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
Breaking Big Money's Grip on America 