On March 28th — Palm Sunday, for those keeping score — an estimated eight million Americans took to the streets in what organizers are calling the largest single-day protest in American history. The protest was called “No Kings.”
Palm Sunday, in case you need the refresher, is the day Christians commemorate Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, specifically to confront the ruling political and religious establishment of his time. He was making a point. They crucified him for it five days later.
We’re not saying anything. We’re just noting the date.
The protests spanned all 50 states, plus Italy, France, Germany, and Spain. Demonstrators cited the Iran war, ICE enforcement operations, and the general vibe of watching democracy do something weird in slow motion. In West Palm Beach — Florida, naturally — Trump supporters showed up to clash with protesters, because of course they did.
Bruce Springsteen performed at the flagship rally in Minnesota. Because apparently even The Boss knows when it’s time to ride into Jerusalem.
The irony is almost too clean to be accidental. Eight million people, on the holiest week in the Christian calendar, marching under the banner of “No Kings” — echoing the words of a guy who got executed by an empire for doing exactly the same thing two thousand years ago.
Rational thought: sometimes it shows up on a Sunday, wearing sandals, riding a donkey.
All of this actually happened. Eight million people. Palm Sunday. Make of that what you will.