Scenes From the ‘No Kings' Rallies and the Military Parade

To the Editor:
Re 'Military Might, Protest Power' (front page, June 15):​
Thirty-three years ago this month, I was interrogated by the secret police in China when my year of teaching English was ending. At that time, I had no knowledge about my rights as a U.S. citizen, so I didn't know to demand them.​ Later​, however, I realized that being a U.S. citizen afforded me rights in another country. This truth gave me confidence and calm from that day on.
Today I no longer have such confidence. But what makes it so much worse is that my rights are being trampled in the United States, the country of my birth.
The only hope I have is in my fellow citizens in the recent (and future!) 'No Kings' marches who are standing up against the tyranny of this administration.
Elena YeePoughkeepsie, N.Y.
To the Editor:
So you ask: 'What good does protesting do? You're just preaching to the choir.'
As I was protesting with a small crowd in Milton, Mass., and cars were driving by, I started yelling 'Honk!' and waving my sign. I realized that the actual words on my rain-soaked sign (or anyone's signs) did not matter. When people drove by in cars, I'd make eye contact and wave, and then maybe get a shy smile back or a big thumbs-up. When people honked, I'd pump a fist in circles to get them to keep it up.
So many people of different races smiled back, with the surprised look of someone who isn't used to getting smiles and waves from a stranger.
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