They are (as said down thread) protesting for a free Palestine. I don’t think the students have given up on “democracy” I think they’ve given up on the Democratic Party & protests that don’t center the genocide(s) that rot this nations electoral politics. They know this isn’t just about Trump. - ThreadSky

hebagowayed.bsky.social • 11 days ago

They are (as said down thread) protesting for a free Palestine.

I don’t think the students have given up on “democracy” I think they’ve given up on the Democratic Party & protests that don’t center the genocide(s) that rot this nations electoral politics.

They know this isn’t just about Trump.

Reposted from Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist)

These images and stories from yesterday's mobilizations across the US are inspiring, but one thing that is visibly absent from Resistance2.0 so far is young people. Based on conversations with youth and campus organizers I know and data I've collected, here are some likely reasons (short 🧵)

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fisherdanar.bsky.social•11 days ago

I'm so glad you weighed in here Heba--I was thinking of tagging you (and YASS)!

jayulfelder.bsky.social•11 days ago

And in support of immigrants. Lots of recent actions led by college and high-school students on that theme as well.

hebagowayed.bsky.social•11 days ago

Sanctuary campus protests, Ice off campus protests, Ice watch groups, canvassing for progressive candidates young folks are there

pjeffe.bsky.social•11 days ago

Yes, younger people are more likely to oppose what they see as structural issues, while these liberal-coded protests are all of the "Fuck Drumpf" variety. The appeal just isn't there. Plus the fact that there are material differences between the interests of older and younger people.

latenac.bsky.social•11 days ago

Have seen on my kid's campus general demonstrations turning more towards doing the follow up work and fundraisers for support. Could be because many colleges adopted policies that limited demonstrations.

mskathleenquinn.bsky.social•11 days ago

Wholeheartedly agree but want to make sure it get mentioned:

The Electoral College is a severe problem for American democracy and it needs to be abolished. Too many Americans feel completely disempowered in Presidential elections, and unsurprisingly don't show up at the polls on Election Day.

lilacbrie.org•11 days ago

Once people become aware of just how interconnected our own liberation and freedom is to those of other oppressed people, it's hard to look at any of these protests as anything other than a "feel good" activity with no substance.

"In our thousands, in our millions..."

profpaulboxer.bsky.social•11 days ago

Right. Drawing conclusions about the people who are admittedly not even in your sample (!) is kind of tough to do.

bioturbonick.net•11 days ago

I'm sorry, but that's just goddamn stupid if that's true.

hebagowayed.bsky.social•11 days ago

And you will continue to lose the elections, and any semblance of democracy within this nation; if you cannot see that you cannot build democracy on corpses in perpetuity. That’s what’s stupid.

bioturbonick.net•11 days ago

And you won't stop a genocide if the entire government is turned into hollowed-out personality cult fascist regime run by the people most in favor of that genocide where elections become meaningless going forward.

hebagowayed.bsky.social•11 days ago

if youve voted democrat you voted for the lesser of evils over and over until the evil of the mass deportation project became so normalized that a fascist campaigned & won it. The Democratic Party didn’t offer sufficient alternative. And you can feel self righteous and call everyone stupid or learn

bioturbonick.net•11 days ago

And the solution to that problem as a voter was what, exactly?

hebagowayed.bsky.social•11 days ago

If you want to get people on board as a voter, then you use your power to push your preferred leaders to recognize and act on others grievances to broaden the coalition. It’s definitely not alienating them by calling them stupid, which is exactly what liberals did in the lead up to the elections.

nposegay.bsky.social•11 days ago

Convince a major candidate to not support genocide. Failing that (and we did), don't vote for any candidate who supports genocide. Repeat until they run anti-genocide candidates.

But you have to see yourself not just "as a voter." You can be an active participant in politics. Protest, boycott, etc.

bioturbonick.net•11 days ago

They are actively assuring the outcomes they are protesting.

Never seen any movement so self-destructive to its own goals.

latenac.bsky.social•11 days ago

Sorry they aren't willing to settle for the slightly lesser of two evils.

bioturbonick.net•11 days ago

"Slightly."

You are pathetically deluded. It's a wonder you can function in society at all.

blackstarflame.bsky.social•10 days ago

You seem to think feigning words of empathy like, "far too many Palestinians have died" like Kamala said means anything. Children are killed whether the perpetrators say nice words or not.

Thing about libs, is they don't think Dems are the lesser evil. Really they don't think Dems are evil at all.

bioturbonick.net•10 days ago

Nope, not what I think. Try asking instead of assuming.

ethnography911.bsky.social•11 days ago

I don’t study social movements but honestly these protests/marches feel/seem like ‘voters’ marches’. Not really *about* Trump either but about the major disruption of the status quo

ethnography911.bsky.social•11 days ago

The ‘coalition’ it represents are people who largely see problems with dismantling x, y, z, which may include space for these other protests. But my sense is that it’s also very good for there to be multiple movements (and whatever organizing strategies)

hebagowayed.bsky.social•11 days ago

Oh yeah I think organizing requires multiple fronts but they do feel blue wave coded

ethnography911.bsky.social•11 days ago

Only basing on my view of the various Chicago-area ones: there were pro-Palestine and anti-ICE folks loud and present, maybe even speaking (couldn’t hear) but it felt like March for Women, March for science, and blue wavey stuff all rolled into one, with older folks from older protests rolled in

ethnography911.bsky.social•11 days ago

The thing that got me about the “skewing old” thing is how many more older people —70 and above—felt compelled to be out? I’m not sure what that looks like or has looked like under “ordinary” circumstances

hebagowayed.bsky.social•11 days ago

The New York hands off higher ed one was explicitly pro Palestine, it does also vary by region/ group for sure

emgunter.bsky.social•11 days ago

The students aren't interested in performative nonsense that seeks to reproduce the exact same systems that got us here

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