remarks delivered on 10.18.25
My name is Nick Ramos and I have the privilege and the honor of serving as the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign right here in Madison.
How many of you were at the last No Kings rally in June? And who is attending their first No Kings rally?
My friends…Take a look around you.
This — this is what democracy looks like. This is what courage sounds like. And this, right here, is what people-power feels like. If you’re here today because you believe in freedom, let me here you get loud for me one time.
We came together today for one reason: To remind those in power that this nation was not founded by kings, and it will not be ruled by them. Something’s shifting. You can feel it.
You can see it.
And if we’re not careful — we could lose the freedom that brought us here today.
I remember when being anti-fascist united us as Americans.
But apparently, our government at the federal level seems to embrace fascism over democracy.
Tell me if these elements of fascism match the times we are living in right now.
- Authoritarian rule — centralized power with little to no checks and balances.
- Extreme nationalism — often built around myths of past national greatness and a desire to restore it.
- Suppression of dissent — through censorship, imprisonment, propaganda, and intimidation.
- Militarism and violence — glorifying strength, obedience, and conflict as virtues.
- Scapegoating — targeting minorities, immigrants, or political opponents as enemies of the state.
- Corporate-state alliance — where business interests align with government power to preserve the regime.
In grade school, they use to tell us, if it looks like a duck, and sounds like a duck…it’s probably a duck.
Across this country, the federal government is testing the limits on our freedoms.
They’re using ICE not for border control, but for intimidation.
They’re federalizing National Guard troops — not to protect communities, but to control them.
Being a U.S. citizen doesn’t safeguard you from these militarized forces.
Because they are detaining folks just because they want YOU to stop showing up.
They want YOU to remain silent.
They call this America First. But we know what it is. It’s authoritarianism.
First they create a crisis. Then they claim only they can fix it. And before you know it — democracy itself becomes the crisis.
Listen closely.
When you hear “emergency powers,” pay attention.
When you see soldiers in the streets, pay attention.
When you hear talk about “stabilizing elections,” pay attention.
Every time they grab power in the name of safety — they take it from us.
And once it’s gone… it’s gone.
Now let’s talk about what’s happening out of sight.
Our voting machines are being purchased by election-denying corporations.
Our legislative maps are being redrawn mid-decade to silence communities and to ensure that only one party rules until eternity.
Our voting laws are being rewritten to decide who counts and who doesn’t.
They say it’s about modernization.
But we know better.
It’s about control.
Control of who votes.
Control of who’s heard.
Control of who matters.
And if you can control who matters… you can control everything.
But here’s the thing — we are not powerless.
We’ve never been powerless.
The people of this country have always been stronger than the forces trying to silence them.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott didn’t just happen for one day, it was one year of patriots walking in the face of injustice.
The sit-ins that took place during the Civil Rights era started with four students in North Carolina sitting at a “whites only” lunch counter.
The Berlin Wall was torn down by hands, not armies.
How many of you had a Disney or a Hulu subscription?
Put your fist in the air and hold it for me.
Keep your fist up if you cancelled that shit when you heard Jimmy Kimmel got pulled off his late night tv show?
It’s a reminder that change doesn’t start at the top.
It starts right here.
Right where you’re standing.
- The call to action
We move must move with purpose.
We watch. We listen. We document. We organize. We boycott.
We sign up — as poll workers, election observers, democracy defenders.
We file records requests — because transparency belongs to the people.
We boycott — when corporations profit from disinformation or suppression.
We support local journalism, civic tech, watchdogs — the lifeblood of truth and our democracy.
We organize our neighborhoods — not just for elections, but for accountability every single day.
This is how we fight back.
Not with hate.
Not with fear.
But with discipline. With unity. With truth.
They want us afraid.
But fear is a choice — and today, and every day going forward, we choose courage.
They want us divided.
But division is a tactic and brothers and sisters, we choose love and solidarity.
They want us silent.
But silence is surrender — and today, we choose to speak loudly at the forces that want to silence us.
Our ancestors fought for the right to stand here.
Future generations are counting on us to keep it.
When they test our resolve — we will answer.
When they try to divide us — we will unite.
When they try to silence us — we will sing louder.
Because the story of this nation isn’t written by those who hoard power — it’s written by those who hold the line.
We. Are. The. Line.
It’s WE the people, not we the pawns.
And WE ain’t bowing down to kings in this country.
The elites in Washington think you’re a bunch of paid actors WHO HATE AMERICA.
IF YOU LOVE DEMOCRACY AND YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS COUNTRY IS RULED BY THE PEOPLE AND NOT BY A ROTTEN KING I WANNA HEAR YOU SCREAM NO KINGS MY BEAUTIFUL BROTHERS AND SISTERS AS LOUD AS YOU CAN!
We LOVE this country.
We HATE what you’re doing to this country.
We believe in love.
We believe in democracy.
We do not believe in Kings or Queens.
We believe that immigrants make this country beautiful!
So stay vigilant Wisconsin! Stay peaceful Wisconsin! Stay free Wisconsin!
Thank you Wisconsin for showing up today and everyday going forward.
SOLIDARITY WISCONSIN!