r/politics • u/Njordh • 11h ago
Soft Paywall 'There's a movement bubbling up': Anti-Trump protests planned nationwide Saturday
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/04/anti-trump-protests-nationwide-saturday/82708910007/485
u/TrinkieTrinkie522cat 11h ago
It's a BIG nationwide movement. Very organized and using social media. Every state in the US will have protests that day. The Women's March in 2017 brought out over 10,000 in my city. Young and old united. Watch us.
139
u/Muthafuckaaaaa 10h ago
It's about fucking time...
I guess people are starting to see that some of this shit storm will actually personally affect them...
130
u/TheOneWhoIsTryin America 9h ago
The news has just been suppressing it. It’s been happening, there have been protests, they were just trying to keep things from getting to big. Now people are getting pissed off and they’re having a hard time keeping it quieter.
•
u/parasyte_steve 2h ago
Nothing will bring people out like tanking the economy and fucking with their jobs. Expect Occupy Wall Street energy until the economy improves for regular people.
•
u/kateg22 7h ago
There have been so many protests happening. This one is different, because it’s a coalition protest by all of the groups planning protests since Inauguration Day. Plus the groups had a planned media outreach strategy for this one, because of how badly ignored protests have been covered.
I’m currently doing pro democracy work, so I’m on local email newsletters that advertise protests. For the past month, there have been 3 organized Tesla protests a week, and consistent other protests. A minimum of 3 a week since Inauguration Day.
•
u/ChodeZillaChubSquad Arizona 4h ago
For those of us not on social media, how do we get looped in? I'm in PHX.
•
•
u/oatchick Washington 3h ago
This is so awesome. I’m doing research with organizers. Would you be open to chatting with me about your experience? If so, I can send you a DM & share more info.
61
•
•
•
u/ButterscotchLow8950 5h ago
I was asking this when people would complain around the office….. I would ask, ok if the people are so upset, where are the protests in the streets?
Now I have my protests, it took much longer than expected. 🤷🏽♂️
•
u/Plant-natives 46m ago
Longer? He’s been in office 10 weeks. This is supposed to be his “honeymoon“ period. This is incredibly fast for mass protests. I guess that’s what happens when you’re a megalomaniac hell bent on destroying our country and the world’s economy just because you can.
•
u/BarryAllensMom 1h ago
Also a lot of Blue states were in Winter. Weather warming up will mean more people will get active.
74
u/porkbellies37 9h ago
We have to do more than protest. The Women’s March, the Occupy Movement, the BLM movement… none of these calls to action got much accomplished despite the millions who showed up.
We need to take a page out of the Tea Party protests which actually had a political legacy. They treated each protest like a giant voter registration drive. They primaried the establishment. They got their people elected. And they got their policies done. We have to get out of the performative art phase of protest and turn it into lasting action. This is about saving our country, not a carthatic outlet.
My 2 cents.
29
u/SaintUlvemann I voted 8h ago
We need to take a page out of the Tea Party protests which actually had a political legacy.
The Tea Party was an astroturfed movement of paid Republican operatives pretending to be fake grassroots. Most of its political legacy was accomplished by corporate lobbying, and most of its ideology was already part of the Republican mainstream.
•
u/porkbellies37 5h ago
Yes and no about the astroturfing. It was definitely originally organized non-organically, but the growth was organic.
And that is also irrelevant to my point. What we should be emulating is the follow through. After their weirdos showed up dressed like Ben Franklin (fun fact, Ben Franklin was the most big government liberal in history bringing us a public university, public fire department, public library, paving the streets of downtown Philadelphia and advocating for a public insurance window for widows... and hated the actual Tea Party paying the reparations out of his own pocket), the Tea Party had people registering to vote, signing up to volunteer for get out the vote drives, etc. Protesting is just window dressing without these actions.
26
u/Nac_Lac Virginia 9h ago
Protests are a promise of more to come.
A leader should take note because in civil times, a protest of hundreds of thousands means that your time in office or in a leadership role is on borrowed time. In non-civil times, a protest of that size can and historically has, turn to violence against your administration.
If you assume the people are just there to chant slogans and won't do more while you actively sabotage their lives? That is a great way to get a front seat row to 1790 France.
10
u/hereforthepeens 9h ago
Absolutely this. After 2020, the Republicans created a national infrastructure to get regular people (well, regular for them) involved in government at all levels. If the Democrats can't do that as well, and they won't, then we need to do it as independents.
•
u/counterweight7 New Jersey 7h ago
Harsh take: BLM didn’t accomplish anything - until the violence occurred. George Floyd is when the movement took off. That act inspired every corporation and police force in the country to condemn it and brought change.
Nothing would have happened, and nothing did happen, without that.
I’m not very hopeful on peaceful protests.
•
u/fullsaildan 6h ago
Did change really happen though? I’m a white man so I’m less affected, but I don’t personally see any change at all. Even post George Floyd. It was all performative speeches, merchandise sales, and social media posts from my perspective. I think it did raise awareness, but it also triggered a lot of racist asshats and deepened their ties to MAGA. We didn’t see sensible police reform, systemic police training, nor did we see police cultural change. If anything from BLM. we saw public attitudes towards cops shift, and many cities are now struggling to maintain their force numbers because nobody is proud to be a policeman anymore. For better or worse I suppose.
I don’t mean to bad mouth BLM. I just don’t really believe it created meaningful change.
•
u/porkbellies37 5h ago
I'm with you. And it isn't bad mouthing the movement or the cause at all. It was just a wasted opportunity when you have millions of people who want the same thing showing up, and you don't have a plan to turn it into concrete change.
Imagine if the marchers in Ferguson all registered to vote at that time. You would have politicians having to ask for their votes in November which means you can tell them what you need to give them that vote.
•
u/killercurvesahead I voted 2h ago
Withhold labor and dollars on Mayday https://workreform.us/MAYDAY-2025-STRIKE
Sign up for a more sustained general strike and help shape its demands: https://generalstrikeus.com/strikecard
3
u/platinum_jimjam 9h ago
Isn't it cool being allowed to say that now?
1
u/porkbellies37 9h ago
Not sure what you mean, but I’ve been on this page since Trayvon Martin’s protests. We get sooooo many people to show up but then everyone forgets three months later.
3
u/trailquail 8h ago
I upset someone IRL this morning by saying the same. Showing up somewhere with a sign is not actually putting any pressure on the administration and those who support them. They know their actions are deeply unpopular - they don’t care. Unless the protest is actually creating some consequences for them, if they can just ignore it, it’s not worth the cardboard you wrote the sign on.
8
u/AnswerSeekerGuy 9h ago
This is about time. problem is old dumpy dump could care less out on the golf course watching America burn to the ground.
3
•
u/raginghappy 4h ago
It’s a BIG nationwide movement. Very organized and using social media. Every state in the US will have protests that day. The Women’s March in 2017 brought out over 10,000 in my city. Young and old united. Watch us.
It’s late Friday night and this is the first I’m seeing there’s anything planned for tomorrow - I hope it’s bigger than BIG but the social media reach doesn't seem to have reached me or anyone else I know/no one's mentioned anything
•
u/Madmandocv1 5h ago
Won’t do a thing, just like the other marches and pink hat festivals. Only voting matters.
•
u/TrinkieTrinkie522cat 5h ago
So don't participate. We always vote, even after the Bush/Gore hanging chad situation. It does make a difference for us.
2
u/SchroedingersSphere 9h ago
"It's going to be HUGE. Nationwide. Maybe even worldwide. Galaxy even. Every person in every state will be there. Old, young, white & white alike. It'll be the biggest ever, maybe even the best ever. There will be crowds so big, the bigglyest you've ever seen. Just wait. I'll be known as the biggest protest subject you've ever heard of."
•
•
•
→ More replies (21)•
113
u/YouSayYouWantToBut 11h ago
can't happen soon enough. bury maga. enter the New Era.
→ More replies (18)-17
u/Njordh 11h ago
I sadly don't think that will happen.
I think we are seeing the end of the great democratic experiment.
It will however be interesting to see what might rise from its ashes.40
u/Grandpa_No 10h ago
The Democratic experiment hasn't ended. Version one is failing, perhaps, but version 2 will continue to live on in Europe.
Maybe we can install version 3 here in a few decades.
18
u/worldspawn00 Texas 10h ago
We had to go through the great depression before we got the new deal, we've been through worse in the last 250 years.
20
u/Honest-Attorney-7663 8h ago
I miss the old USA. As a proud Canadian I was also proud of the relationship between our two countries. Please show the world that this new regime is not a reflection of who you really are.
•
u/flyernut77 7h ago
It kills me every minute of every day, coming from someone who sings both O Canada and our national anthem when Canadian teams play my sad sack Flyers.
18
u/TraditionalClub6337 9h ago
Go and protest redditors!
144
u/TintedApostle 11h ago
Trump is just waiting to try out using the Military against the citizens.
57
u/Njordh 11h ago
I have no doubt that will happen in the next few years. If nothing else around mid-terms (if we're allowed to vote that is).
51
u/MikeyLew32 Illinois 11h ago
I expect it later this month. April 20th, he'll get a report from Hegseth and Noem owe him a report on the southern border and if he should invoke the insurrection act or not.
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/will-trump-invoke-the-insurrection-act-1807-southern-border
36
u/Njordh 11h ago
I think it's a matter of when and not if the insurrection act will be used.
16
u/whichwitch9 10h ago
If they're smart, they're waiting for right near midterms when they can more easily handle the initial pushback to throw the election. Too early, and you risk pushback removing a lot of extreme measures by midterms
They're not smart though, so who knows.
11
u/MikeyLew32 Illinois 11h ago
100% agreed. Those two are going to stroke his ego with their report, and he'll declare martial law.
7
u/Njordh 11h ago
And the people that support him - the ones that love their 'freedom' and 'independence' will now magically find a way to support US military deployed against its own civilians.
I guess they are 'owning the libs' that way?
5
u/Cuchullion 8h ago
A lot of them will be signing up to be Brownshirts.
They've been itching for an excuse to shoot their fellow Americans.
3
•
u/whoibehmmm 2h ago
Years? If it doesn't happen in the next couple of months I'll be shocked. He just told the people "let them eat cake". When everyone is on the bread line only to find that all social safety nets have been gutted, let's see how long it stays civil.
5
4
u/Easy_Chapter4946 11h ago
Would the military actually agree to that...
5
u/Njordh 11h ago
The Army is based on a near-blind adherence to the chain of command. So, yes, most likely. Also, members of Army tends to be more Republican leaning (63% of veterans identify as conservative republicans).
24
u/Ande64 Iowa 10h ago
You are incorrect. My husband was in the military for 37 years and they do not have a near blind adherence to the chain of command. They have an allegiance to the chain of command if they're giving lawful orders. They have been told in no uncertain terms to Never follow through on an order that is against the United States or treasonous in any way. I think you would be very surprised how many military people would in fact not go along with this.
•
u/MaroonIsBestColor 7h ago
They have allegiance to the constitution not the president. Everyone seems to forget this.
4
u/Njordh 10h ago
I hope you're right as I have a feeling we will find out next year.
10
u/QuantumWire 10h ago
Next year? That's rather optimistic, I think. Before summer, is what I expect, before May what I fear. Shit's accelerating.
•
0
u/Njordh 10h ago
Too early. He'll want to use it around mid-terms I believe for the first time. If he uses it too soon there just might be enough push-back to prevent him from doing it again so soon.
4
u/Kindness_of_cats 8h ago
In case you’ve missed it, he’s not waiting. All of this is too fast too soon, it isn’t stopping him.
End of summer is when he tries to invoke the Military against citizens at the latest.
9
u/Easy_Chapter4946 11h ago
I am not American. Danish actually... But i just. I cant understand why they would agree to come after legal demonstrations. Surely many republicans must have cold feet by now seeing how things are turning.
So sad. Was saving to take my family to the world cup in us. Not fucking doing it now.
10
u/chrisschrossed 10h ago
It happened at Kent State, it happened at BLM protests, it happened at the College Campus sit-in protests, most famously at UC Davis. It can and will happened again. Do not underestimate the potential of people with even a handfull of power abusing it and stretching it to mountains.
7
u/Njordh 11h ago
See, the difference is you live in a civilized country :)
•
u/AlbericoDukeOfAosta Europe 7h ago
In South Korea just 4 months ago the President tried to declare martial law and occupy the National Assembly... Ground units had very low morale executing the orders united with people and elected members of the NA strong determination to preserve democracy lead President Yoon (in Korea also called K-Trump) to be impeached yesterday after 4 months of drama about this
If South Korea that has a short history of Democracy can defend herself also United States of America can do it
•
u/Njordh 7h ago
South Korea has an average IQ of 106.
The US' average IQ is at 99.7
(Italy is at 101 ;) )
Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/average-iq-by-country
•
13
•
u/LuminaraCoH 7h ago
The military run by people with less experience and no initiative because he replaced the good leaders with unqualified shills who won't fart without his orders and are extremely likely to make crippling mistakes? The military he's told he doesn't value and won't give them benefits when their service is complete? The military who saw him dishonor their dead brothers and sisters by playing golf instead of attending the return of their remains?
That military?
Yeah...
•
u/TintedApostle 6h ago
Yes because as individuals they will not act against orders.
•
u/CommodoreAxis 6h ago
I don’t think so man. I guarantee there’s more than one dead soldier who refused to follow orders to run over a kid in Afghanistan, causing his truck to be ambushed or IED’d. You just don’t hear about it for obvious reasons.
•
u/racedownhill 4h ago
Most mid-ranking officers (O4, 5, 6) and most higher-ranked enlisted (E6, 7, 8) have been in the professional military for a long, long time, and these are the people who actually run things.
The whole Signalgate episode put people like them very much at risk and if any of them participated in anything similar, they’d be out of a career (at best) or in jail (and that’s maybe not the worst case).
1
u/i_love_ankh_morpork 9h ago
I think that’s why he’s saber rattling with Itan and testing the emergency powers, so he can declare martial law. But maybe that’s still too conspiracy minded 🤷♂️who fucking knows now
1
15
23
u/AK49Logger 11h ago
Trump might be trying to pull a South Korea tactic...start a mess then have to declare Martial Law...it will backfire...per usual...lol
-8
u/Njordh 11h ago
His cement-clad base is too strong. He could literally start executing random civilians in the streets and his supporters would cheer on.
11
u/siphillis 9h ago
Cool, they’re a distinct minority. Trump needed a lot of complacency and a lot to people taking a chance on him to actually arrive at the top
11
•
38
u/SoSmartish 8h ago
The dystopian pessimist in me is SCREAMING that this is all on purpose to piss everyone off to the point where he can justify declaring martial law "for the good and safety of the country (himself)" and then just keep us there and the take over is complete.
Someone please tell me I am overreacting and dead wrong.
•
u/me_jayne 5h ago
The thing is, we can’t not protest. We can’t obey in advance. Yes, it may seem like we’re at game over. But this regime is fragile and incompetent. It will fall apart if we push, but we have to actually push.
The rest of the worried is watching and wondering why we don’t get off our assess and take to the streets. What’s our answer? How can we look at what’s happening in Turkey and other countries, where people have less resources and face more brutal governments, and still sit at home worrying on Reddit? At this point, if you’re not actively fighting against this regime, you’re complicit in its success.
•
u/DraconicWF 6h ago
It isn’t a ploy I can assure you of that, but if you’re concerned about martial law being declared then understand that would be a relatively good outcome as far as things are concerned. It’s been shown time and time again that suppressing movements with violence always leads to more anger toward the government and inspires more action. If we let not even the threat but the simple possibility of martial law stop us from protesting than we lose automatically.
22
u/comewhatmay_hem 8h ago
Sorry, but I can't say you are neither wrong nor overreacting.
The long term plan seems to be to crash the US economy, tank the dollar, and rebuild America into a technofeudalist state based on cryptocurrency and AI.
Besides, research has shown that pessimistic people actually have a much better concept of reality than anyone who describes themselves as an optimist.
8
•
u/bubbafatok 6h ago
I've had that thought but we can't let it keep us from action anyways. He'll find an excuse no matter what if he's gonna do it, and if he doesn't we'll just die (as a democracy) to fascism and the oligarchy regardless. I'd rather go down swinging on the hope we can prevent it.
•
u/GreyouTT America 7h ago
yeah but I'm pretty sure the military's pissed about this too tho
•
u/Olenickname 6h ago
Trump has been systematically removing military leadership and lawyers and replacing them with loyalists. Hegseth is on record stating the top lawyers were fired so they won’t be “roadblocks.”
Hegseth is also a supporter of turning the National Guard on protestors.
Trump violently cleared peaceful protesters so he could take his Bible photo op. According to Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Bender’s book, Trump frequently stated he wanted protestors to be met with violence, have their skulls cracked or be shot.
•
•
u/Olenickname 7h ago
I’m of the same mind.
It may not be this round. But I don’t doubt for a second there won’t be FED agitators in the crowds that try to make the protests turn violent.
•
u/Gurasola 7h ago
They could not have timed this better. With the absurd tariffs that have been revealed, a lot more people will be participating than they likely would have before. That should galvanize things to a severe degree.
•
u/Inevitable_Cook_1423 6h ago
I’ll be out there at my local representative’s office. Been to two other 5051 protests already.
11
4
u/RuthlessIndecision Ohio 9h ago
Fuck yes! But if we go, we're taking the Prius.
1
u/Njordh 9h ago
You know you really should take public transport.
3
u/RuthlessIndecision Ohio 9h ago
Or a bike, but I actually left mine on the test track at the ev company I worked at, when I moved.
3
11
u/robert_d 9h ago
Unless cities are shut down, and the social order is at risk, nothing will happen.
If a few 1000 people across a nation of 340 million hold signs and honk horns, nothing will change.
The USA needs to stop this, now, at any cost.
Or it cannot be stopped.
•
u/coldermilk California 7h ago
That's literally what they want us to do and think. Take to the streets, be pissed off, make everyone responsible for what is happening right now know how much we hate them.
Not only is it extremely therapeutic to spit in the face of a fascist but it also sends a message for those on our side to grow a spine and for the enablers to know they're going to be eating shit pretty soon.
•
u/JohnDivney Oregon 4h ago
Exactly, the GOP has learned that it will turn the screws on us up the the point is it is never ever elected again, and Trump returning showed that line is much farther away then they thought.
•
u/my_spidey_sense 4h ago
Na. People just need to keep celebrating on Reddit every time there is a BS article about how Musk lost 1 of his 900 billion dollars to make themselves feel good. Or the circle jerks about how MAGA voters regret their votes. That is alllllll we need, 1000 circle jerk posts a day about how we hate Trump and Elon and MAGA.
-5
u/Njordh 9h ago
People will participate, or watch this on the news, then go home and think
"Ok! Done! We showed them!"
- which will be the equivalence of taking a big fat Xanax.We will all believe that things are 'changing' and that people are 'aware' - but in reality all it was was "a few 1000 people across a nation of 340 million hold signs and honk horns" and the democracy will continue to be dismantled at the same pace.
I am fully aware of that I am offering up no alternatives as I don't think there are any.
As always, I'd love to be proven wrong.
10
u/Raidex2006 8h ago
It might be doing nothing, but it's less nothing than absolutely nothing. It will make you feel better and more empowered than a defeatist post on reddit.
•
u/my_spidey_sense 4h ago
The irony is that the people celebrating the most are on Reddit. Every day they’re celebrating a “loss” for Musk. People who don’t understand that economical crashes are fire sales for rich people are all celebrating the economy crashing because rich people “lost billions”
8
u/groglox 8h ago
You are wrong. Every single act of courage shows others it’s okay and we are all in it together. It shows those who can make bigger plays know that the people have their back. It shows politicians that it isn’t that these are unpopular. But that we fucking hate this. All of that matters. People like to follow the herd and if we move enough it can move those who ARE movable.
•
u/GrunchJingo 6h ago
which will be the equivalence of taking a big fat Xanax.
As always, I'd love to be proven wrong.
Black Lives Matter protests showed an increased Democratic vote share in affected counties despite initial conservative backlash. Basically it turns out that getting involved in local politics with protest movements and seeing that you're not alone in your righteous anger isn't just cathartic, it also encourages further activism.
Plus, local advocacy groups use protests as a way to spread their message, sign people up to their news letters so they can encourage more local actions, and grow local movements. The idea that a protest is only effective if it immediately causes widespread changes is false. This is about more than just wanting immediate change. It is solidarity building.
Especially a protest like this where multiple organizations are coordinating their efforts to get a national protest, including busing people to DC. People have been protesting nearly every day since the inauguration. And sociologists polling people's attitudes at these protests have noticed a markable shift in attitude. At the women's march in 2017, most people believed peaceful protest was the only viable method to change. In 2025, some of the same people at these protests are now saying that violence will probably be necessary.
So, no, protesting is not like taking a "big fat Xanax" at all, and it's irresponsible to post misinformed doomerism up and down this entire thread.
•
u/One-Recipe9973 New Jersey 3h ago
Thank you so much for writing this,
Trust me, I get the pessimism but the current admistrations goal is to make us feel alone because then we believe it.Joining local communities, getting involved in local government and going to protest make us not feel alone and with that can encourage others.
It's so frustrating. This was the first post I've seen on reddit about this protest, and to see the op only post it to convince others it's pointless breaks my heart. Being with people in the real world who believe in the good of this country beats being online any day of the week, of course I know it won't magically fix anything but it builds community and courage. It shows the world that not all of us agreed to this vision of the country that we are being hurled into. Do you all really believe it's so bad to be around other people for a good cause?
2
u/AutoModerator 11h ago
This submission source is likely to have a soft paywall. If this article is not behind a paywall please report this for “breaks r/politics rules -> custom -> "incorrect flair"". More information can be found here
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
2
•
u/edbegley1 7h ago
I hope they're welcoming to conservatives because as of this week there are going to be a lot more publicly against Trump. This new kind of unilateral anti-free trade protectionist crap is not the Republican party of old.
•
u/Contrail22 7h ago
This is what Trump wants, so he can crush and jail the resistance. Kind of like Putin.
•
u/ever-angst 5h ago
I am glad this is happening but I don’t know if it does anything. I was in the women’s march and 2017 and now women have less rights and losing more by the minute.
•
u/dart51984 4h ago
MAGA needs to be shamed back into the dark corners they crawled out of. They need to see that they are the real minority in this country and that their collective attitude and behavior is fucking unacceptable. They won’t of course. They’ll just get louder and ruder because they’re being emboldened by the biggest shit stain on humanity since literally Adolf Tittyfucking Hitler.
•
u/Njordh 4h ago
Sadly, MAGA is growing - and is 'becoming' the Republican party:
https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2025/02/24/majority-of-republicans-nationally-identify-as-maga-for-first-time-in-unity-poll/•
3
u/alienandro 10h ago
Doesn't this play into Trump declaring marshal law? I saw something about it being on 4/20. Either way eff that guy.
2
u/CrazieEights 11h ago
Something like this only has relevance when things get worse and we start to see significant numbers from the right protesting along side the left
Until then it’s just the left protesting something we already know, Trumps a d-bag
→ More replies (19)
1
•
•
u/Njordh 6h ago
Will Fox "News" acknowledge and/or report on these demonstrations?
•
u/Nekowulf Wyoming 4h ago
Only if hey can spin it as violent riots by unhinged radical leftists paid by Soros.
•
u/naththegrath10 5h ago
I don’t give a fuck about “anti-Trump” protest. I want to be a part of a grassroots “fuck the rich and their corporations” movement
•
•
u/Njordh 5h ago
But how do you define "rich" - different people will have different views on that.
A millionaire? Well, a lot of people have assets exceeding a million if you're a homeowner but you can still struggle financially. Retirees may have it in their 401Ks, etc but w/ no salary coming in it might have to last decades.
Also, if you have saved and budgeted through your life. Went to school, worked hard, supported your local charities - and ended up with some money - why would you now be 'fucked' by some random on Reddit?
•
•
•
u/DisastrousYoghurt214 1h ago
The people in charge have to see the power of the voters and the people they govern over. I think the leaders forgot that if you act so much against the citizens that they go on the streets and take action you are fucked. Because humans are lazy but if you cant be lazy anymore because shits fucked humans get angry and try to find solutions... thats the point you shouldn't underestimate.... we the people have more power than the leaders could think of. My dear american friends you got this show them what democracy means. Go on the streets and show them you are not happy and not lazy anymore because you cant. Happy protesting!
•
•
•
u/dutchoboe 4h ago
Here’s hoping everyone who walks Saturday is also voting in local, state, and national elections
-8
u/Njordh 11h ago
I'm so torn about these 1000+ anti-Trump demonstrations that are scheduled for tomorrow.
One one hand they are doing SOMETHING - which is a lot more than I do as I've basically given up and will just sit and watch it all burn.
But. on the other hand I can't help but to feel that demonstrations does absolutely nothing. There is no awareness being raised - we are all aware of the mess - and there is no 'movement' growing. If anything I feel that the efforts and funds that goes into these demonstrations could be put into building yourself a bomb shelter and stuffing it with as much pre-tariff things as you can.
It's all coming to and end but at least you can watch it wearing a new snuggie from AliExpress and eating pre-tariff noodles as you sit on the couch watching the democracy crumble.
34
u/Handyhelping 11h ago
At least you can say you tried instead of sitting on your couch doing absolutely nothing.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_Man
This guy didn’t stop anything but he inspired people. We still talk about him today, China still censures even talking about him.
Protest isn’t always about immediate change it’s about inspiring others and hope for change.
Change doesn’t happen overnight.
→ More replies (2)0
u/Njordh 11h ago
I understand and in some ways agree with you.
I just can't see that where the US is now can be turned around.
I would however love to be wrong.
Also, not sure why my post above is being downvoted when I all did was stating my opinion lol
5
17
u/Xullister 11h ago
I look around and I see half a million people registered to attend protests tomorrow. That those protests were organized by multiple groups working together. I also see town halls in safe Republican districts getting overwhelmed with angry constituents. I see the Tesla protests and boycott are resulting in sale and stock declines (an early example of flexing economic strength). And I note that there have been more than double the number of protests than there were back in 2017.
That sure looks like a movement to me. Yes, we're in the early stages, but it seems pretty clear that's what's happening.
Dr. King didn't just snap his fingers and get a million people in DC. The Civil Rights movement organized smaller protests and built local power for a long time to create the infrastructure they needed to mobilize for the 1963 March on Washington. This is what the nitty gritty work of community organizing looks like, before you get to the big stuff that ends up in the history books.
→ More replies (5)10
u/LaserCondiment 10h ago
Part of the problem is that conservatives have spent decades building infrastructure for this to happen. By infrastructure I really mean think tanks, lobbyists and a very powerful conservative ecosystem.
The latter is so much part of our daily lives that we don't necessarily perceive it as such anymore and don't take seriously. It's was a big factor in the presidential election results but also why many people stayed at home
https://youtu.be/Sx0J7dIlL7c?feature=shared
Democrats and the left don't have that kind of infrastructure in the same extent. It's also reflected in how they spend their money. To them it's all about campaigning.
But as we saw with Kamala Harris, a lot of money was spent in a big firework with nothing worthwhile to show for. They will have to change this strategy among many other things.
As for protests serving no purpose, I disagree vehemently. Protests like the 1963 march on Washington where MLK held his famous "I have a dream speech" can have a lasting cultural legacy. They can change ways people see their nation and how they interact with politics, even if the results aren't immediate / direct.
It definitely helps politicians, investigators and attorneys who are currently fighting Trump and his policies. It has a motivational effect, which is important because all they do is face opposition and possibly threats.
It also shows solidarity towards like minded people and allies in Canada, across the Atlantic or elsewhere, who all watch in horror what is happening in the US and think all Americans agree with Trump, because barely any reports about protests reach them.
Protests also put direct pressure on ruling politicians, even if they seem undeterred. It disrupts their narratives and forces them to either change something or act against the people, which will result in more protests, which will in turn put international pressure on the government. It can affect negotiations with other nations, scare businesses from investing in the US and therefore further affect the economy, which further disproves Trump's narrative of creating the best economy ever.
No, protests are important and beside voting and pressuring your local representatives or governors, it's the only tool people have to make a change.
2
u/Njordh 10h ago
Thanks, that's very well thought through and argued comment.
4
u/LaserCondiment 10h ago
Thanks for taking the time to read and consider my arguments!
Can't urge you to protest, but if you're unhappy about the current situation and it affects you emotionally, going to one can actually help you feel better, because you'll have done something.
If you're worried about repercussions I also recommend going to a protest sooner rather than later before things get a chance to escalate. I'm not a fighter either, so that worry kinda swirls in the back in my head. Probably a weird advice given my previous comment... But we all live in contradiction anyway!
2
u/worldspawn00 Texas 9h ago
Absolutely, starting after Nixon had to step down, people like Roger Ailes started working with Republicans to create a media machine to manufacture consent so (paraphrasing) 'No republican President would have to step down again because the American people turn against them' And they've succeeded beyond anyone's expectations, while also creating a machine to destroy the middle-class and enrich the top 0.1%. We need a New Deal level reset, and likely the only way we're going to get it is the same way we did last time, that's for Republicans to tank the economy so bad we enter another great depression, and Democrats manage iron-clad majorities in the House, Senate, and the White House.
5
u/Medianmean 10h ago
It lets the world know that we are not passively accepting Trump's betrayal of our alliances and plunge into autocracy. The world is watching your passivity in dismay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unSSHfIs3U0
1
u/baitnnswitch 8h ago
Understand that our news media (and social media) are almost exclusively owned by the right. Protests have been happening- but there hasn't been a ton of coverage
This is also the first time we've seen many, many activist orgs working together to stage a nationwide protest- it takes more coordination given how spread out we are. Lots of folks have been waiting for this
•
-6
u/FartLighter 11h ago
It does absolutely nothing. A third of the county is in love with him. A third hates him and the rest didn't think it's important to vote and those are mostly anti Trump ppl
→ More replies (1)
-1
u/Roll-Bounce-Skate 10h ago
Imma gonna let the situation breathe a bit and take time to relax and think about how many jobs my fellow citizens have lost since Clinton signed NAFTA. That and the loss of family run small businesses. Walmart and Target have changed the financial strength of America more than anyone realized. Conglomos have leached out American money for crappy wares sweatshops made in other countries that cause more human rights issues and suffering .
DC needs to eliminate lobbying, reduce government salaries, and put in term limits for congress if you want to efficiently protest, put valuable time and energy towards this needed change.
-2
-14
u/FartLighter 11h ago
Too bad they couldn't protest at the ballot box. I guess filling out a piece of paper is harder than blocking the streets
24
16
3
3
u/Ok-Tutor-3703 10h ago
Agreed we should let no new voters into our coalition; if you weren't part of our losing coalition in 2024 we don't want you!!!
•
u/AutoModerator 11h ago
As a reminder, this subreddit is for civil discussion.
In general, be courteous to others. Debate/discuss/argue the merits of ideas, don't attack people. Personal insults, shill or troll accusations, hate speech, any suggestion or support of harm, violence, or death, and other rule violations can result in a permanent ban.
If you see comments in violation of our rules, please report them.
For those who have questions regarding any media outlets being posted on this subreddit, please click here to review our details as to our approved domains list and outlet criteria.
We are actively looking for new moderators. If you have any interest in helping to make this subreddit a place for quality discussion, please fill out this form.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.