. 

 

It also shows scant regard for the sacred rhythms and holy days of ordinary faithful communities. The long view of history is instructive. Feudal systems weakened when a self-reliant middle class rose and when people maintained higher loyalties beyond any earthly “lord.” Blanket “No Kings” slogans, especially when timed against Palm Sunday and Passover, may energize one side in the moment, but they risk alienating far more Americans than they convince.What True Protest Looks LikeTrue protest honors the First Amendment without trampling the rights — or the faith — of neighbors. It stays on sidewalks, remains accountable, and persuades through clarity and respect.  

 

 When it descends into road-blocking, vehicle confrontations, property threats, or clashes with sacred time, it reveals more about power dynamics than principle.Americans deserve better. We deserve protests that strengthen civil society rather than fracture it along lines of faith, commerce, and daily freedom.  

 

The right way builds respect. The wrong way breeds resentment and backlash. History shows which path endures.

 

 

Curtis Anthony Neil/Grok 4.0/ LibreOffice. March 29^th. 2026 AD.

Bakersfield, California, USA, North America, Planet Earth (Terra), the third planet from the Sun (Sol), Solar System, Orion Arm, Milky Way Galaxy