"No Masters, No Kings, No Surrender
The world can feel overwhelming — a storm of authoritarian creep, corporate greed, rising fascism, and systems designed to make you feel small and alone.
But here’s the truth they never want you to remember:
You are not alone.
You are not powerless.
And you are not doomed.
Every moment you stand up,
every time you refuse to obey,
every time you organize, educate, or defend —
you punch a hole in the walls they build to keep you caged.
You don’t need to be perfect.
You don’t need to be fearless.
You just need to act — with others, with purpose, with heart."
The monarchs didn’t go away – they merely swapped crowns for boardrooms, thrones for portfolios, and scepters for monitoring systems. We are not currently ruled by blood, but by wealth, control, and the subtle strangulation of systems with the purpose of keeping people in line.
You sense it, don’t you? The tightening. The clenched fist. The screaming news of burgeoning authoritarianism, of rights pulled away, of communities polarized and voices smothered beneath the iron weight of power.
But the truth they dread the most is this: we are not powerless.
If we stand together, if we remember that no master is worthy of our submission and no king is worthy of our allegiance — we regain something eternal and unbreakable: hope.
Hope is not naive. It is not passive. It is raw, stubborn faith that we can still rise, still resist, still create something better — even if the world dares to challenge us to give up.
Here is the essence of the antifascist mantra: No Masters. No Kings. No Surrender.
No Masters, No Kings Today
In 2025, the tyrants don’t wear crowns — they wear tailored suits, command armies of bots, own the media you consume, and track your every move through a screen you carry in your pocket.
They tell you who to hate. They tell you who to fear. They tell you they are the only ones who can keep you safe.
But No Masters, No Kings isn’t some romantic slogan from a bygone era — it’s a living challenge to everything that feeds on our submission today.
It means: Rejecting authoritarianism — whether it comes wrapped in a flag, a corporate logo, or the smooth voice of a politician. Challenging economic feudalism — where a handful of billionaires hoard obscene wealth while most of us work ourselves to death just to survive. Defending autonomy and dignity — fighting for every community pushed to the margins, for every voice silenced by power.
It’s about recognizing that the systems choking us thrive on obedience — and that refusing to obey is the first step toward breaking their grip.
To live by No Masters, No Kings today is to reject the quiet lie that we are small, that we are alone, that nothing can change. We are not small. We are not alone. And everything can change.
The History Behind the Phrase
“No Masters, No Kings” is more than just a rebellious catchphrase — it’s part of a long, global tradition of resistance against domination.
Its roots stretch across centuries and continents, carried by movements, uprisings, and everyday people who refused to accept subjugation.
Medieval Europe: Long before modern anarchism or socialism, medieval peasants rose up against feudal lords and monarchs who claimed divine authority over their lives. The cry was simple: no one should hold absolute power over another human being. Revolts like the 1381 English Peasants’ Revolt were early signs that even those at the bottom could demand justice.
“When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?” — John Ball, leader of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt (translation: all humans are born equal, without divine hierarchies)
The Enlightenment & Revolutionary Era: As ideas of liberty and equality spread, revolutionaries in France, Haiti, and the Americas began challenging the notion of kings and emperors. While not all succeeded in building egalitarian societies, the underlying demand was the same: break the chains of hereditary and authoritarian rule.
“Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” — Jean-Jacques Rousseau
“Liberty, equality, fraternity — or death.” — French Revolutionary slogan
19th–20th Century Anarchists & Socialists: The modern phrasing of No Masters, No Kings emerges prominently in anarchist and socialist circles. Thinkers like Mikhail Bakunin and Emma Goldman popularized the rejection of both state and capital — warning that replacing kings with presidents or bosses was just swapping one master for another.
“The liberty of man consists in this: that he obeys no other man, but solely the laws of nature.” — Mikhail Bakunin
“Anarchism stands for the liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion; the liberation of the human body from the dominion of property; liberation from the shackles and restraint of government.” — Emma Goldman
Spanish Civil War (1936–1939): Antifascist militias, including anarchists, socialists, and international brigades, fought against Franco’s fascist forces under banners emblazoned with antifascist slogans — No Masters, No Kings among them. It symbolized a refusal to submit to fascist, royalist, or authoritarian rule.
“Better to die on your feet than live on your knees.” — Dolores Ibárruri, Spanish antifascist leader
Punk Rock & Antifascist Subcultures: In the late 20th century, the phrase bled into punk rock, hardcore, and other countercultures. Bands and activists wore it on patches, jackets, and flyers, using it as shorthand for rebellion against all forms of imposed hierarchy — from the state to the church to corporate power.
“No gods, no masters.” — Popular anarchist slogan, adopted widely by punk and DIY movements
Today: In the 21st century, the phrase has resurfaced with new relevance. As people confront rising authoritarianism, economic inequality, and digital surveillance, the cry of No Masters, No Kings speaks not just to political systems but to all mechanisms of control.
It’s a banner under which workers, activists, artists, and everyday resisters gather — united by the belief that freedom means nothing if you’re still kneeling.
Why It Matters in the Digital Age
Today, the fight against masters and kings doesn’t always play out in the streets — it plays out in your pocket, on your screen, in your workplace, in your data, and even in your mind.
The tools of control have evolved. They’re no longer just armies, police, or prison bars — they’re algorithms, contracts, surveillance, and narratives designed to make you feel small, divided, and powerless.
Here’s why the antifascist credo matters now more than ever:
Surveillance Capitalism Companies like Meta, Google, and Amazon harvest data at a scale no authoritarian government in history could have dreamed of. Every click, swipe, and search is tracked, analyzed, and sold — often to manipulate your choices, behaviors, and even elections.
Example: Cambridge Analytica’s role in the Brexit vote and the 2016 U.S. election — using stolen Facebook data to micro-target and manipulate public opinion. → Why it matters: When unelected corporations can shape political outcomes, democracy bends under corporate kings.
Algorithmic Manipulation Social media algorithms prioritize outrage, fear, and division because it keeps you scrolling. This fuels polarization, amplifies extremist content, and creates echo chambers where people are isolated from reality.
Example: YouTube’s radicalization spiral — studies have shown how casual viewers can get funneled into extremist or conspiracy content by the platform’s recommendation engine. → Why it matters: Masters of the digital realm weaponize human psychology, making us pawns in a game we don’t even see.
Economic Exploitation Gig economy workers (Uber, DoorDash, Amazon delivery drivers) face hyper-surveillance, low pay, and “algorithmic bosses” that control their every move without accountability or union protections.
Example: Amazon’s warehouse workers tracked by handheld scanners, timed to the second, with bathroom breaks docked from productivity scores. → Why it matters: When human beings are treated as disposable cogs, No Masters, No Kings becomes a rallying cry for labor rights and dignity.
Authoritarian Creep Across the globe, authoritarian regimes have embraced digital tools to crush dissent. Facial recognition software, internet shutdowns, and social credit systems tighten the grip on populations.
Example: China’s social credit system — using mass surveillance and data analytics to punish “undesirable” behavior like dissent, activism, or even jaywalking. → Why it matters: The merger of state and tech creates modern kings with god-like reach — unless we resist.
🗣 Misinformation Warfare Strongmen and authoritarians use mass disinformation to flood the zone with chaos — not to convince you, but to exhaust you. When everything feels like a lie, people give up, and apathy sets in.
Example: Steve Bannon’s “flood the zone with shit” strategy — overwhelm the public with conflicting stories, conspiracies, and half-truths to erode trust in all institutions. → Why it matters: Tyranny thrives when the people stop believing they can tell truth from fiction.
Why It’s Not Hopeless
Recognizing these systems is the first step to resisting them. You’re not powerless just because the enemy is massive. In fact, history shows again and again: the bigger they are, the harder they fall when people organize.
No Masters, No Kings in the digital age means: Supporting movements for data privacy, open-source tools, and ethical tech. Backing labor unions and workers organizing in gig and tech sectors. Challenging disinformation, not by censoring, but by educating and building critical thinking. Refusing to be reduced to a product, a data point, or a mindless consumer.
⚔ How You Can Live the Credo
You don’t need to storm government buildings or chain yourself to fences to live by No Masters, No Kings — though props to those who do. For most people, resistance starts in everyday, cost-effective ways:
Stand Up in Your Daily Life
Challenge bigotry when you hear it — at work, in your family, online. It can be as simple as saying: “That’s not cool. Here’s why.”
Push back on exploitation — support fair wages, ethical workplaces, and small businesses over mega-corporations.
Refuse passive consumption — fact-check stories, investigate sources, and help others break out of echo chambers.
Example: See a viral post pushing conspiracies or hate? Drop a calm, factual counterpoint or a reliable link. It might not convince the poster, but it can change the minds of silent onlookers.
Join or Support Local Movements
Mutual aid groups — volunteer, donate, or spread the word. These groups help communities meet urgent needs without relying on the state or predatory charities.
Community defense networks — groups organizing against hate groups, defending marginalized communities, or providing protest support.
Labor unions and workers’ co-ops — even if you can’t unionize your own workplace, you can amplify, fund, or support those who are.
Example Organizations: 🌿 Food Not Bombs — feeding communities and protesting war spending. ⚒ Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) — historic radical union open to all workers. 🛡 United Against Hate — grassroots groups confronting far-right violence.
Educate Yourself & Others
You can’t fight what you don’t understand. Build your antifascist and stoic literacy:
Read: 📖 “How to Be an Antifascist” by Michael Seidman 📖 “Antifa: The Antifascist Handbook” by Mark Bray 📖 “The Conquest of Bread” by Peter Kropotkin (free online, public domain)
Listen: 🎧 Behind the Bastards (podcast breaking down authoritarian figures) 🎧 It Could Happen Here (podcast exploring U.S. collapse scenarios and resistance)
Follow & Support: ✊ Black Lives Matter ✊ Community bail funds (like The Bail Project) ✊ Independent journalists covering labor, resistance, and social movements (e.g., Unicorn Riot, Left Voice, Popular Front)
Digital Resistance & Data Autonomy
You don’t need money to take small but meaningful steps against corporate surveillance:
Switch to Signal or Session for encrypted messaging.
Use Firefox with privacy extensions (like uBlock Origin) instead of Chrome.
Support open-source software over corporate-controlled platforms.
Use a password manager and two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.
Example: Just moving your conversations off platforms like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger chips away at Meta’s surveillance empire.
Build Solidarity, Not Heroism
Remember: this fight isn’t about being the lone hero — it’s about collective action. Find people you trust. Organize, even if it’s small. Even a neighborhood book club or a few coworkers talking about conditions can spark change.
The bottom line: → You don’t have to be rich. → You don’t have to be famous. → You don’t even have to be loud.
You just have to act. Every small refusal, every small defense, every small act of defiance ripples outward. That’s how we live No Masters, No Kings — not just as words, but as a way of life.
Expanded Toolkit
📚 Books & Readings
These aren’t just “activist” reads — they’re survival guides, strategy manuals, and brain fuel:
“The Dispossessed” by Ursula K. Le Guin — anarchist sci-fi masterpiece that explores stateless societies and revolutionary struggle.
“Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution” by Peter Kropotkin — the OG argument for cooperation over competition.
“The Wretched of the Earth” by Frantz Fanon — an essential decolonial text on liberation, violence, and resistance.
“Pedagogy of the Oppressed” by Paulo Freire — a classic on critical consciousness and education as a tool for liberation.
“Manufacturing Consent” by Noam Chomsky — exposing how media serves power and shapes public opinion.
🎧 Podcasts & Media Channels
🎙 Popular Front — reporting on conflicts, uprisings, and antifascist movements globally.
🎙 Coffee with Comrades — interviews and radical commentary on social struggles.
🎙 Rebel Steps — a practical podcast on how to get involved in direct action and organizing.
🎥 Means TV — a worker-owned streaming platform with leftist films, documentaries, and shows.
🌐 Digital Security Tools
ProtonMail — encrypted email based in Switzerland.
Tor Browser — anonymized web browsing.
Tails OS — live operating system for privacy and anonymity.
Anti-Racist Action (ARA) — a decades-old network confronting white supremacy and fascist groups.
Abolish ICE / Mijente — immigrant justice and resistance to detention and deportation.
National Lawyers Guild (NLG) — legal support for activists, including protest legal defense.
Sunrise Movement — youth-led climate justice movement with an intersectional focus.
Extinction Rebellion (XR) — direct action climate group using civil disobedience tactics.
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief (MADR) — grassroots networks helping communities survive disasters and crises.
⚒ Worker & Labor Tools
Cooperative Development Foundation — learn how to start or support worker co-ops.
Labor Notes — grassroots labor movement news, education, and organizing tools.
ROAR Magazine — radical analyses on global social movements.
Strike Funds — local or national strike funds to support workers on the front lines.
🏴 Notable Figures to Follow or Study
Angela Davis — legendary abolitionist and scholar, still actively teaching and inspiring today.
Cornel West — radical philosopher, activist, and truth-teller on racism, class, and democracy.
Rojava Movement — Kurdish-led democratic confederalist project in northern Syria, practicing direct democracy, feminism, and ecological sustainability.
The Zapatistas (EZLN) — Indigenous rebel group in Chiapas, Mexico, building autonomous communities since the 1990s.
🛡 Activist Skill-Building Resources
The Anti-Racist Activist Resource List (compiled by SURJ)
Beautiful Trouble — a toolbox of creative protest tactics, case studies, and principles.
The ACLU — legal rights resources for protesters and activists.
No Masters, No Kings, No Surrender
The world can feel overwhelming — a storm of authoritarian creep, corporate greed, rising fascism, and systems designed to make you feel small and alone. But here’s the truth they never want you to remember:
You are not alone. You are not powerless. And you are not doomed.
Every moment you stand up, every time you refuse to obey, every time you organize, educate, or defend — you punch a hole in the walls they build to keep you caged.
You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to act — with others, with purpose, with heart.
This is the antifascist credo for the 21st century:
No Masters. No Kings. No Surrender.
It’s a commitment to your neighbors, your communities, and your future. It’s a living, breathing promise that we will never stop fighting for a world free from thrones, chains, and crowns — where power flows from the people, not over them.
Call to Action
If this speaks to you, don’t stop here. → Share this post. → Connect with a local group. → Download the resources. → Start the conversations. → Refuse to kneel.
Because when we fight together, we don’t just resist — we win.
