The Struggle for the Soul of America: After No Kings 3, What’s Next?

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Author: Bruce Berlin

No Kings 3 was probably the biggest, single day protest in the history of our country.[1] The Movement to save our floundering democracy from Donald Trump and his corrupt, criminal regime is strong and growing. The bigger and mightier it becomes, the better are our chances of prevailing in the struggle for the soul of America.

We all know that marches and rallies alone will not prevent Trump from establishing an American autocracy. That’s why the organizers of No Kings are now calling for a national strike on May 1, International Workers’ Day. They are urging all Americans to refrain from going to work or school or doing any shopping on May Day. If we can shut down the economy, Trump will no longer be able to maintain his autocratic control over the nation. His corporate sponsors will abandon him as will many of his billionaire supporters. And the weight of an economic collapse will sweep him and his sycophants from office.

Of course, a one-day strike will not be enough. But it will demonstrate the power of the people and our ability to obstruct the engines of profit that sustain the current administration’s agenda. At the same time, it will highlight the American people’s demands for a government that invests in healthcare, housing, and schools rather than war, blockades, and the intimidation of immigrants.[2]

A significant section of the labor movement’s rank-and-file has already gotten behind this May 1 action. The National Education Association (NEA), representing millions of educators, has released a “May Day Strong” toolkit, urging its members to go to the streets under the slogan “Workers Over Billionaires.” Other unions and labor groups that have signed on or are mobilizing members include the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE). the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), Starbucks Workers United and dozens of local labor councils, from the North Carolina AFL-CIO to the Milwaukee Labor Council and UFCW Local 3000.[3]

While it’s unlikely that the May Day strike will convince Trump to change course, a large nationwide work stoppage will disrupt his march toward authoritarianism as he loses much of whatever support he still has. In addition, it will encourage Americans to engage in an ongoing boycott of his corporate backers, join the next strike, which is sure to follow, and, come November, vote against the elected officials who continue to support him.

Time and again, mass movements have altered the course of history. The labor, civil rights, and women’s movements are prime examples.[4] We need to urge as many people as we can to join the May 1 national strike, and, once more, make history.

Bruce Berlin, JD

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), and his new memoir, From Camden to Kathmandu. (See bruceberlinauthor.com) He is the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at bruceberlin45@gmail.com. Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/28/no-kings-protests-trump#:~:text=Saturday’s%20protest%20was%20the%20third,drew%207%20million%20people%20nationwide.

[2] https://peoplesworld.org/article/next-up-after-no-kings-a-may-day-general-strike/

[3] Ibid.

[4] https://www.crmvet.org/comm/lbruce.htm

The Struggle for the Soul of America: These are the Times That Try Our Souls

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Author: Bruce Berlin

In December of 1776, in the midst of the American Revolutionary War, Thomas Paine famously wrote: “These are the times that try men’s souls.”[1]

Today, we are again in such a time.

Then, Americans were fighting for their independence from a foreign sovereign, the King of England. Now, we are struggling for our freedom from a domestic would-be king, Donald Trump.

Most Americans are familiar with at least some of the very long list of the president’s outrageous, corrupt, often criminal efforts to enrich himself and his family, dismantle the government, overthrow our democracy and establish an autocracy with Trump as the country’s supreme leader. While practically all the Democrats have been opposing many of his authoritarian initiatives over the past year, only a few Republicans have dared to resist Trump to various degrees.

Recently, however, more Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), have publicly objected to a few of Trump’s outlandish proposals. This past week, for example, Thume and other Congressional Republicans rejected Trump’s call to nationalize elections in at least 12 states,[2] undoubtedly all blue states.

While greater Republican opposition to Trump would help bring him down, the truth of the matter is that only the American people en masse can rid our nation of the grifter-in-chief now occupying the White House. If a three-time Trump voter can finally see this president for whom he truly is, and apologize for “supporting this rotten, rotten man,”[3] then there is still hope that we, the people will prevail over this poor excuse for a president. Still, the question is: Will enough of us rise to the challenge before it’s too late? Clearly time in running out.

But, as much as this is a question of Americans’ determination and courage, it is also one for soulful reflection. All of us must go deep inside and examine who we really are at our core and what we want for our country. Do we truly believe in, as Lincoln proclaimed at Gettysburg, “government of the people, by the people, (and) for the people”?

In addition to taking the time to march in the next No Kings protest on March 28^th, are we willing to sacrifice our modern conveniences and boycott Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and the multitude of corporate vendors that have bowed down to Trump, in order to pressure them to support American democracy rather than Trump’s corrupt, self-serving regime?

Summoning all Americans to join in a national boycott of these corporate giants, NYU Professor of Marketing Scott Galloway explained:

…we must recognize that the president is unfazed by citizen outrage, the courts, or the media. He responds to one thing: the market. The most potent weapon to resist the administration is a targeted, month-long national economic strike — a coordinated campaign that attacks tech companies and firms enabling ICE — to inflict maximum damage with minimal impact on consumers. In sum, the shortest path to change without hurting consumers is an economic strike targeted at the companies driving the markets and enabling our president.

Professor Galloway has already begun a month-long national boycott of these major companies that are enabling the Trump regime. Check out https://www.resistandunsubscribe.com/.

Some argue that an economic boycott would be more effective if it targeted just one company at first to demonstrate the power of the people. And that we then build toward a general strike as we are successful in pressuring that corporation to abandon Trump and, instead, work to strengthen our democracy. In fact, that may be a better way to involve more people and have a greater impact.

In any event, if enough of us engage in some form of an economic strike, we, the people could turn our nation away from authoritarianism and back toward democracy. Discuss this with your friends and family. And go deep within.

What is your heart and soul calling you to do at this critical moment in our history?

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://ushistory.org/paine/crisis/c-01.htm

[2] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republicans-reject-trump-s-controversial-call-to-nationalize-voting-democrats-would-go-crazy/ar-AA1VBnFA

[3] https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-voters-regret

The Struggle for the Soul of America: The Economic Boycott Beginning on Black Friday Is a Big Step Toward Saving Our Democracy

Posted on November 22, 2025 by Author: Bruce Berlin

The Day after Thanksgiving the pro-democracy movement will launch an economic boycott against three major corporations that support the Trump regime. Led by Black Voters Matter, Until Freedom, and Indivisible, “We Ain’t Buying it” is calling on consumers from around the country to boycott Target, Amazon, and Home Depot from Black Friday, Nov. 28, through Cyber Monday, Dec. 1.[1]

According to its website (https://weaintbuyingit.com/), the boycott is “an economic action and solidarity campaign designed to defend democracy and reclaim community power. We’re asking Americans to hit pause on shopping from major corporations that have caved to the administration’s policies.”[2]

I strongly support this and urge everyone to do so as well.

Boycotts are a powerful tool, protected by the First Amendment, for changing public policy and corporate behavior. Throughout U.S. history, people have used their purchasing power, alongside their rights to free speech and assembly, to organize and promote economic boycotts.

One of the most famous boycotts is the Montgomery Bus boycott. In 1955, Montgomery, Alabama, required Black bus riders to sit in the back and give up their seats to white passengers. On December 1^st of that year, Rosa Parks, a Black woman and NAACP secretary, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. Nearly 90% of Black residents participated in a one-day bus boycott on Dec. 5^th. During the next year, Blacks continued to boycott the city buses. More than 80 organizers, including Martin Luther King, Jr. were arrested. In November 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court found that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional, forcing Montgomery to end bus segregation. The boycott’s success was a giant step forward in the Civil Rights movement.[3]

Another successful boycott helped California farmworkers obtain better wages and working conditions.[4] And, a global boycott of Nestle’s, resulted in the regulation of its baby formula to protect the health of infants.[5]

Now it’s our turn to change the course of history. The overall goal of the forthcoming boycott is to stop these three giant companies’ support of Trump’s corrupt, autocratic regime.

Specifically, the boycott of Target will focus on its caving to the Trump administration’s biased attacks on DEI hiring policies (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). The boycott will call for Target to reinstate its DEI policies.

The Home Depot boycott will aim to highlight and stop the corporation’s collusion with ICE in the kidnapping of immigrants on their properties.

Likewise, the Amazon boycott will shine a light on its financial support of this administration in return for corporate tax cuts. The boycott will call for ending this corrupt practice.

These boycotts are just the beginning. They will continue and grow until their goals are achieved. And, it is up to us, the American people, to make sure that they do succeed. I urge you to spread the word. Contact everyone you know, and then some. Do whatever you can to get your family, friends and neighbors to participate in these boycotts.

It’s time to actively resist Trump and his corrupt, autocratic regime. Together, We Shall Overcome.

For more information, go to https://weaintbuyingit.com/#about.

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), and his new memoir, From Camden to Kathmandu. He is the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com. Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/

[1] https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/we-ain-t-buying-it-anti-trump-groups-call-on-economic-boycott-ahead-of-thanksgiving-weekend/ar-AA1QejXs?ocid=BingNewsSerp

[2] https://weaintbuyingit.com/#about

[3] https://www.freedomforum.org/famous-boycotts/

[4] Ibid.

[5] file:///Users/Mac/Library/CloudStorage/OneDrive-Personal/Desktop/Wattana%20senior%20essay%202016.pdf