I’m a police officer by training. I spent my life wearing the badge, and that service culminated on January 6, when I defended the Capitol against a mob sent there by the president.
My fellow officers and I stood fast when every human instinct would tell you to run—like the members of Congress did, who subsequently disrespected and disparaged us. We didn’t hold the line because it was easy, or because we wanted to be heroes. We did it because that’s what our oath required.
I took an oath to serve the American people. Every cop, every agent, every person in uniform takes that oath. It’s the reason we risk our lives to protect and serve, and it’s the reason that the Capitol stood and American democracy held. The MAGA politicians who like to talk about the Thin Blue Line are liars and hypocrites. We were the real Thin Blue Line.
Here’s what that experience—and all of the events of Trump’s second term—taught me: Public office is about serving the people, not dominating them. The moment someone in uniform starts acting like a ruler instead of a servant, their oath is broken. Thankfully, even today, most officers are still honoring that oath.
We should rightly be outraged by the masked federal agents running roughshod over Americans’ rights and, in a few cases, killing them. But we cannot lose sight of the law enforcement officers who continue to show their faces, treat people with respect, and put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe.
This administration is not serving the people. It is betraying them. This administration is weaponizing justice to stifle dissent and intimidate its political opponents. And it’s counting on the American people to shut up, roll over, and stay home. Unfortunately for them, there is a critical mass of millions of Americans who refuse to do that.
That’s why we say No Kings. On March 28, in cities and towns across the country, millions of Americans will show up to peacefully—and loudly—protest this administration’s corruption, cruelty, incompetence, and lawlessness. They’ll show up in tiny towns and big cities. In red states and blue states. They’ll be old, young, and in between, representing all different backgrounds.
And they’ll all share one thing in common: A commitment to American democracy.
I’ll be honest, I’m angry. For anyone who knows me, that’s not a surprise. I’ve watched for years now as America’s system of checks and balances has been corrupted by a man and a movement who show open contempt for everything that truly makes our nation great. So yeah, I’m pissed. And you should be too.
But it’s not enough to be mad. You have to channel that into action. That’s why here at Home of the Brave, we’re launching a $1 million ad campaign in support of the No Kings protests. Starting today, we’ll have full-page ads running in 300 news outlets across 31 states, making the simple, straightforward case against this authoritarian presidency:
For those who don’t know, Home of the Brave is more than just a Substack. We exist to show Americans the real-world consequences of this administration’s policies, and to highlight what bravery looks like in defense of American democracy. We lift up the voices of people whose lives have been directly harmed by the Trump administration, and who won’t be bullied into silence. And we say No Kings. Not now, not ever.
We’ll see you out there on March 28.
Michael Fanone is a former police officer who defended the Capitol on January 6. He is an Advisory Board Member and Spokesman for Home of the Brave.
