Why America Needs the Libertarian Message More Than Ever

by: Mimi Robson, Immediate Past Chair of the Libertarian Party of California

In a country dominated by political machines and top-down control, Americans deserve to hear a message they won’t get from either of the old parties:
No kings.

More than a slogan, “no kings” is a declaration of principle. It’s a rejection of authoritarianism in every form—whether from a president, a bureaucrat or a city council. It affirms that no one has the moral right to rule others by force, and that true power belongs to the individual.

For over 50 years, the Libertarian Party has stood alone in making this our foundation. Our platform has always called for government to protect rights—not to grant them or violate them. We believe in voluntary cooperation, free exchange and peaceful living. The No Kings movement reflects that same spirit—and it’s exactly what this country needs.

Across the United States, we’ve seen what happens when government power goes unchecked. Officials speak of equity and progress, but often deliver bureaucracy, coercion and favoritism.

Police departments shield themselves with qualified immunity. Independent contractors and small businesses are suffocated by endless regulation while politically connected corporations and unions flourish. Housing shortages persist under restrictive zoning and red tape. Nonviolent individuals are imprisoned for victimless crimes. And now, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are conducting raids without due process, separating families in working-class communities.

The No Kings movement is a pushback against this creeping authoritarianism. But not all voices in the movement are truly anti-authoritarian. Some of its loudest institutional supporters—such as public employee unions—maintain state-backed advantages. These unions collect dues via government payroll and fund the very politicians they bargain with. That’s not voluntary cooperation—it’s collusion. If we believe in ending rule by privilege, we must reject favoritism wherever it appears—whether in corporations, law enforcement, or labor organizations.

From cities to rural towns, Americans are preparing to speak out. On July 4, protests under the banner No Kings 2.0: Independence Without Tyranny are planned across the country, challenging government overreach. On July 17, the national Good Trouble Lives On day of action will follow, honoring the legacy of civil rights leaders and demanding real reform.

These events are powerful opportunities to promote liberty—but only if principled voices show up. Without them, the energy of protest could be co-opted by new forms of central control.

The Libertarian Party is the only political party calling for:

• End the never-ending wars: Repeal the War Powers Act and end all offensive wars.
• Independent commerce: End tariffs, subsidies and government-protected cartels.
• Due process: Repeal laws against victimless crimes and restore fair trials.
• Civil liberties: End qualified immunity and demilitarize police.
• Free immigration: End deportation raids and respect the rights of peaceful people.
• Voluntary work: End monopoly protections for public employee unions. Employers and workers should be free to associate without government interference or favoritism.

These aren’t new talking points. They’ve been in our platform since 1971. We were defending liberty long before it became fashionable.

Americans deserve more than managed decline, political theater and fear-based governance. They deserve to live free—from coercion, control and government overreach.

You don’t need a new ruler. You need to be free.

No kings. No masters. Just liberty.