Two hundred and fifty-two years ago, a group of scrappy colonists in Boston decided they’d had enough of sipping tea at the pleasure of a distant king. On December 16, 1773, they donned disguises, stormed the docks, and chucked 342 chests of perfectly good British tea into Boston Harbor. This wasn’t a frat party gone wrong—it was the Boston Tea Party, a calculated act of rebellion that said, “No kings, no masters, no taxation without representation.” Fast forward to October 18, 2025, and Americans are dusting off that same revolutionary spirit for No Kings 2.0, a nationwide call to reject authoritarianism and reaffirm democracy. From New York City to Monowi, Nebraska (population: one, shoutout to Elsie Eiler), the cry is the same: No kings then, no kings now, no kings ever. So, lace up your comfy shoes, grab your friends, and let’s dive into the legacy of the Boston Tea Party and why its echoes are ringing louder than ever.The Original No Kings Protest: The Boston Tea PartyPicture this: it’s 1773, and the American colonies are simmering like a kettle left too long on the fire. The British Crown, in its infinite wisdom, has been taxing everything from stamps to sugar, treating the colonies like a piggy bank for imperial adventures. The Tea Act of 1773 was the final straw. It wasn’t just about tea—it was about power. The act gave the British East India Company a monopoly to sell tea in the colonies, undercutting local merchants and reminding everyone who was boss. The catch? A tax on the tea, imposed without a single colonial vote in Parliament. The colonists weren’t having it.Enter the Sons of Liberty, a ragtag crew of patriots led by firebrands like Samuel Adams (yes, the beer guy, but also a political genius). On a chilly December night, roughly 5,000 colonists packed the Old South Meeting House, buzzing with righteous indignation. Over 100 men, some disguised as Native Americans to make a point about their American identity, marched to the docks. In a display of disciplined chaos, they boarded three ships—Dartmouth, Eleanor, and Beaver—and dumped 90,000 pounds of tea into the harbor. No looting, no vandalism, just a pointed message: we don’t bow to kings, and we don’t pay for their tea.The British response? Oh, they were steamed. King George III and Parliament unleashed the Coercive Acts (or, as the colonists called them, the Intolerable Acts), slamming Boston with punishments like closing its port and suspending local governance. Instead of breaking the colonies, these acts united them. The First Continental Congress convened in 1774, and by 1776, the Declaration of Independence was calling out the Crown’s tyranny, with the Boston Tea Party as a spark that lit the revolutionary fuse. The colonists didn’t just want freedom—they demanded it, loudly, with a harbor full of soggy tea as proof.No Kings 2.0: The Spirit of 1773 Lives OnNow, let’s fast forward to 2025. The No Kings movement, set to erupt on October 18, is channeling that same defiant energy. Just as the colonists rejected a king’s overreach, today’s Americans are saying no to any whiff of authoritarianism—be it militarized governance, voter suppression, or policies that coddle billionaires while squeezing the rest of us. The parallels are striking: a government out of touch with its people, power concentrated in the hands of a few, and a growing chorus shouting, “Not on our watch.”The No Kings movement, organized by groups like the ACLU and grassroots activists (check out nokings.org), is a call to action for every American who believes power belongs to the people. On October 15, 2025, the ACLU is hosting a virtual Protest Safety, Know Your Rights, and De-Escalation Training (7 PM ET, Zoom, RSVP required—Spanish and ASL translation included). It’s a crash course in how to protest smart: stay safe, know your rights, and keep the peace, because the goal isn’t chaos—it’s democracy. The movement’s website offers resources like safety guidelines, digital security tips, and printable signs to make sure your voice is heard without stepping on anyone’s toes (or rights).October 18 is the big day, with protests planned from coast to coast. Whether you’re in a metropolis or Monowi (Elsie, we’re counting on you), the message is clear: democracy isn’t a spectator sport. It’s about showing up, speaking out, and reminding the world that America was built on the idea that no one—no one—gets to play king. The movement emphasizes nonviolence, urging participants to leave the weapons at home and focus on peaceful, lawful action. This isn’t about storming anything; it’s about standing together, from sea to shining sea, to say, “We the people are in charge.”Patriots Then, Patriots NowThe patriots of 1773 weren’t superheroes—they were ordinary people fed up with being treated like pawns. Samuel Adams was a brewer with a knack for rallying crowds. John Hancock was a merchant with a flair for dramatic signatures. The Sons of Liberty were shopkeepers, artisans, and sailors who decided their future wasn’t for sale. Their protest wasn’t just about tea; it was about dignity, self-governance, and the radical idea that a government should answer to its people.Today’s patriots are cut from the same cloth. They’re teachers, nurses, students, and that one guy in Monowi running the town’s only tavern (yes, Elsie, you’re a patriot too). They’re organizing trainings, printing signs, and spreading the word on platforms like X, where the hashtag #NoKings is picking up steam. They’re not just protesting for the sake of noise—they’re defending the core of what makes America tick: the right to have a say, to vote, to live free from the shadow of would-be kings.The Boston Tea Party wasn’t a one-off tantrum; it was a statement that rippled through history. It led to the Intolerable Acts, which led to unity, which led to revolution, which led to a nation founded on the wild idea that power comes from the people. The No Kings movement is picking up that baton, reminding us that democracy isn’t a gift—it’s a responsibility. Every protest, every vote, every voice raised in a town square or a Zoom call is a nod to those colonists who said, “Enough is enough.”Myths, Truths, and a Harbor Full of TeaLet’s clear up some myths about the Boston Tea Party, because history loves a good tall tale. No, it wasn’t about a tax hike—the Tea Act actually lowered tea prices, but the tax itself was the issue, a symbol of control without consent. No, it wasn’t a “party” in the modern sense—nobody was doing keg stands on the Dartmouth. The protest was disciplined, almost surgical, with the tea destroyed to make a point, not to pad anyone’s pockets. And no, the colonists didn’t dress as Native Americans to mock anyone—they were claiming their identity as Americans, not subjects of a distant crown.The truth? The Boston Tea Party was a masterclass in civil disobedience. It was loud, it was bold, and it was effective. It forced Britain to overplay its hand, galvanizing the colonies and setting the stage for independence. Today’s No Kings movement is taking notes, emphasizing nonviolent action, strategic messaging, and community. The ACLU’s training, for example, isn’t just about safety—it’s about empowering people to protest with purpose, to channel outrage into impact.From Boston to Everywhere: Let Freedom RingOn October 18, 2025, Americans will hit the streets, not with tea chests but with signs, songs, and a shared commitment to democracy. From the skyscrapers of New York to the prairies of Nebraska, the message will echo: no kings, no tyrants, no power without the people. This isn’t about left or right—it’s about right and wrong. It’s about rejecting the idea that any one person, party, or clique gets to call the shots without accountability.The No Kings movement isn’t just a protest; it’s a celebration of what America can be when its people stand up. It’s a reminder that the spirit of 1773 lives in every town hall, every ballot box, every voice that refuses to be silenced. So, grab your comfy shoes, call your friends, and maybe even invite Elsie from Monowi. On October 18, let’s show the world that from every mountaintop, every valley, and every harbor, America still says: No kings. Let democracy ring.For more info, visit nokings.org or RSVP for the ACLU’s training at act.aclu.org. Because 250 years ago, we didn’t want a king—and we certainly don’t want one now.
No Kings https://www.nokings.org/
No Kings https://www.nokings.org/
No Kings: Protest Safety, Know Your Rights & De-Escalation Training 10/15 https://act.aclu.org/a/no-kings-kyr-eng2
No Kings https://www.nokings.org/
Indivisible https://indivisible.org/
Big Education Ape: NO KINGS II: TRUMP - THE KING WHO CRIED "FREE SPEECH" https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/09/no-kings-ii-trump-king-who-cried-free.html
