Democracy under attack, Donald Trump, Local vigilance, No Kings!

NO KINGS DAY – March 28 in Vallejo AND Benicia!

MAKE A DAY OF IT…
The future of our Democracy is at stake!

Click here for Benicia 9am-10:30am
Click here for Vallejo 10am-Noon

NO KINGS BENICIA
Saturday, March 28, 2026
9:00 AM — 10:30 AM PDT
at the Gazebo and sidewalks
First & Military St., Benicia, CA 94510
Register HERE
BRING A SIGN, JOY, FIERCE DETERMINATION,
& LOTS OF HOPE…
The future of our Democracy is at stake!
Info about all nearby Rallies

SIGN MAKING at Benicia’s Community Congregational Church, 1305 WEST 2nd Street – Sunday March 22nd during fellowship after the 10am worship hour! Supplies will be provided and will be outside on picnic tables, weather permitting.

AFTER THE BENICIA RALLY… many will head over to the Vallejo rally (see below), and many will return for the Fiestas Primavera – Celebrating Diversity, 12pm-5pm at Benicia Gazebo Park (see the Fiestas poster here).

…Vallejo No Kings – see below

NO KINGS VALLEJO
Rally, Food Drive & March
March 28 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Unity Plaza – JFK Library | 505 Santa Clara St., Vallejo
Register HERE
Info about all nearby Rallies

Across the country, Americans are asking hard questions about the direction of our democracy.

    • When federal immigration enforcement actions expand with limited oversight…
    • When journalists face arrest or intimidation while doing their jobs…
    • When transparency around high-profile investigations raises public concern…
    • When families feel the squeeze of rising costs and economic uncertainty…

It forces us to ask: Who holds power accountable?

The founders rejected monarchy for a reason. They built a system designed to prevent concentrated, unchecked authority. “No Kings” is not a slogan — it is a reminder that in America, power flows from the people, and leaders are accountable to the Constitution.

On March 28, Vallejo joins millions nationwide for the third No Kings Day of Action.

    • Join us for:
    • Guest speakers
    • Live music
    • A community march
    • A food drive in partnership with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

Last time, more than 1,200 neighbors stood together. This time, we aim to grow even stronger.

This is about defending democratic norms, protecting a free press, demanding transparency, and ensuring that the government serves the people — not the other way around.

Bring a friend. Bring your voice. Bring shelf-stable food  (no glass) to support local families.

There are no kings here.

AFTER THE VALLEJO RALLY & MARCH… consider attending Benicia’s Fiestas Primavera – Celebrating Diversity, 12pm-5pm at Benicia Gazebo Park (see the Fiestas poster here).

REMEMBERING…

Benicia in Solidarity with Minnesota, February 2026:
Benicia’s October 2025 No Kings Rally:
Benicia’s June 2025 No Kings Rally:

In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings.

Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger. “NO KINGS” is more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. Born in the streets, carried by millions in chants and on posters, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together.

The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty. Grow our movement and join us.

A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.

More at https://www.nokings.org/
Democracy under attack, Donald Trump, Local vigilance, No Kings!

NO KINGS DAY! – Saturday, March 28, 9am – Everyone welcome!

BRING A SIGN, JOY, FIERCE DETERMINATION, & LOTS OF HOPE…
The future of our Democracy is at stake!

NO KINGS BENICIA
Saturday, March 28, 2026
9:00 AM — 10:30 AM PDT
at the Gazebo and sidewalks
First & Military St., Benicia, CA 94510
Info about Benicia & nearby Rallies

SIGN MAKING at Benicia’s Community Congregational Church, 1305 WEST 2nd Street – Sunday March 22nd during fellowship after the 10am worship hour! Supplies will be provided and will be outside on picnic tables, weather permitting.

REMEMBERING…

Benicia in Solidarity with Minnesota, February 2026:
Benicia’s October 2025 No Kings Rally:
Benicia’s June 2025 No Kings Rally:

In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings.

Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger. “NO KINGS” is more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. Born in the streets, carried by millions in chants and on posters, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together.

The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty. Grow our movement and join us.

A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.

More at https://www.nokings.org/
#belovedcommunity, #goodtrouble, #humandignity, Civil disobedience, Civil rights, Peaceful protest, Racial justice

Thank You, Rev. Jackson

“We will honor your life by taking up the work of public theology you showed us.”

Rev. William J. Barber II with Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., in the US Capitol rotunda, 2018

Our Moral Moment, by Rev. William J. Barber II, Mar 7, 2026

I am in Chicago today at the Rainbow Push Headquarters, where Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson gathered the Chicago community on Saturday mornings for decades, to pay my last respects at his final funeral service.

What do you do when a mighty servant of God has fallen? You say, “Thank you,” and you keep the work going.

Thank you, God, for creating, saving, growing, using, and lifting Rev. Jackson to be the servant he was.

Thank you, Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, for showing us what it looks like for a moral and compassionate leader to know that power should only be used to lift people up, and never to push and shoot people down.

Thank you for teaching us over and over again that the power of life and death is in the tongue.

Thank you for showing us how to take the complex policies in the political suites and make them plain for the people in the streets.

Thank you because when you saw poverty in the fields of the Midwestern farmer or the shacks of the Southern sharecropper or the slums of the city, you didn’t run a regular campaign, but dared to rally a movement vote and said boldly:

“My constituency is the damned, disinherited, disrespected, despised. They are restless and seek relief.”

Thank you, Rev. Jackson, for not only restating their discontent to let them know that someone see them, but registering their votes so they could see their own power.

Thank you, Rev. Jackson, for challenging both parties when you could have gone along to get along.

Thank you for telling the entire society that everybody is somebody because they are a child of God.

Thank you, Rev. Jackson, for telling and showing us then what we need to hear now – that the untapped power of this nation is in the Black, white, brown, Asian, and Native communities that are trampled on. The stones that the builders reject are the only hope for a cornerstone upon which we can rebuild a broken society.

They hold the key to our way out of this mess we’re in.

Thank you for being unapologetically Black but having love and grace and enough sense to always demand a rainbow.

Thank you for teaching us that when Black people and white people and brown people and Asian people are so broke they can’t pay their light bill, we are all Black in the dark. So together we must fight for the light of justice.

Thank you, Rev. Jackson, for teaching us how to…

Love anyhow

Keep on anyhow

“Run, Jesse run” anyhow

Believe in a better America anyhow

Keep hope alive anyhow.

And now, with Yusef, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Sangrita, Ashley, and your beloved Jackie, we will pick up the baton and will run on anyhow…

Build hope anyhow

Build new rainbow coalitions anyhow

Repair breaches anyhow

Build political power anyhow

Build the beloved community anyhow.

Because we trust God anyhow

The Lord is our light anyhow.

We know that all that matters is that we please and serve God anyhow.

Thank you, Rev Jackson, for letting the Lord use you.

You fought the good fight. You have finished your race. Sleep now, mighty lion. We will see you in the morning.

William J. Barber, II
President, Repairers of the Breach, & Founding Director & Professor, Yale Center for Public Theology and Public Policy. Author, WHITE POVERTY, WE ARE CALLED TO BE A MOVEMENT, THE THIRD RECONSTRUCTION, REVIVE US AGAIN, & FORWARD TOGETHER.

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Benicia CA, Democracy under attack, Donald Trump, Local vigilance

Stephen Golub: Humble and Kind

A reminder of the gentler sides of this country and our shared humanity.

A Promised Land, by Stephen Golub, February 24, 2026

One of my favorite songs is “Humble and Kind,” popularized by country star Tim McGraw and composed by Lori McKenna (who herself performs a great version). I’ve been thinking longfully about it lately because the tenor of our times cuts so deeply against the song’s spirit.

The song is of course best appreciated if you actually listen to it; even better, I urge you to view the McGraw version’s surprising official video (which, with all due respect to country music’s great variety, isn’t typical of that genre). But I’ll try to get by in simply describing and quoting the composition…

Hold the door, say please, say thank you
Don’t steal, don’t cheat, and don’t lie
I know you got mountains to climb but
Always stay humble and kind

Even if you’re a fan of the guy currently occupying the White House, can you imagine him uttering anything at all like those lyrics?

On the national level, we’ve strayed so far away from such sentiments in this contentious and even cruel age, what with a president who promises his supporters that “I am your retribution” and who broadcasts so many other hateful messages.

“Humble and Kind” is not about America, per se. But it’s still a reminder of the gentler sides of this country and our shared humanity. Though I’m not religious and my grandparents are long gone, I still find its homespun opening comforting:

You know there’s a light that glows by the front door
Don’t forget the key’s under the mat
When childhood stars shine
Always stay humble and kind
Go to church ’cause your momma says to
Visit grandpa every chance that you can
It won’t be wasted time
Always stay humble and kind

This is not to dismiss taking pride in who we are; pride and humility are not mutually exclusive.

Nor am I asserting we shouldn’t be angry, even furious, about what each day’s headlines bring; we can in fact channel our anger into productive action.

And I’m certainly not claiming that humility, kindness, courtesy and compassion are always my own daily calling cards.

I’m instead saying that in these times we stay sane and positive partly by cherishing these kinds of qualities. They’re of course valuable all the time. But they become even more so when our national leadership is so coarse and corrupt.

One of the things I love about Benicia is that we see such virtues on display every day, from our daily interactions to the way our city’s leadership conducts itself.

Yes, there are some intense differences of opinion, some clashes among the diverse personalities that constitute our community. “Kumbaya” is not the civic anthem. Sadly, this town has not been without its displays of hate.

But all in all, Benicia is a pretty polite, warm, welcoming and civil place to be. There’s a humility and kindness to it.

Which brings me back to “Humble and Kind.” In some ways, its message is as simple as a parent’s advice to their kids. It’s about how to live life.

It’s also about humanity. Check out that McGraw video to get a full sense of that.

Its closing lines additionally speak to displaying a generosity of spirit toward people in general and especially the less fortunate.

Finally, when I hear those final lines, they also bring to mind whether and how we welcome America’s immigrants, who – like all of our families if we go back far enough – made their ways here from somewhere else:

Don’t take for granted the love this life gives you
When you get where you’re going don’t forget to turn back around
And help the next one in line
Always stay humble and kind

Benicia resident and author Stephen Golub, A Promised Land

Stephen Golub writes about democracy and politics, both in America and abroad, at A Promised Land: America as a Developing Country.

…and… here’s more Golub on the Benicia Independent

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