"No Kings in America" comes to Church Hill

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with the final text of Natale’s speech, which was delivered in Church Hill on March 23rd, 2025 by Nicole Subryan-Bailey.

Lookout Matt E. sent me the above flyer the other day, which has been circulating on social media since earlier in the week. Other outlets reported on the details of the event, but included no details about its organizer. I was able to get in touch with Lauren Natale, the native Richmonder behind the demonstration, which is slated to take place concurrent with the reenactment of Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” speech at St. John’s Church this Sunday. (That’s the 250th anniversary down to the day, by the way: the Founding Father delivered his famous address on March 23rd, 1775.) We exchanged emails last night.

Natale told The Lookout that she was inspired to take action by a recent discussion about the reenactment—which will feature historian Ken Burns, who’s using the event to kick off the promo tour for his new Revolutionary War docuseries—on r/rva, the lively, city-focused subreddit. She’s organizing the demonstration to highlight “the hypocrisy of celebrating the power of political speech while our president declares protests and news media ‘illegal.’” Hearing that Governor Glenn Youngkin, an ally of President Donald Trump, might be in attendance at the reenactment underscored to her that the moment called for peaceful protest. So, she called one.

To match the theme of the day, Natale wrote her own version of Henry’s venerable oration; I’ve attached it in full below. She hopes her riff might reach Republicans disillusioned by Trump’s apparent disregard for the Constitution.

“It's hard to ignore his abuses of power, and somewhere in their minds, I know they understand the dangers of absolute power,” she said. “They may be mollified by this dictator being ‘on their side,’ but Trump's presidency is good for no one but himself. I'd like to welcome everyone who values democracy and liberty into one camp and invite fruitful discussion among countrymen. A lofty dream, I know...”

It is. But people probably told Patrick Henry the same thing.

📜 “Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death,” as rewritten by Lauren Natale

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy people who gather at Saint John’s today. But different people often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to the Governor and other Trump supporters if, entertaining as I do, opinions divergent from theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.

This is no time for blind tribalism. The question before America is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or dictatorship; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to our country. If we keep back our opinions at such a time, through fear of retribution, we should consider ourselves as guilty of treason towards our country; and disloyal toward our democracy, which we revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. Governor, it is natural to want to remain loyal to the leader of one’s party. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and thus, fall prey to the lies of our President, who pretends to serve the Constitution. But is this the part of wise Virginians, engaged in that great and arduous struggle for fair governance? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to speak it. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.

And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of Presidents Trump’s administration to justify those hopes with which some Republicans have been pleased to solace themselves. Is it that insidious smile which promises that whiteness, maleness, citizenship, and party loyalty shall offer immunity from harm? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss, nor a threat. Shall we witness the deportation of Mahmoud Kahlil, a legal resident, solely for exercising his First Amendment right, and not fear that we may be next? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to suppress any protest? And what of Trump’s attacks on the freedom of our press? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the acts of a dictator and tyrant; the last arguments to which kings resort.

I ask Congress, what means Trump by stealing their powers, if his purpose be not to disregard the voice of the people? I ask federal judges, why does the White House ignore their rulings, if the President does not seek to set himself above the law? Can we assign any other possible motive than dismantling constitutional order? Has America any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for the enactment of wartime powers and annexation of our neighbors? No, sir, we have none. It is the impulse of the dictator to conquer rather than cooperate. How many lives shall we allow Trump to destroy to satiate his own desires?

Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Citizens and honorable servants of our democratic government must do everything in their power to avert the storm of tyranny which is now coming on. We have raised our voices, only for our demands to be spurned with contempt from the foot of the throne. We are losing room for hope. If we wish to be free— if we mean to preserve, inviolate, those inestimable rights for which we have so long struggled— if we mean not basely to abandon the noble pursuit we engage in today, then we must stand together in defense of freedom!

They tell us, sir, that Democrats are weak; that Republicans are unable to cope with town halls, much less threats of primaries and the mob violence of January sixth. But when shall they be stronger? When Trump has replaced all officers with cronies? Will it be when he has violated all our rights, ignored yet more judicial orders, and executive-ordered Congress into obsolescence? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? No!

Besides, sir, how can we now be sure of a free and fair election? Trump has stolen the FEC’s independence to arbitrate any contest. He has demonstrated his willingness to commit violent acts and grave deceptions to cling to power, even when fairly defeated. The felon even boasts, “Musk knows those vote counting computers better than anybody”. There is no retreat for any of us but into submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard in the presidents’ posts on Truth Social!

It is in vain, sir, to blindly adhere to partisan divides. Gentlefolk may cry, Republican! Democrat! But there is no salvation there. The kleptocracy is actually begun and every American is a mark! Musk has already seized money from the private accounts of citizens and commandeered billions in federal funds. To what ends? The deficit still rises! Will we common folk see a cent of what Musk claims to have “saved’? No! The next gale that sweeps from DOGE will bring complete dismantling of Social Security and Medicaid! Our brethren in the Department of Education, National Parks, and multiple independent agencies have already felt the chainsaw!

Why do we allow Trump to remain in office? What is it that his billionaire backers wish? Is a tax break for the wealthiest 1% so dear, or another billion so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of our democracy? Forbid it, my fellow Americans! How can we tell our seniors, who paid their dues faithfully for decades, that they are now a burden? How can we leave the rising generation unprotected by constitutional law and our precious Bill of Rights? And how can we throw away the very freedoms our founding fathers secured for us through bloody revolution? It is a disgrace to the memory of the brave Virginian, Patrick Henry, who stood here and exclaimed in absolute terms, “give me liberty or give me death”!