A national protest movement that calls itself “No Kings” reportedly drew fresh criticism from Republicans over the weekend after one of its organizers said she was “proud” to be labeled Antifa and described President Donald Trump’s administration as “fascist.”
During a live broadcast from Houston on MSNBC Reports, correspondent Nnamdi Egwuonwu spoke with a protest organizer identified only as “Bethany,” who said she represents 50501, one of the groups behind the coordinated No Kings rallies held across the country on Saturday.
Asked to respond to claims from conservatives that the demonstrators were “anti-American” and aligned with Antifa, Bethany laughed off the accusation before embracing it outright. “Obviously, if you look at the definition of it, Antifa, anti-fascist — I’ve spoke to a couple of veterans who said that’s literally what they fought against,” she said. “They are anti-fascist. So I think I should be proud to say that the people out here are Antifa. We don’t agree with the fascist government.”
Bethany did not specify what actions of the Trump administration she considered fascist, but her comments underscored a growing willingness among elements of the protest movement to align openly with Antifa — a network that has been linked to street violence, property destruction, and confrontations with law enforcement in recent years.
The remarks quickly drew attention in Washington, particularly from House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, who earlier this week derided the demonstrations as part of a radical left effort to undermine the country’s democratic institutions. Johnson, speaking Wednesday, mocked the events as the “‘We Hate America Rally,’” predicting that the No Kings protests would again be “littered with a bunch of communists and terrorist supporters who loathe their own country.”
“I encourage you to watch — we call it the ‘Hate America Rally’ — that’ll happen Saturday,” Johnson said. “Let’s see who shows up for that. I bet ya see pro-Hamas supporters, I bet ya see Antifa-types, I bet ya see the Marxists in full display. The people who don’t want to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic.”
The group 50501, which organized the protests, describes itself as a coalition opposed to what it calls “the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its plutocratic allies.” Its website features a banner image of demonstrators carrying signs reading “Trump: enemy of the people” and “impeach the b*tch.”
While MSNBC did not challenge Bethany’s characterization of the protesters as Antifa or press her on the charge of “fascism,” Johnson and other Republicans have seized on the interview as evidence that the movement’s rhetoric mirrors that of the far left. To conservatives, the “No Kings” rallies reflect not grassroots dissent but an ideological campaign to delegitimize democratic outcomes and demonize political opponents.
For the organizers, however, embracing the Antifa label appeared to be a statement of defiance — and, as Bethany put it, a “badge of honor.” For critics, it was something else entirely: confirmation that a movement claiming to defend democracy is now comfortable aligning itself with those who disdain it.
[READ MORE: Trump Targets Massie, Backs Navy SEAL Veteran for Kentucky Seat]
