No Kings 3 Tips & Tools: Creative Resistance

No Kings 3 Tips & Tools: Building Joy, Fun, and Creativity into Our Resistance

Last week, we talked about safety planning. This week, we’re focusing on something just as important: bringing joy, humor, and creativity into our demonstrations.

Why Does Creative Resistance Matter?

Joyful protest sends a powerful message. It shows our neighbors that they are not alone and that it is safe to participate in peaceful civic action. It reminds people that standing up for democracy can be welcoming, hopeful, and community-building. 

Creativity also helps counter the narrative that protesters are angry, violent, or dangerous. When families show up with music, costumes, and laughter, it becomes very clear that we are ordinary people standing up for our communities. Humor can also take the wind out of the sails of those who show up looking to harass or intimidate.

Creative demonstrations also attract attention. Local and regional media outlets love a strong visual—costumes, music, playful signs, and unexpected moments that photograph well and tell a story. When your event is colorful and creative, it’s more likely to be shared by reporters, photographers, and on social media, helping your message travel beyond the people standing on the sidewalk that day.

Ideas for Creative Resistance

Across the country, communities are finding their own ways to express the spirit of creative resistance. There is no single formula. The goal is to let each town’s personality shine while keeping the focus on peaceful, positive visibility. Some creative ideas we’ve seen include:

• Costumes and visual themes. The frog costumes that started in Portland have now spread across the country. Other groups create themed outfits tied to local identity or humor.

• Bubble guns and playful visuals. In Holliston, bubble guns have become a signature element—turning a roadside standout into something joyful and memorable.

• Music and singing. Some demonstrations bring portable speakers or musicians and adapt well-known songs with protest lyrics. Sites like the Raging Grannies song archive share humorous, sing-along protest lyrics that groups often use.

• Creative signs. Funny or clever signs often get shared widely on social media and help a message travel far beyond the demonstration itself.

• Street theater and playful satire. Skits, mock ceremonies, or exaggerated characters can highlight the absurdity of harmful policies in ways that stick with people.

Balancing Creativity and Care

Humor can be a powerful organizing tool, but it also requires care. The goal is to mock the powerful institutions and decision-makers responsible for harm, not the communities that are suffering from it. Satire works best when it exposes hypocrisy or absurdity while keeping the moral focus clear. 

If you’re thinking about using humor or performance in your demonstration, these resources offer thoughtful guidance:

• The Museum of Protest: Humorous Skits and Pranks

• New Tactics: Using Humor to Expose the Ridiculous

At its best, joyful protest reminds people what we’re fighting for—not just what we’re fighting against. It turns a moment of resistance into a moment of community. And sometimes, a little laughter is exactly what helps people find the courage to show up.

No Kings 3 Safety Planning Tips

  

No Kings 3 Tips & Tools: Safety Planning

Last week, we shared tips for publicizing your event. This week, we're talking about safety. No Kings National takes safety seriously. Every event is required to designate a Safety Lead and complete a written Safety Plan.

Why? Because we are organizing in a tense political moment. Careful planning protects participants, prevents escalation, and ensures no one has an excuse to crack down on peaceful demonstrations. When we are calm and prepared, we show our communities that it is safe to lift up our voices.

Creating a Safety Plan

The Safety Plan template is available in the No Kings Host Toolkit and must be completed for every event. Plans will look different depending on your format and location, but at a high level, they include:

• Event overview (including primary safety concerns)
• Safety team (peacekeepers and safety lead roles and contact information)
• Support needs (medical, jail support if needed, press coordination)
• Communication (team communication plan and how you’ll communicate with attendees)
• Exit, dispersal, and emergency meeting point

All No Kings events are committed to lawful, nonviolent action, no civil disobedience, and no weapons of any kind.

Finding Safety Marshals & Volunteers

It can be challenging to find enough safety marshals, especially if you're not sure how many folks will attend. Some organizers estimate the need for 1 marshal per 50 attendees (for larger, more complicated events), or per 100 attendees (for brief, less complicated events). It can also help to plan for safety by zones. Think about where your event will take place. Think about potential safety choke-points, such as streets, crosswalks, public buildings, etc.

Before seeking safety support, come up with a brief statement of what a peacekeeper or safety marshal will need to do. For example, they must attend safety training prior to the event, provide their cell phone number and agree to be on Signal for the duration of the event, and focus on observing rather than holding signs or participating actively in the demonstration. 

To find volunteers, start by emailing your Mobilize list and asking directly. Then reach out to aligned local groups, such as Democratic Town Committees, Indivisible groups, diversity organizations, faith communities, and others. Ask each to provide 1–2 volunteers.

Training Opportunities

There are many virtual and in-person safety trainings. Recommend that your volunteers visit the No Kings training hub to view one or more past trainings and to find upcoming virtual sessions.

An in-person Safety Marshal Training is also being offered in Millis on March 11 from 6-9pm. This training will focus on site safety preparedness and practical de-escalation strategies for community demonstrations. Learn more and register here.

Strong organizing is safe organizing. When we prepare well, our message stays front and center, and our communities feel confident showing up. For more safety and de-escalation resources, check out our public Google folder, No Kings National Days of Action. It includes direct access to the No Kings Host Toolkit, a sample safety plan, and other tips and tools.

No Kings 3 Publicity Tips

 

No Kings 3 Tips & Tools: Getting the Word Out (Publicity Planning)

Last week, we shared tips about locking in your event date and time. Now it’s time to plan your publicity. Strong turnout doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because organizers treat outreach as part of organizing, not an afterthought.

Tip 1: Wait until your Mobilize link is live. Then use it everywhere.

Do not widely publicize your event until your Mobilize page is active. Once it is live, make that link the center of every message. Emails, Facebook posts, calendar listings, press releases, QR codes, business cards—everything should point to the same RSVP link.

Ask anyone helping you spread the word to use that exact link. This builds your attendee list, allows you to communicate updates quickly, and demonstrates momentum.

Tip 2: Plan your outreach in waves.

Think in phases rather than one big announcement.

• 4–6 weeks out: Save the date + basic details ("Plan ahead to join us!")
• 2–3 weeks out: Why this action matters ("Show up for our country and community!")
• 1 week out: Strong reminder, emphasizing peace ("Stand with your neighbors in positive, peaceful protest!")
• 48 hours out: Final push ("It's not too late to make your voice heard!")

Assign responsibility and set deadlines. Post to your organization's website, newsletter, and event calendar. Assign someone to contact the local press, using the press release templates provided in the No Kings 3 Host Toolkit. Post to local event calendars and social media pages. Make personal invitations. Clear roles prevent last-minute scrambling.

Tip 3: Be strategic about public postings.

Community Facebook pages and open event calendars can help with visibility, but they can also attract trolling or harmful backlash. If your community has experienced online harassment in the past, tread carefully. You may decide to prioritize trusted networks and direct outreach instead of broad public blasts.

Reach out directly to aligned groups in your town: diversity and inclusion groups, LGBTQ+ organizations, faith communities, immigrant justice advocates, senior centers, unions, and of course your local Democratic Town Committee. A personal email goes much further than a generic announcement. Ask these folks to promote your event, including the all-important Mobilize link.

Tip 4: Use local media wisely.

Send a short, clear press release to local news outlets 3-4 weeks in advance. Emphasize your commitment to nonviolent action and community safety. Include a contact name and phone number for follow-up. One thoughtful follow-up email is appropriate. Repeated chasing is not.

For more detailed information and sample language, check out our public Google folder, No Kings National Days of Action. It includes direct access to the No Kings Host Toolkit, a sample publicity plan, and official No Kings graphics (images, sign templates, official colors, and more).

Advocacy in Action: Your Guide to Protecting Civil Liberties in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is at a critical crossroads, and the actions taken on Beacon Hill this session will define the state’s commitment to civil liberties and the rule of law. It is time for all of us to reach out to our state legislators and urge them to take their cues from a comprehensive legislative agenda focused on protection, transparency, and justice.

When you call your State Senator and State Representative, ask them to prioritize the following three pillars and the critical PROTECT Act.

1. Build "Firewalls for Freedom"

Our state resources should never be weaponized against our own neighbors. We must urge legislators to support the Safe Communities Act (H.2580 / S.1681) and the Dignity Not Deportations Act (H.1588 / S.1122). These bills create essential firewalls between local governance and federal immigration overreach, ensuring that Massachusetts remains a place where everyone can access emergency services, schools, and courts without fear.

• Learn more about Firewalls for Freedom

2. Protect "Technology for Liberty"

In an era of rapid digital expansion, our privacy rights must keep pace. Legislators need to support bills like the Location Privacy Act and measures to curb face surveillance. Protecting our digital "papers and effects" from warrantless government access is a fundamental necessity for a free society.

• Explore the Technology for Liberty agenda

3. Strengthen "Democracy & Voting Rights"

The right to vote is the foundation of all other liberties. We are calling for the passage of the Voting Rights Act, which would remove barriers to the ballot box and ensure that every voice in the Commonwealth—particularly in historically marginalized communities—is heard and represented.

• View the Democracy & Voting Rights priorities

4. Pass the PROTECT Act (HD.5608)

The PROTECT Act (An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust, and equal constitutional treatment) is a broad and vital legislative package filed by the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. This bill overlaps with and reinforces our civil rights priorities by:

• Prohibiting state and local officials from sharing personal information with ICE.

• Requiring transparency in law enforcement hiring to ensure officers align with standards of bias-free policing.

• Establishing a secure locator system so families can find detained loved ones.

• Read more about the PROTECT Act via the MIRA Coalition

Here is a concise script designed to be read at a natural pace, ensuring the legislative aide can accurately capture the bill numbers and your primary request.

Shape the Democratic Party from Within: Attend Your Local Caucus

As our Senator Elizabeth Warren says: real change requires "inside lobbying and outside pressure". While Indivisible and its allies lead the "outside" game with street action and calls to shift public opinion, we must also show up to change the Democratic Party from the "inside".

This month, your local Democratic Town Committee is holding its caucus. This is where we bridge the gap between the street and the state house:

• The Inside Game: Registered Democrats can run for or elect delegates to the Democratic State Convention—the body that shapes party policy and selects statewide candidates.

• Direct Advocacy: Meet local and state candidates face-to-face to ensure they hear our progressive priorities before the platform is set.

• Build Power: Use your seat at the table to ensure our "outside" energy is translated into "inside" action.

Find your town’s meeting date and time on this Caucus Schedule and help steer the party toward a more progressive future.

NK3: Early Planning Tips & Tools

 

No Kings 3 Tips & Tools:
Setting an Event Date & Time

No Kings 3 is six weeks away, giving organizers time to plan ahead for a well-attended, successful event! We'll share tips and tools for every stage of planning from now until March 28. First up: setting up your event.

Tip1: Choose your date and time strategically.

• Start by reviewing the No Kings 3 event list on Mobilize to see what is already planned near you.
• Look at neighboring towns within driving distance and choose a time that complements nearby events rather than overlapping with them. 
• Most No Kings events will take place midday. No Kings National asks that most events end by sunset. 
• Before finalizing, check in with your organizing team and any potential speakers to confirm availability. 
• Check local community calendars to avoid unintentional conflicts. A 5K fun run in the same park at the same time is a recipe for chaos. Also check with organizations that tend to hold weekend events at or very near your location. A wedding at a nearby church can create traffic, parking issues, and unnecessary tension. 
• If you or attendees may also want to attend the Boston No Kings event, consider scheduling your event earlier in the day so attendees have time to catch the train afterward.

Tip 2: Choose a high-visibility public location.

• No Kings events should take place in public, high-visibility spaces such as city halls, town commons, state capitols, major parks, or other high-traffic outdoor areas. Visibility matters.
• Avoid private business locations, and do not center events on boycott actions. (E.g., do not plan your event in front of a Citizens Bank so that you can boycott at the same time.) 
• Events should never block entrances or exits. The goal is to be peaceful, visible, and community-centered.
• Consider public parking. Try to center locations where there are a variety of free weekend parking options.

Tip 3: Register your event on Mobilize ASAP.

• Once your time and location are set, register your event through Mobilize, so it appears on the national No Kings map. This allows the national team to promote your event and helps recruit attendees. 
• After registering, complete the required Host Survey (search “NO KINGS Host Survey” in the email account you used to register). The survey confirms your safety plan and asks you to identify safety and media leads so materials can be shipped and support coordinated.
• Use your Mobilize event link (and ask anyone helping you spread the word to use it) so you can start building a list of attendees. This will help you plan for capacity, communicate updates quickly, and demonstrate the growing support for No Kings 3.

For more detailed information, check out the No Kings 3 Host Toolkit.

MNW Action Hub Welcome

Welcome to the MNW Action Hub!

Across the Metrowest-Norfolk-Worcester area, we are standing up, speaking out, and taking action in record numbers. With massive rally crowds and sold-out events, it's clear we have passion and momentum. This group was created to work more efficiently across the many local groups responsible for this surge in activism.

The MNW Action hub has three core functions:

1. To serve as a clearinghouse for best practice in activism. We'll help area organizations share their successful activities through "how to" blog posts and a robust set of digital resources. Want to access our files? Fill out the Best Practice Clearinghouse Share Request. Want to share a practice? Fill out the MNW Best Practice Clearinghouse Submission.

2. To maintain a coordinated calendar of area events and activities so that, at any time, activists can find actions that match their schedules and areas of interest. Want to add an event to our calendar? Fill out the Calendar Input Form. Want to embed our calendar on your website? Request the embed code.

3. To encourage folks to find groups in their area and get more deeply involved in organizing. We have a solid set of generals. We have a lot of foot soldiers. We need some colonels and majors to help things run more smoothly. Ready to level up? Find a local group here. Or, help out the hub by emailing us.

This is where action meets impact. Let’s keep moving forward!