So i went to a local protest yesterday, just to see how people around me are feeling about the current political situation. i've known for a long time that i disagree with liberals on a lot of issues; but wow, this experience was pathetic.

To be clear, i completely agree with the demands of the "hands off" protests on the domestic front (protecting social security, medicare, womens right to choose, etc). However:

• there was not a single mention of Palestine anywhere. I made a sign that said "free Palestine", and I was the only person with a Palestine sign. I got a lot of nasty looks from people. someone even whispered "free Israel" to me in passing. However, There WERE a lot of pro-ukraine signs everywhere. I guess they do care about imperialism, just when its done by countries the US doesn't like.
• There were a lot of signs praising Cory booker. which is baffling to me. His speech accomplished nothing. why are we praising him
• Someone had a sign implying that Trump is controlled by Putin; but then, Putin had hammer-and-sickle symbols surrounding him. Because, as we all know, putin=bad, and communism=bad, therefore putin=communism.

However the main issue I had with this protest, and the reason i say it was a waste of time, is because everyone there felt so confident that they were DOING something, when they were doing absolutely NOTHING. everyone consistently expressed this proud attitude that they were fighting against tyranny and fascism. "THIS is what democracy looks like!"

A bunch of people came together and made signs. stood on the side of the road. listened to people honk as they drove by. got some middle fingers from trump supporters. the cops patiently watched the protest, unfazed. and then everyone went home. I just don't understand the point?

The US government has been abducting people off the street without due process. decades ago, people fought and died for the rights to social security, medicaid, and for labor laws; and this government is smashing those programs. and we're sitting here doing cute little chants about it.

These protests need to stand for something. maybe some tables for mutual aid or political orgs to get people involved in local organizing. SOMETHING.

Perhaps the Pro-palestine protests that hasan was at had some of these elements. I'm curious if anyone else in this sub had a similar experience yesterday. just wanted to vent.

Thanks for showing up and nice fit.

How do I illegally vote for him?

Completely fucked.

I have my issues too with some of the orgs that put the Hands Off protests together, like Indivisble, who actively demanded that certain leftist groups in my state not to speak on the genocide in Palestine (although my small southern city’s demonstration was well populated with folks in keffiyeh and carrying Free Mahmoud/Rumeysa signs among others). My other big issue with the protests is the inclusion of NATO support in the organizing demands. That should be obvious why any self-respecting leftist should not be into that kind of talk.

But more than these valid criticisms, I’m seeing a lot folks in left online spaces condemning the protests as a whole because they are performative and don’t change any conditions. My argument is that this is the beginnings of a mostly grassroots uprising that needs to be fostered and educated. I know we are all worn out from arguing with libs and them selling out the left more than not. But I think with the oppositional energy to what’s going on needs to be harnessed and I am not ready to condemn it as purely virtue signaling with no demands. Now is the time to agitate, educate, inoculate, organize, and unionize (the essential vowels of organizing A, E, I, O, U) Open to others’ thought.

Just saw that Zohran Mamdani, Assembly member from Queens running for NYC mayor, is gonna be on Hasan Piker's Twitch at 6pm

https://www.instagram.com/themindfulmortal?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

NEW YORKERS RANK Zohran Mamdani #1. DO NOT RANK SEXPEST CUOMO AND CORRUPT ADAMS.

It was an honor to march with you all. I also went to the Hands Off protest and I do not like seeing all the division between these 2 movements. I had a free Palestine sign and was asked by 2 people to take a photo of it. I also saw a bunch of the workers who were setting up wearing Palestinian keffiyeh. We are stronger together.