I went to a no kings protest in my very red, very rural area and there were hundreds of people. I expected like a dozen of us. Protestors filled the area on the side of the street we started on and people had to start filling in the other. We got nothing but honks of support and cheers from passing cars. It was such an amazing turnout and it was such a great experience.
Last year many articles were saying that if the protests hit 3% of the population Trump was done. Welp it’s happened, so what does his exit look like?
Otherwise this is performative bullshit while we need hard action.
3% of 320 million is like 9.6 million. I guess they needed another 1.6 million people before the world changes for them.
wp:Demographics of the United States
Increase 341,784,857 (2025 official estimate)[1]
331,449,281 (2020 census)[2]
Density Increase 96.8/sq mi (37.4/km2)
3% of 341 million is 10.23 million; but yeah, it seems to be growing.
Yep. The idea that if the marches hit 3% things will suddenly get better is a fallacy though. The US is far too large and sparse for that 3% rule to work like some are hoping. Its a lot of people, and good on everyone for going out, but i think actual change requires a bit more.
Everyone forgot that there is a hidden big good function for protests more than just a good way to show unity
The hidden function is to enable people to be together so they can socialize, get to know each other, and brainstorm on what they can do together to make things better in some way. Brainstorming, doing, and collaborating united
Everybody in a protest getting things done is more effective than a protest where everyone is only just walking with signs
Right! For example I found out people are organizing like in Minneapolis for if/when ICE ramps up anything here. There were people handing out cards with a number to call to report ICE activity and others organizing to help affected families. Respect to Minneapolis for being a model for the country.
I suppose it also indicates a level of commitment.
e.g. it’s one thing to post on some internet site, another to meet people IRL at a place of interest.
It needs a trifecta. Protests, Politics, and “Persuasion”.
The protests give weight to the political group. They also give cover and a place to organise for harder actions.
The political elements act to focus the will of the protestors, and provide guidance to the agitators.
The “Persuasion” group add teeth to the political demands. They also act to defend the protestors, when the government gets aggressive.
The 3 need to work together to achieve major changes. “The Troubles”, in northern island are a good example. The IRA didn’t achieve much/anything practical. What they did was force the UK government to sit down and negotiate in (vaguely) good faith. The protests and marches acted to show large scale support for the changes.
Against an intelligent, aware government, the need for violence is implicit, rather than explicit. It’s a lot better to engage early and diffuse political hot potatoes. Unfortunately, the US government doesn’t seem like they will take the hints.
The marches should be used to crystallise the other 2 requirements. A political agency, to act as a voice. As well as those willing to go further, to act as the muscle.
The mythical 3.5% rule is to keep protests peaceful, which only helps the oppresser
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I read the entire thing when it came out. And it read like bullshit propaganda to keep people from rising up and threatening the existence of the status quo
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and your alternative to confronting the US police, military, and the several 10s of million who voted for Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024—and I suppose at least half of those who voted for Dubya—is …,?
First thing everyone in America can do is buy and learn how to safely use, and store a firearm. It won’t be the first line of action that should be taken, but it’s important for when they refuse to cede power and use violence against everyone.
More people need to be trained to defend themselves, and their freedoms.
Hard agree. Watch the same people sit out the midterns because on a single issue du jour again. Calling it now. Happy to be proven wrong.
IMO, by that time, oil prices will fall a bit (due to alternative sources, increased electric car use, more paying toll fees to Iran, and/or maybe, just maybe, more Americans cycling, walking, and using public transit), and/or many Americans will get used to the higher prices (the left because some of them like increased gas prices as a check on over-consumption, and MAGAts will not protest it, because Trump could punch a MAGAt in the face and he will say, “Thank you, Mister President. May I have another?”).
(9 million ÷ 330 million) < 2.8%
340 million x 3% = 10.2 million
Math
Welp it’s happened, so what does his exit look like?
Give it until November since no one can really do anything until then.
And if November doesn’t change it because his administration creates it impossible to vote, wait until a bullet changes things.
The side that wants to advocate for guns better get ready when the other side starts using them. I’d say to ask Charlie Kirk but he’s a little quiet recently.
There might be alternatives to triggering a civil war.
Unfortunately with a population of almost 350 million people, it will take more like 12 million to hit the 3.5% (not 3%), so there’s still a ways to go. Each one has been bigger than the previous one so maybe it’s possible, especially if the consequences of this idiotic war get really bad for the average USian–and I don’t see how that won’t get way way worse.
The other thing about that paper with the 3.5% thing, it was talking about sustained protests, not just one every few weeks or months.
On the bright side I don’t see how trump will be able to pretend to be compos mentis for even another year, let alone the rest of his term. But on the dim side, his regime will remain in place even if he’s goes tomorrow.
Didn’t even know this was happening… I would have gone if I knew. How does one even get information on protests? They seem to be heavily suppressed.
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It’s not too late to join - No Kings has more events coming up.
In the meantime, your wallet is your strongest voice in the eyes of this administration. Think carefully about where you spend your hard earned money. A single day of avoiding Walmart and Amazon is not meaningful if you give them your money tomorrow.
Find local businesses that deserve your money and spend your money with them instead. Buy less and buy better quality items that last longer. Reduce consumerism and give homemade gifts or experiences instead of more junk nobody needs. Use lending libraries, swap groups, and other methods to reduce your contribution to the economy, which is frankly the only thing your government cares about.
Nokings.org ? You do have to look for it. Not going to show up on your Instagram feed…
Nokings.org is the site I went to. I just keep an eye on their site and check it like once a week to see if anything is happening in my area
I got a warning from uBlock when visiting your link. Perhaps you meant nokings.org ?
I did. I’ll fix the comment now
I just googled it after the last one. Honestly though, I saw a lot less coverage on this one. I’m surprised that it was bigger.
We seriously need a countrywide and also even individual online real-time communities for states and cities focused on getting things done together.
Especially to inform each other on when these events are
I know many people who would have gone including myself.
Keep getting more people active, and most importantly connected with each other in-person and online. We all got this!! First we need to better connect!
Edit: Stoat, and Matrix are ideal for the platforms to build up these online 3rd spaces
As shitty as they are, you probably need an Instagram profile. Then you “like” the anti-maga posts. My feed was pretty much full of No Kings stuff. I knew about the protests for a few months.
Hopefully they are using the opportunity to register voters and motivate people for November otherwise it won’t accomplish much.
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no kings >>> progressive victory circle jerk
Or yah know a representation of the most important right we have in the US.
I understand your level of stupid, I used to be a registered republican.
Vote for what, the system that led us to where we are right now?
Here’s an idea, at the next protest help people register to vote make sure you keep your papers in order. In case if the government makes an effort to stop people from voting you have papers ready.
Yes it is important that the legislation fails, but it is better to be ready for all eventualities. Hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
From what I’ve seen this is already happening, along with other engagement drives like circulating petitions and recruiting for mutual aid or collecting aid donations. Those efforts can vary by location but it’s certainly not “just standing around with signs” like critics say.
Yeah, and all of that was hugely a thing at the no kings protest I was at
I don’t believe in critics, just wished for everyone to be ready.
have you been to a protest? they do this at like, every single one of them.
I have not been to a protest in the US. Over here you don’t have to register to vote, so that wouldn’t be a thing to do at a protest, but it’s good to hear that they are doing that over there.
Some dude at the protest I attended had a petition signature sheet for ranked choice voting. He took time to calmly explain how RCV functioned to protestors who weren’t familiar with it. Wound up getting a lot of signatures once he brought up the costs of runoff elections on the taxpayer’s dime. Gotta know how to speak to your audience
I’m actually starting to have hope for the future of the Untied States
Over 3000 protests in the US plus sixteen countries, according to The Guardian. We’re here.
Oh, and in respect of your instance I saw a Canadian maple leaf sign that said “Elbows up!” in a picture of the Portland, Oregon demonstration (tenth down, near the bottom of the frame). I miss the goodwill and friendship of Canada so much. Keep boycotting!
That feeling when protests stimulate the economy.
We did go for beers after so. Not wrong.
Exactly, these protests are having the opposite effect of hurting the ruling class and the rich, because they are benefitting from this economically and financially.
To put it into perspective, that’s around 2.3% of the whole US population.
Peaceful protests aren’t enough.
Diversified tactics are necessary in my opinion; for example, it wasn’t MLKs peaceful marches alone; the Black Panthers were a necessary part of the civil rights movement.
Fear goes both ways, the state doesn’t have a monopoly on it.
If peaceful protests worked then the US military would be holding hands on the Iranian border singing Kumbayah.
i knew donald trump was going to do fascist stuff as soon as he got into office but nobody believed at the time he was going to do so. people thought he was make the cost of living go down but he did the opposite
Big whoop. 70Million voted for orange Shittler. 8million is nothing. Meaningless. Weekend protests are useless. The US needs to shut everything down.
Looking at your comment history I see you work tirelessly to destroy morale of activists and discourage Americans from taking any action. The maga regime thanks you for your support.
Americans are not doing enough. 70 million voted for this fash.
Protests have a lot of very concrete benefits besides just the signal. You meet people who are on your side and can form large and small networks. People internalize the political opinion and you have a shared experience to talk about later. You get pictures to use in campaigning. You maintain the practice of protesting. Etc.
It’s not just about counting the number.
Good luck then.
“Shutting everything down” would do untold harm to many low income people.
Riiight cause the for profit healthcare and for profit prison is so good for poor people.
/s
It isn’t! But “everything” is a wide net, and destroying it all would be indiscriminate in who it hurts.
makes you wonder why french used guillotines when they couldve done just no kings protest
The French Revolution did not have a good ending. It ended with the first Nationalist Emperor in modern history: Napoleon.
I’m begging y’all to actually read some books.
The French Revolution did not have a good ending.
I find this to be rather short sighted thinking. Yes, the immediate effect was the rise of Napoleon. But to this day, France has some of the most robust workers rights laws and policies. Their people are not afraid of protest and striking. Long term, I think the French Revolution was incredibly good as it made the upper class afraid and serves as a reminder that there are far more of us than there are them.
Then the Nazis took over and many French collaborated with them (as Stalin collaborated with Hitler 1939 to 1941).
Churchill and FDR then help liberate France.
IIUC, Charles de Gaulle then snubbed both and developed nukes.
Thank you! The poor/working class were just as repressed after the revolution. It’s a dumb comparison.
Apparently the creation of the First French Republic, which abolished feudalism and monarchy, created a declaration of human and civil rights that was foundational for a century of liberal democratic revolutions all across Europe and is still celebrated today as a national holiday, wasn’t a good ending because the forces of reaction managed to get back in power for a few years. Unbelievable…
Maybe the first republic would have lasted longer if they dressed up in frog costumes?
Lol it didn’t abolish shit. Best check when it was formed and when France had it’s last monarch.
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LMAO. Books? How would I even share a good quote from a book??? Like just remember it and then tell it to someone like a caveman???
At least Napoléon got the trains to run on time!
Also he reformed the justice and fiscal system in ways that were sorely needed. He did do a bit of wars on the side, but everyone needs a hobby.
Ok but one instance is not a good sample size.
I do understand that revolution allows authoritarians to swoop in and take control, but my only question is, HOW MUCH TIME WILL REFORMS TAKE? Because if it is more than 1 year, we don’t have the time. Sorry. It’s that simple. Thermodynamics is a real bitch sometimes and WE DONT HAVE TIME to be dicking around for the next 10 years while the people in power claim they are working on changing things.
Edit: please everyone go read some climate science data and tell me we can afford a few more years of this shit.
It had long lasting effects tho
No kings does nothing, its funny how they organize it on sunday so their work week doesnt get disturbed lmao
