SLO reacts to ‘No Kings’ protest: ‘We’re bigger, more powerful and not afraid’ | Opinion

We’ll be back

You said we are pro-Hamas terrorists, pro-criminal insurrectionists and anti-fascists who hate America. You tried to scare people away from our movement. It didn’t work and backfired on Oct. 18 at the nation-wide No Kings demonstrations.

You tried to use fear and hate to diminish the organic outpouring of our love and commitment to the foundational principles upon which our country stands. You failed.

Of course we’re anti-fascists. Many of us are descendants of those who fought and died fighting against fascism in WWII. Do you now assert that those patriotic Americans who did so hated America?

In this country, “We the People” rule, and we intend to take back the economic and political power you’ve stolen from us. We’re bigger, more powerful and not afraid of you.

If you think we’re done speaking out, protesting and doing what we can to obstruct your plans to dominate and subject us to your oppressive regime, you’re sorely mistaken.

David Broadwater

Atascadero

Fighting tyranny

I was very disturbed to hear House Speaker Mike Johnson’s refer to the “No Kings” rally as an “I hate America” rally.

So reading between the lines, anyone who doesn’t agree with what the administration is doing hates America. How dare him. That is straight out of the authoritarian playbook. I would suggest that everyone take a look at the book “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder. What is going on in our country mirrors the work of Hitler and multiple other dictators who came to power in the 1930s and ‘40s. If you’re not alarmed you should be.

Doug Mapson

Paso Robles

No Kings led by ‘kings’?

If the idea of protesting was to protest, well done! If the idea was to attract thousands of pro-democracy citizens to unite, collaborate, encourage cross collaboration with pro-democracy conservatives or anything assertive, offensive, tactical or strategic ... what a failure! Imagine our power and influence had we been encouraged to unite online by emailing Gov. Gavin Newsom together? Imagine if we had asked him to establish California and his offices as an International Online Democratic Portal where anti child sex trafficking and pro-democracy world citizens could unite and collaborate, thus creating an International Online Democratic Portal that women, youths, LGBTQ+ and pro-democracy anti- sex trafficking conservatives/others could join us on? Heck, imagine if Democrats running this had invited us to use a drop box to share ideas or to meet at the stage and share ideas to collaborate? I spoke up, asking to interrupt the fourth set of worthless 1960s chants to engage us in ideas and collaborations we could participate in right there, just as most of us have hoped to at every protest, and I was told to shut up. Thanks for all the work, but it’s 2025. We have the internet. Do better before it’s too late.

Joel Koman

San Miguel

Those were the days

I grew up in a family of Democrats in a neighborhood mostly Republican and nobody gave a hoot.

We could discuss matters freely, disagree pleasantly and deep down realize that the other guy might be right sometimes. Nobody thought there were big easy answers to any of the problems the nation faced. I lived among decent adults who did not think anyone had a right to shove their views down your throat. They also believed that you had a right to express your views and they had an obligation to defend that right.

Those were the days. The job of our Congress was to resolve differences, make deals, keep the country on an even keel and maintain a reputation for fairness and decency in the world at large. It saddens an old man to see all that fundamental decency vanishing and stone-hearted, rigid, self-important adults seize the reins with their angry, often fabricated views. No one else possesses the truth, the facts, the answers or understands how the nation should be. Gee, I’d often though I should be president. Guess not.

Steve Belasco

San Luis Obispo

Faith in renewables

Mark Z. Jacobson, is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University and is the founder and director of the Atmosphere Energy Program at Stanford since 2004. His presentation to the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Panel on Sept. 24, 2025, was compelling and included years of researched facts on the advantages of clean energy compared to fossil fuels and nuclear sources both for economic, health, environment and national safety.

Clean energy sources are rooftop solar, battery and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, hydropower, onshore and offshore wind and geothermal. All these answers have environmental costs like everything in nature that humans have utilized for better or worse.

But comparatively, the balancing of uranium mining, milling, radioactive waste, nuclear accident or terrorist threat and billions in cost overruns, decades to build new and decommission the old, the choice should be easy.

Eleven states already have a higher percentage of their electricity than California with wind, water and solar and have electricity prices 2 cents a kilowatt lower than the U.S. average.

California has higher rates because of the cost of wildfires being passed on to consumers. Renewables — the name says it right.

Marty Brown

Atascadero

Schumer’s folly?

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is facing a dilemma similar to that of a power-hungry captain of a sinking aircraft carrier. Above all else, he wants to maintain his position of influence in the navy. If he waits too long to abandon ship, he will drown. If he jumps ship too early, he won’t drown; but when he is rescued his crew will universally condemn him for deserting them and the only navy ship he will captain thereafter is a garbage scow.

Tough choice. I’m betting that Schumer jumps ship early. In either case he’s headed to political oblivion, but at least he will have a future.

Reed Coray

Los Osos

Paying it forward

Thanks to Pastor Zac, Templeton Farm Manager Matt and many volunteers, over 5,000 pounds of fresh and free produce were passed out over the weekend to anyone in need. And there was free medical, dental and vision screening and a luncheon for anyone. Doing their best to help others — bless their hearts!

Becky Jorgeson

Hope’s Village, SLO