Talked to so many people who were at the first protests of their lives today. Ex-Republicans, introverts, 90-year-olds and 3-year-olds. This was at an intersection in a 60,000 person town. Haven’t felt hope like this in my life.
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I've gone to small town protests in New England. Today we had 1200 folks. I'm seeing more than half the people probably age 50 and over. There's been a small contingent of young people. Two of mine had to work and the other has Asperger's. They weren't able to come. Is this other folks experience.
I met a first time
Protester former Republican today. At a city that leans red. He said more like me are needed there than at a bigger protest one where people aren’t afraid to speak out. We can make it Safer for them to speak up.
At a protest in Medford Oregon (the deep red end of the state) and was surrounded by 80-something veterans and their spouses all of whom said this was the first protest they had ever participated in. Here is a poor photo of part of the crowd. https://bsky.app/profile/missiemegs.bsky.social/post/3lrlwhkxatc2v
The map of “confirmed locations” in @NYTimes.com is journalistic malpractice. 1.7% of regional population showed up in Butte, MT. Many Montana cities and towns had large events. Only Billings is shown. Major media wants to underreport.
I was noticing the same thing in coverage. Things like "thousands of protestors" instead of millions. Or "thousands of protests" throughout the country instead of "millions of protestors" turned out. It's a choice and it pisses me of.
I wanted to talk to people after the protest but Indivisible kept running their loudspeakers after the protest ended, forcing me to put in earplugs. By the time they stopped, almost every protester was gone.
Same! Everyone from kids to Korean War veterans in my small town. And many cars honking in support.
If the GOP isn't looking at the amount of grey hairs coming out today against their tin god and sweating, they are blind.
Me too. In Gainesville we easily doubled, if not more, the turn out from Hands Off. And the representation there astounded me. I cried several times from overwhelming hope and joy.
The same feeling in Sheridan Wyoming today. I went out of my comfort zone. Everyone was surprised by the turnout in our small town of 20,000. I gravitated to some shade with the older ladies and met some of the rare local gems in this weird red state. Now, I'm off to decompress.
Me too! So many first-timers. I took a bunch of optical, feminist and environmental buttons that I had collected over the years and gave them to young people.
I went for my first protest ever and it was so encouraging and peaceful! As an introvert I was not sure whether to go or not, but the energy and enthusiasm of people- both young and old made me stood there. Met many young folks who were so passionate about the cause! So content and grateful 🫶
Saw this great @theonion.com T-shirt and smart sign at the #NoKings march and rally in West Jefferson, NC, heart of U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx's gerrymandered territory. A turn out of about 2k people in a western NC county, Ashe, home to about 27k people. Lots of hope here for a better future.
First time for my 1-year-old, and first time for us since having him. Someone gave him a little flag and he had fun waving it, then tried to eat our sign
My first was The Women's March. Another the next day across the Golden Gate. This was my third. So glad to live in this place - all colors, shapes, ages, nationalities.
I stood at an intersection on PCH IN Newport Beach with a US Navy vet who’d made a banner that said NO POSSE COMITATUS. He’d explain it to anyone stopped at the light who didn’t know what it meant. And I’d yell Hooray for Civics! LOTS of support here in OC.
Downtown was probably a bit smaller than the women’s march from 2017 but someone pointed out that we didn’t have people coming in from the suburbs because they all had local marches there.
I agree with your point of view, because a country needs more fresh blood to make it more prosperous. Without the injection of fresh blood, a country will slowly go towards destruction.
Like, that’s great and all, but tons of people demonstrated and they still invaded Iraq/use the stock market to ruin the economy/murder black people/don’t give a shit about Covid.
What was the demand from these demonstrations? What’s the consequence for not meeting it?
@tomscud.bsky.social had me thinking: none of this happened last time. The 50501 thing is new, and effective -- you don't have to travel into a city center to march anymore. A little one is probably much closer to you, and more accessible to the ordinary American in lots of ways 1/2
Like easier parking; seating (maybe space to bring your own); space for strollers/wheelchairs/wagons so you can bring your kids (or fun drinks); easily meet up w/friends. ALSO people can see for themselves that those who show up aren't radical lefties, they're just ordinary Americans who give a shit
If it helps build a broad coalition for this one purpose, that's enough for now. And who knows, a former trumper might meet a trans person for the first time and finally realize: oh they're just a person like me
I’m in a small city, Orange County CA - Aliso Viejo - and I experienced the same thing. An older gentleman retired from the army, a woman from Pennsylvania visiting her daughter that was probably in her 60s, and quite a few young people in their 20s- all first timers!
Yes, but he worked through it.
Remember, we gently & lovingly introduce our kids into situations that may scare them.
My (late 😢 ) service dog Frannie couldn’t get adopted because she refused to get in a car. She ended up enthusiastically traveling the world w/me in cars, planes, trains & boats!
I knew if Zigs couldn’t handle it, I could always bring him back to the comfy car (where I’d stashed a couple long chew treats & water.) But he got through it beautifully, was curious & interested, & I took him on a long hike on the way home as a reward. He was VERY proud of himself!
The protests have been remarkable and beautiful, but the end result HAS to be fewer votes for the complicit Republican Party in every election in the next few years. Otherwise it’s just a Beyoncé campaign concert that doesn’t translate to real change.
We will indeed get through this. It'll take a lot of fighting and scratching and clawing, but we will get through to the other side. They know we outnumber them and they're scared of that.
First timer here. I was a bit apprehensive, but I really enjoyed it. Seeing so many kindred spirits was truly uplifting. I even got a laugh from the dude in the bro truck waving 3 flags and his middle finger as he drove back and forth.
I took my 9 year old and 6 year old to our local protest yesterday. A grown ass man flipped off my 9 year old and said fuck you as he drove by in his comically large truck. I had to laugh at the absurdity.
Hey Tim. Based in Ireland here though I work with US based folks. Some have told me they've never voted before and have no interest in doing so regardless of what an administration is doing. It'll take more than hope.
Felt good to be surrounded by people who are thirsty for change, engaged, & fed up with the wannabe dictator in the Whitehouse. Nice to see people waving flags who aren’t fascists & to know there are others in my community who are conscientious, have empathy for others, & are not afraid to stand up.
Brilliant sign! And true. My first protest--anxiety through the roof, but it was just imaginary fears. People were friendly, helpful, united, and peaceful.
everyone who says nonsense like “it’s not a REAL protest if it’s permitted and peaceful” misses this. the point is to get people out for their first times, have a good time, feel hope, and bring a bunch of other first timers next time!
a lot of first timers at Hands Off brought friends this time!
It's true, a lot of the purpose of a march is to help clarify and amplify people's feelings about an issue, while lifting spirits by showing someone they aren't alone. And also screaming feels good.
I think it's so important to have both-- permitted, colorful, safe, full of old people and dogs and little kids to show the breadth of the movement. And hard-core resistance, to show that you cannot bulldoze us without consequences.
Yup. Many then they sign up to volunteer. My solid moderate doesnt-go-to-protests "cringe" boomer Mom now wants to work to help immigrants because of these protests. I dont wanna hear one fucking thing against these ladies or how they get involved. They do the gods work.
And if you are a caretaker or the bread winner, being at risk of violence is going to take a big toll. I’m all for celebrating getting out there in all the ways. It matters.
I had similar experiences at three protests yesterday. Walk from the car to the first event in Asbury Park a young lady offered me a small American flag. I accepted it. Later in deep red Lacey Twp. I offered it to a three-year old who was humming a tune into horn that sounded like a kazoo…
She kept tooting it while waving the flag. She was with her flag waving big bro, parents and grands. At the same event I engaged with an 80’s-ish Marine vet. I told him I have an 84 year old uncle just like him. He beamed a bright smile. At my 3rd event in Toms River I engaged with many…
…including three young adult lesbians. We had a great short chat about current affairs and I kept moving on. We all just want an end to this madness. trump brings nothing but greed, hatred bigotry an intolerance. We the people don’t want that.
True, but historically senior citizens have been reliable GOP voters. The demographics at today's march say that might not be true in 2026. Local elections can be even more important than national, and a lot of races might have become more competitive.
As an autistic in severe burnout I participated in the most active way I could. My stepdad drove me through our No Kings in the downtown roundabout here honking his horn and me with my hand out the window and thumbs upping the protesters.
That rocks! My family does that for different accessibility reasons! I always say that the cars driving by and waving and cheering is an important part of the streetside protest feedback loop!
Well done! Every time our Seattle march passed people at the intersections who waved, honked, etc. we would yell loudly and ring our noisemakers. Mutual encouragement is great!
It rules when cars honk in support at a protest. In New York City it's the best when you get a bus driver or DSNY truck to honk. Thanks for doing your part.
Thank you for showing up in the way that you can! Drive-through honks are such a great motivator for the crowd and very much appreciated. Every part counts and you did great 👊
I saw a lot of people doing that. They would drive by several times and we felt the love. It was kind of incredible.
We all show up in different ways.
But we show up. 🤗
It is SUPER helpful to drive through and honk! It gets the crowd fired up and shows how broadly the cause is supported. People were honking nonstop in Glendale, filming panoramas of the protest. Some even had signs in their cars.
-catturd said the "no king dork marches are a dud" and the ppl there are pee-yew
-dc draino went to no kings in tampa and said it was "just a thick cloud of patchouli and b.o."
-laura loomer showed a giant trump on the potty and said "two lesbians created the effigy"
In small, red, Waterford, MI today, there were at least 5 people just in our little area (out of a thousand +) who told us that they were doing their very first protest EVER today! #NoKings
Trust me when I tell you there are #MoreOfUs than them.
Jujube was at her first ever protest today! She loved it! Wagged her tail constantly, and barked at all the right times. It was my first protest of the weekend. Not the entire week, though, just the weekend.
Person next to me was 50-ish ex-Republican introvert, the only one in her family not a trumper. This in Niles, MI, a town of about 12K. Couple hundred protesters lining Main Street. Had 4 people flip us off, MANY more honking, thumbs up, flags, etc. The trump counter protests had about 20 people.
A local MAGA leader led a gang of coal-rollers back and forth on the streets...with her campaign sign proudly showing. 🙄
But there were only 4 pickups in her crew, way fewer than back when they did their weekly "Patriot's Parade." And the cops followed to keep things civil.
I’d like to believe the shopworn notion that the older one grows, the more “conservative” one becomes is utter bullshit. Anecdotally speaking, my parents both became de facto “socialists” in their 60s prior to having been stolid right-wingers up to then. It was inspiring to watch that evolution.
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It has nothing to do with them.
Absolutely NO EVIL yt KING or EVIL yt Christians and THEIR patriarchy, capitalism and class BS
s'il te plaît
#NoKingsDay
#nokings
#billc5
#cdnpoli
#onpoli
Protester former Republican today. At a city that leans red. He said more like me are needed there than at a bigger protest one where people aren’t afraid to speak out. We can make it Safer for them to speak up.
If the GOP isn't looking at the amount of grey hairs coming out today against their tin god and sweating, they are blind.
Finally a good reason to cry!😹
Same in Hutchinson, Kansas (pop. 39,000) — all walks of life🚫👑
Brattleboro VT
Beautiful. We are here for each other.
💪🏼
About 6 MAGA dudes sat in a parking lot with their Trump flag - it was either a counter protest or a wrong turn on the way to Chick-fil-A. 🤪
tell them "the feeling I had that day says you're wrong"
What was the demand from these demonstrations? What’s the consequence for not meeting it?
everyone has to find their own reason to resist and continue, and I hope that you find it within yourself
Or more accurately, we hope gets counted.
I’ve never known a dog to work so hard to overcome his issues.
Remember, we gently & lovingly introduce our kids into situations that may scare them.
My (late 😢 ) service dog Frannie couldn’t get adopted because she refused to get in a car. She ended up enthusiastically traveling the world w/me in cars, planes, trains & boats!
They could carry a chant better too.
This was their first political event and the first of most of the people they talked to.
Also… those demographics…did ya get data Ben? Or is this another anecdotal vibe from a dude who did some journalism and is now just clout hungry?
90 yr olds and 3 yr olds? Are you serious with this?
Did you “talk” to the the toddler Ben? Before or after sugar?
Should we run the tape?
Evidently we're been wrong. Donald Trump really is a uniter.
We had hippies and Veterans. Republicans, Democrats and NPP (our version of Independent).
Quite an amazing feat.
a lot of first timers at Hands Off brought friends this time!
It's not an effective protest. It's therapy for the disillusioned.
We all show up in different ways.
But we show up. 🤗
-catturd said the "no king dork marches are a dud" and the ppl there are pee-yew
-dc draino went to no kings in tampa and said it was "just a thick cloud of patchouli and b.o."
-laura loomer showed a giant trump on the potty and said "two lesbians created the effigy"
metrics
for
success!!!
Trust me when I tell you there are #MoreOfUs than them.
200 of us on one side of the street and Twelve magas across from us. Twelve.
Once again the tiny penis boys with big trucks blew diesel exhaust and flipped us off.
Mostly we got honks and thumbs ups.
Mostly gray hairs again!
Made them look so dumb.
But there were only 4 pickups in her crew, way fewer than back when they did their weekly "Patriot's Parade." And the cops followed to keep things civil.
We need more youth, too
4 pickups does not a convoy make... coal rollers is a new term for me. Must ask Ms Google!
We can do this.
https://share.google/MV0qaysmndVNnoQqi
Bare survival uses a lot of energy.
💙
4 trucks just driving back and forth with these gas prices! They looked cringe AF
Some people were driving back and forth waving flags. It was so great especially when the big trucks did the booming horn thing. Was great
https://bsky.app/profile/helchose.bsky.social/post/3lrlkayfhds2o