A protester at a "No Kings" rally in Durham, North Carolina, drew attention over the weekend by dressing in full 18th century attire reminiscent of Marie Antoinette while holding a sign that read, "They want 1939 Germany. Let’s give them 1789 France." The demonstration was part of a series of anti-Trump protests held across the United States under the "No Kings" banner.
The woman wore a blonde wig styled in the traditional pouf hairstyle, fake blood dripping over a pearl necklace. Her sign invoked the French Revolution as a counter to what she characterized as authoritarianism, calling on protesters to respond to current U.S. political conditions with reference to the overthrow of the French monarchy.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive organizers and supporters of the No Kings movement frame the protests as a grassroots response to threats against democratic norms. The demonstration in Durham reflected broader concerns among progressive activists about executive power and constitutional checks.
Groups including Indivisible, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and the ANSWER Coalition have promoted these protests as exercises of First Amendment rights. Supporters argue that invoking historical resistance to tyranny is a valid form of political expression, particularly in response to policies they view as threats to civil liberties and democratic institutions.
Progressive commentators have noted that the French Revolution, despite its violence, represented a fundamental rejection of absolute monarchy and feudal privilege. Supporters of the protests contend that the historical parallel is meant to emphasize resistance to perceived authoritarian overreach rather than advocate for violence.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics have seized on the 1789 France analogy as historically misguided and ironic. Several commentators noted that while the French Revolution began with ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, it devolved into the Reign of Terror, in which thousands of commoners were executed alongside aristocrats.
Conservative analysts have pointed out that the revolution ultimately produced Napoleon Bonaparte, who seized power in 1799 and declared himself emperor, returning France to monarchy under a different name. The historical trajectory, critics argue, undermines the protester's apparent argument that revolution leads to greater freedom.
Right-leaning media outlets have also highlighted funding connections between the No Kings protests and groups with ties to communist and socialist organizations. Critics characterize these connections as inconsistent with the movement's stated goals of defending democratic institutions.
What the Numbers Show
The French Revolution unfolded over roughly a decade of instability. King Louis XVI was executed in 1793, followed by Marie Antoinette later that same year. The Reign of Terror from 1793 to 1794 saw approximately 17,000 official executions, though historians estimate the total death toll including informal killings reached 40,000 or higher.
Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power through a coup d'état in November 1799, establishing the Consulate before declaring himself Emperor in 1804. The monarchy was fully restored in 1815 following Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, meaning the revolutionary period lasted approximately 26 years before France returned to hereditary rule.
According to recent reporting, groups connected to the No Kings protests boast a combined $3 billion in revenue. These include organizations such as Indivisible, the People's Forum, CodePink-affiliated groups, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.
The Bottom Line
The Durham protester's invocation of 1789 France illustrates how historical analogies remain central to American political discourse. Supporters argue the comparison highlights resistance to concentrated power, while critics contend it misrepresents the French Revolution's outcome.
The debate reflects broader disagreements over how to characterize current political conditions and what historical precedents best inform public response. The No Kings movement continues to draw both participation and criticism as protests persist across the country.