Yesterday was incredible. The official count is in — 5.2 million people joined the #HandsOff protest nationwide. So many are asking: what’s next? Mark your calendars: 4/19 is the next nationwide day of protest.
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Let’s go even bigger — our goal is to get 3.5% of America in the streets. Some media outlets are reporting only “tens of thousands” participated, but that’s no accident. Downplaying the turnout is a tactic to suppress momentum. But you were there. You saw the crowds.
Even small red-district towns showed up in force. Don’t let them rewrite the story. It was a historic day — and we’re just getting started. We are proud of all of you — for many, this was your first protest, and you showed up with strength and purpose.
Thank you to all the local authorities who helped keep everyone safe, and to the many military members and off-duty officers who attended and monitored the situation.
I'm rescheduling my ophthalmologist to be there and I've already enlisted several other friends to join! To quote Navalny: We are not allowed to give up! See you on 4/19!
April 19th is the 250th Anniversary of the shot heard around the world. The Minute Man National Historical Park has been doing an amazing job with their posts. Looks like we will need to incorporate this into our signs for that day.
There’s a ceremony in Concord, MA for the 250th anniversary of the Revolution…! Word on the street is the prez is always invited for these. What if he shows up?! Thinking a lot of people in this area would love the chance to make him personally aware of our feelings, peacefully and loudly💗
He will never do that. The current president does not like anything military. They do not serve their country. They rob and pillage, but they do not serve.
Protesting is only exercise for the real thing. It’s a place to network and empower each other but it accomplishes nothing by itself. You have to network, recruit, follow up, hold classes and reading groups and feed each other and organize strategies for various scenarios and train for the worst.
They can try but courts will protect 1st amendment. Also, after the civil war , thoughts of arresting and charging all the confederacy members was dismissed because there were too many of them. They couldn’t find a way to imprison them or figure out how to live with those who were family etc.
Proud of you guys but you do need to go bigger. UK pro-EU groups, following the dishonest 2016 vote, had 6mn on a petition and 2 million in the streets, all for a confirmation vote once the ‘deal’ was known, and it was roundly ignored by the press. That’s with a 70mn population
No permit needed for sidewalk protests. Sidewalks are part of the public forum. It’s actually better if you don’t register, creating databases of protesters is ill-advised. Just go.
Why wait? Every day DOGE gets more entrenched. There should be CONTINUOUS protests everywhere, everyday until this government starts working “For The People” again. We are obviously already organized, and screw permits.
#BecomeUngovernable
#GoodTrouble
There were so many AWESOME signs!! I was amazed at the creativity AND the turn out in our BRIGHT RED county. St Johns County FL Democrats turned out and made me sooo happy! I have never seen anything like it here in NE FL...I'm ready for Round 2... LFG!!! IDK who made The 3 stooges one.. but I 💗 it.
I kept my signs from Trump's first regime and dusted them off for Saturday's event. I had one of Dope McGropey grabbing the crotch of the Statue of Liberty. All I had to do was add the "Hands Off!" sign at the bottom to update it.
we don’t need cops to have a protest. we keep each other safe. historically, those personnel cause and escalate violence. Organizers on April 19th should emphasize that no police presence is necessary at the demonstration, and is unwanted.
Thank you for making sure everyone knows that police and military are on our side too, welcomed, and included in protecting protestors and seeing things remain peaceful and bad actors are kept out. This is not an us vs. them thing. It's a Saving America thing, which includes every one dang of us.
they aren’t on “our side” though… neither historically nor currently. Police exist to surveil and subdue us to protect the state. that is their job. Anyone in uniform is there to uphold the system that degrades us all… to make these protests about them is antithetical to all of our liberation.
military, yes. police, no. we must be in solidarity with oppressed people and not forget how they break our strikes and destroy our communities. police and their “unions” have always been resistant to reform. MY people are targeted by police, and they are targeted at protests too. i will not thank.
Thanks to the authorities, for sure. And also congratulations to 5 million people who expressed their feelings PEACEFULLY; no vandalism, no bomb threats, no weapons, no fights, just people meeting people, making new friends, talking, singing, supporting each other.
Cops will always take homeless people to jail when ordered to. They will follow orders when they’re told to kick down your door and take you to federal prison pretrial for organizing against trump.
totally unnecessary to uplift and thank them. they attack black and brown people, they break our strikes. we keep us safe and we always have. regardless of individual cops, the entire apparatus needs reshaping and they’ve been resistant for generations. pls do not insult your marginalized followers.
Our county has 18,000 people and is blood red. We had a rally with between 350 and 400 people.
Lots of honks and waves. Very few flipped birds and only one or two belligerents in pickup trucks.
We need to train more safety officers, lots of online threats. May come true next time.
I'm in a red state. I have a friend in a small town in a bright red county, and even redder little town. She said the turnout was amazing. Having grown up there, and generations before her, she didn't know these people felt this way. We can do this. Bigger and better next time.
We need a focused, succinct platform of a few ideas as the intent of protests--can't just be "we're mad as hell and we're not gonna take it any more." Build momentum with specifics: #1 demand accountability from ALL branches & the military to honor/ uphold the Constitution-or else, General Strike!
In 2020, a Pew Research Center poll found that:
29% of white evangelicals believed Trump was "anointed by God" to lead.
Another 49% didn’t necessarily think he was divinely chosen but still supported him strongly for policy reasons.
Absolutely. I stay on the edge in my KN95. While I'm there I actively look for ways to use my white privilege if jerks turn up. Does that scare me? Sure. But I'm not being asked to storm Omaha Beach. Just stand in front of someone less privileged. In my mask.
Understandable, I did see a fair number wearing masks yesterday, standing just a bit apart from others in the crowd. I also learned that there was (& will be more) ONLINE protests for those who can't attend in person! Be sure to check the #HandsOff website to learn about those for next time. 👍
I get covid every damn time I leave my house. Twice in the last three months so I can’t really think standing against facism isn’t at least as good of a reason to get it as taking my dog to the vet.
I checked the poop graph yesterday and levels of covid are pretty low right now. Also, transmission outdoors is pretty unusual unless you're in a big crowd, which if you are a KN95 should protect you pretty well. It might be more of a concern if you catch influenza A which I think is more prevalent
Everyone please boycott everything but groceries... the Power cares most about profit. Also, sliw/ stop your work to impact their profit. Info @50501movement.bsky.social and @generalstrikeus.bsky.social
I was at a secondary protest in Tempe AZ. It started at 1 PM. There were nearly a thousand people. We lined a pedestrian bridge over the loop 101. Many drivers honked in support, including 18 wheelers. Only 1 ah flipped us off.
Social media is what counts right now to spur our movement forward. Legacy media is becoming irrelevant. We don't need them anymore. And don't think for a second that fel*n 45 doesn't know about the Hands Off rally day and the numbers.
I also think it's time for an organized campaign of American citizens contacting ALL of the network media and demanding they report truthfully. They caved out of fear of losing their FCC licenses, but we need to ensure them that if they don't start reporting accurately, WE are going to cancel them.
That's the number AP quoted for Boston. Looking at some of the photo, it reminded me what I saw at the Chicago Cubs World Champion celebration (was there). That numbered in the millions.
The main AP story on their app says “thousands”. It bothered me because it seemed like they were downplaying it. They also said that the 2017 women’s march in DC was “thousands” when it was half a million in DC and over 1mil nation wide.
There were 3 different large protests in the St Louis area- nothing, no photos in the local newspaper but a brief article about other cities. Why, @stltoday.com ?
That's just the beginning if we can get 50% of the country overtime to come out this can rapidly change everything not just against the administration but to transform how our cities are, what we do together, how united we are, discussions, etc
The crowd was 100 where I was. Good turnout for a red town but I have no idea what the national turnout was, nor have I seen definitive sources reporting.
This is an excellent point, Rebecca, I encourage you to share it with the folks at https://Indivisible.org and https://fiftyfifty.one as they are two of the largest organizers. 👍 #HandsOff
Seconding this. Only places I've seen this 5 million number is from event organizers. To be clear, not accusing them of lying, I'd just like to see independent estimates.
My post was a reply to the post @altnps.bsky.social made, that contained the 5.2M number, with no sources. My theory is they added up the estimates made by the event organizers, but I'd like to be able to independently verify from a second source (or at least hear how they arrived at that number).
I think the other areas that were not the big ones, came in more slowly. Just a guess too. Some of thr group are current employees of the park service, according to very early posts, but I get where you are coming from and am curious as well.
From what I understand, there are no official independent numbers. Typically those come from media and/or law enforcement. Most local law chose not to estimate, and media followed their corporate owners' orders to downplay the movement.
I was never much of a protester before but I’ve been to 2 this year already and I’m just getting started! Brought my family with me yesterday. We are not gonna stop!
We need to be more in his face! I don’t think anyone marched outside his golf course in Jupiter . We need him to see/hear us. If we go and line the road from the airport to mar lardo , he may get the idea!
We will totally blow away the 5.2 million number on 4/19. Research on protest movements show they will grow until change is accomplished, see the 3.5% rule. Also mark 4/22 on your calendar which is the date Tesla must release their quarterly report. Musk & BYD are killing them. The stock will crash.
That's the thing about "public companies" like Tesla. The numbers are all a matter of public record. The 10-q quarterly reports allow public companies to explain the numbers and provide future guidance. There will be no explaining away these numbers. TSLA is a meme stock now.
How are you getting the numbers? I barely see anything believable in main stream. And would love it if we did do those numbers. Is this from text confirmations?
Honk your way through the intersection/on the road where a local protest is staged on your way to/from wherever you’re going.
You could even bring a sign with you and hold it out the window… A car decked out in posters made at least four trips through our intersection yesterday.
You got some good suggestions in the other comment I saw. Let me add that you could also recruit friends (Or 5) to go in your place, volunteer for lead-up and get out the marchers work, help with publicity, participate in a virtual event. There is ALWAYS something you CAN do.
Are congresspeople and senators paying attention? I don’t mean the legislature in general. I mean these INDIVIDUALS whose JOB it is to REPRESENT their constituents. These human beings who have been given great power and privilege by those constituents. ARE THEY PAYING ATTENTION?!?!?”
You can help make sure they ARE paying attention, by emailing them or calling their office (or do what I do, call after hours and leave a voicemail). Hearing directly from their own voters brings it home in a way group protests don't. We need both strategies.
Definitely!! I couldn’t agree more. I try not dwell on the fact that overwhelming numbers of us (myself included) do that but it doesn’t seem like any of it is getting through. They’re more loyal to him than us. But we’ll keep it up and try not to get discouraged.
What did the first one accomplish? Does trump even know there were protests? And how many of the 5.2 were paid by ANTIFA to be there. What are you protesting? That a legitimately elected official is performing the tasks he ran on? You're a whiny little bitch that needs to be slapped.
Thanks for sharing this! I’m happy to see this attendance level and agree about accurate counts. So I started this as well—
An open google sheet for tallying up the 4/5 protest list and estimated attendance..
If 50 million had hit the streets of America it will not offset the insanity of Lutnick and Bessent who are totally willing to crash the economy.
Tariffs not a “national security issue” seriously QUIT with the stupid “rip off” talk.
Such crazy crazy lies
Lutnick on Face the Nation fuck this
Who wants to place a bet that aides kept all this from Trump? He acts like he never knows anything until several days later. I’m sure while he was golfing he’s been kept in the dark.
Maybe it's more important to have all of GOP unsettled. It happening all over the place won't go unnoticed. And, maybe they'll remember what their job is on The Hill.
Plenty of gray hair types (like me) were there also, and we are known for voting. Representatives are up for reelection in 2026 and I'm sure the numbers are terrifying. Fears about Social Security/Medicaid are one of my hot button issues.
Exactly so. Trump doesn’t care. But politicians are always looking toward their next election. I believe that is why they were startled by the hostility they have faced at recent town hall meetings. Continuous protests, marches, and boycotts may well slow their roll into fascism.
How do you get the numbers? I was at the LA protest with 8 other people and not one of us saw any type of counter etc., nor were we counted. People were coming from every direction almost impossible to get a count.
I think MSM is refusing to report accurate numbers if they report the protests at all. Yesterday I flipped to CNN and FOX and they both had basketball on and not a word while I was watching, abt the protests. MSNBC had regular programs w/a small insert of the DC protests.
Same here. I saw a 30 second blurb on our local news about a protest in a SMALL community in California. Nothing about the hundreds of thousands of people in LA. I don’t watch cable news but imagine they were all crickets.
Totally agree. King FOTUS has likely instructed (threatened) MSM to not acknowledge, televise, or report on any protests against him or his administration or fear being yanked from the air waves.
I’m guessing they’re basing the number on those who registered to attend through Hands Off, Indivisible and other organizations. I got a follow up text from to check if I attended. So, the “official” number may be a vast UNDERCOUNT, because it would have missed those who joined spontaneously.
It’s typically an estimate based off known distances and countable heads in a group photo. So if you count say 15 people in a set sqft of a pic, then multiply by the full known distance/area based on landmarks, you get a rough estimate of people in the pic. Definitely an underestimate though.
I don’t even think that would be accurate. I’m a native Californian and there were so many people even I was having trouble identifying exactly where I was at using landmarks at all times. So many people and the crowds shifted and moved in so many directions.
I say let the system collapse. The people tearing it apart are the ones who (1) benefit the most from it and (2) in control of it. So why fight for a system that isn't working for us?
Let it tear itself apart, so we can rebuild something more progressive.
What’s next is keeping up the pressure and getting people into positions to help effect the necessary changes from the inside! Just like Shitler and the other traitors have done to fuck things up like they have! It also means preparing for response that will come, and likely be violent.
The MAGA cope is always funny. 5+ million citizens protest in every state and they curl up sucking their thumbs trying to convince themselves that someone paid everyone to protest even though no one has ever uncovered proof of that. (Unlike those Craigslist ads seeking paid Trump rally attendees.)
Paying people for votes and signatures absolutely backfired last Tuesday in Wisconsin. MAGA can’t seem to make that connection. They think 1 man can pay protesters when one couldn’t buy voters.
Same! I think Soros missed my Venmo account as well as the 5,000 people in my city who participated! @truthfunder99.bsky.social, it's delusional to think that someone will have to pay us to hate both Elon and Trump! We gladly do it for free EVERYDAY!!
Ah, the nonsense Soros is behind everything? Because he supports organizations helping democracy in Europe. No, Soros wasn't involved in mass demonstrations across the US against Trump yesterday. 5 million people came out in protest against Trump and Musk's gutting of our government protections.
Tell the big corporate news about it.. to cover millions of Americans protesting fascist GOP.. CNN barely Good Morning America ..30 seconds.. Said one million???? get the big money out of Government and our News! We deserve better!!
I hope everyone that was #Fired and their families show up, #Veterans show up, #Students show up, #Women show up, #Allys show up, #Unions show up! #BeLikeBooker #Standup #Showup #SaveDemocracy
Follow up w/calls to elected representatives‼️ Reference the #️⃣s of this monumental event. Demand they rein in executive overeach & stop constitutional violations. Say we’ll use every LEGAL & PEACEFUL means to fight back & remove them from office. They’re panicking abt the economy. ADD TO THEIR PANIC‼️
Make sure that 4/19 is just as peaceful as 4/5. Trump has a 90-day report due back from Sec Def and HSA the next day, with recommendations as to whether the 1817 Insurrection Act should be invoked due to impacts from southern border "invasion", which he might claim justifies declaring martial law.
I’ve been thinking for some time that he might try the martial law thing but one thing about that is if he does it our economy is totally cooked for sure ( kinda heading there anyway I guess but…)
They definitely don’t want that, way too greedy.
I feel fairly sure they will try to create violence--that's what Fox News at al craves more than anything. It's going to be a real challenge for organizers if the numbers continue to grow, but there's a lot of de-escalation training available.
Get involved in voter registration. Know what elections are coming up. Sign up to write postcards. If this energy doesn’t translate to votes then … 🤷🏼♀️
I agree! Trump’s endgame? Power, immunity, and total control. The GOP follows out of fear, ambition, and a lack of moral courage. History warns us: “This is how democracy dies—with thunderous applause.” – Padmé Amidala. Stay awake. Speak out. #Democracy #Authoritarianism #Trump #handsoff
“You sold us on equality, liberty and democracy, the pursuit of happiness, for centuries, even though we knew you were gaslighting us—Now you wanna strip those small comforts away and don’t expect us to loc the fuck up?”
Since I’m seeing folks questioning these numbers, can you share how the estimate was tallied? At our local someone had a clicker counter, I’m assuming that some larger org (50501? Indivisible?) organized a counting campaign, but I’d love to know for certain. The news continues to share “thousands”
Is there like... A main website or source of information for hands off movements? Like how to find one near you? Whenever events do happen in the city closest to me, I only ever manage to hear about it after the fact
But Muskrat says I am being paid to protest him and the fascist Trump regime...I am not getting paid and neither are any of my friends. His ego can't fathom people hate him. The MAGA he surrounds himself with praise him to keep the money and his X mega phone in play.
And what was the result? Did Republicans in Congress agree to impeach? Did the stock market bounce back from a tumble that has wiped out 6-10% of older American’s retirement savings, all while their social security benefits are being threatened?
Is it going to make a difference for a lunatic that this many people come on the street? Very doubtful. He couldn't care less.
Next step must be a general strike. Close every business and every store. Shut down all manufacturing. THAT will hurt the billionaires more than anything else.
Resisting oppression is not a one-time thing. It has to be continuous to be effective. It has to be dismantled completely. Those behind maga trump have been working toward this for years.
@altnps.bsky.social has posted that number and I'm still looking for confirmation of it elsewhere and can't find it so far. 600K RSVP'd according to multiple mainstream sources. I do think it likely surpassed 1M, still amazing!
Because the day after, Trump is predicted to invoke the Insurrection Act, which could make it a whole lot more dangerous to protest. It's also the anniversary of the first shots fired in the OG American Revolution.
It's a very deadly feeling to lose everything you own and be displaced eight times under the shells of death and live in a worn-out tent with your five children while famine ravages us from every side. Publish, donate, share, make me your story, support Lulu. The war has destroyed us. Link in bio🇵🇸🍉🙏
I would like to thank whoever writes these posts. I have been following this group since the first Trump administration and it's an amazing source for what is really happening. I really appreciate all you do.
Freedom in not convenient. It requires sacrifice and dedication NOW so we can have quiet at home family dinners next year and the year after and the year after that.
No one is saying any one has to protest. But organizers may very well have considered this and decided other factors outweighed this. More people may have time off, the overall timing may be better to gain momentum, or a hundred other reasons those not in their group may not realize
I know it doesn’t to some. I truly get that. I’ll be preparing for a large family gathering, and so will many others. I’m just one person, I know, but I don’t think I’m alone in this.
It's the anniversary of Waco and Oklahoma City bombing, it's the day before columbine anniversary and trumps 90-day deadline. I'm not sure this will be safe.
💯💯💯 I’ve been saying this too! So glad to see I’m not the only one concerned. It’s also Holy Saturday and though I have no clue what that might mean to the delusional FIinn and his Arme of G0D, since the election they seem to have disappeared. I hope folks will be strategic and cautious 🙏
I would encourage people who do observe to incorporate that tradition into the protest. I'm sure there are a million creative, powerful things people of faith could do.
Easter is on Sunday and you have plenty of notice to prepare. Saturday is sabbath for many- there will be never be a time that “works” for all. Just do what you can!
It's also a very strong statement that we will not be deterred by inconvenience if we are strong and resolute enough to show up anyway. I really hope we can celebrate Easter Sunday by telling the world unequivocally that sane America means business.
I should mention that I don't mean this to come across as an attack or rebuke. I understand where you're coming from. I just personally believe that collectively, we're going to need to dig deep to get through this and it would be really heartening to see a big turnout in spite of the holiday.
I sympathize—I’ll be protesting during the day, singing at a Holy Saturday mass that night, and getting the kids up for sunrise service on Sunday morning, haha! But they didn’t just choose a random date: April 19, 1775 was the day the American Revolution began at Lexington and Concord.
No disrespect, but is it ever going to be a good time? I say it would Galvanise even more people to resist Tyranny, the story of Easter is Jesus giving his life in protest to a corrupt system!
In looking at the calendar, Earth Day is on the 22nd. Most communities have their Earth Day celebrations on the Saturday before Rarth Day. Thinking this may have gone into this de as well.
April 19 is not Easter Sunday, and not everyone in the US is Christian.
It’s also the Saturday Earth Day rallies/celebrations are typically held (Earth Day is a Tuesday this year)
Wherever people are on Easter weekend, I’m sure they could join a protest. I think a lot of people will probably make it a family event. It’ll work out. It’ll be OK.
National Park Service was the source of the official count of 45's inauguration crowd size that stuck in his craw...an extension of their official duties: a good version of "just doing my job."
I think perhaps protest is good to show unity but “what’s next?” should be answered with very specific action like unionize or general strike or protect the checks and balances powers of the judicial branch. Otherwise we’re just shaking our fists and not really getting anything done.
I agree that a general strike is next. It needs to last a day, a week, or a month. Whatever it takes to hit the 1% where it hurts. The strike is coming... https://generalstrikeus.com/
where can I find out more info about the upcoming protests? A google search of Hands Off Protests only comes up with pictures and news reports of past protests. Is there a site?
I just wonder if all these huge protests are going to change anything? Trump doesn't give a damn - he will ignore them. Hoping they hit the House & Senate differently so they find some courage to stand up to trump. Mainstream media isn't giving them the coverage they should.
Canton Michigan, a quintessentially suburban city, where virtually no one walks and nobody protests anything.
April 5, 2025
==================
People on Canton Center Road gather freely at the "Hands Off" rally, to mock fascistic inclinations of the 47th President and his minion fascist Elon Musk.
Amazing that 20 blocks can get shut down with thousands of people and NYT runs a photo of weak-fisting Trump, the presidential seal, and a caterpillar.
Amazing, congratulations to leadership & all who partook! Many did it scared, many took precious time out of their lives, many have never been to a march.
Folks, this needs to be followed up with 5x this count, so grab 5 people to bring with you Apr 19.
Thanks to Bluesky, we users were able to see Hands Off events across the country. National and local news media did not share the story widely and if they did report it, the stats were often wrong, the comments snarky. Read Margaret Sullivan for details
Your local network affiliate station - the ones that start with “W” in the East and “K” in the West - need to get some heat from their communities if they failed or skimped covering the protest.
It's a start. It's not enough.
MoveOn applies the 3.5% rule: Historically, no autocracy has withstood active rebellion (meaning, I think, discrete actions) by 3.5% or more of its population. That means we need a day of action that includes 12MM. Earth Day #1 had an estimated 20MM. We can do it again
Is 3.5% a magic number? Of course not. But it's a useful target. The fact that we'd apparently rather nitpick this tidbit than do the work shows exactly how fascism will win. And if we can't muster even 12MM v. EarthDay1's 20 (w/ Earth in even greater danger, not least from 47), maybe we're doomed.
Boycott the corporate sponsors of the Administration; WalMart, Amazon, McDonalds, Pepsico (Taco Bell, Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Quaker, etc.) Nestlé, General Mills, etc.
Prepare for the next one. It may be as early as the 19th. We need growing, sustained marches to make a difference. We're talking Floyd numbers and length.
Please share!The rich have declared class war and we must respond in kind!Our greatest power has ALWAYS been that we're the caretakersof the machines.Slow production Waste their money!One giant day of insurance claims!Workplace disruption is a time honored tactic to fight fascism
Hey Gig Workers! Make a stand by not working at all on 5/1. Force the corp headquarters to stop stealing from you when there is zero risk to them. They have you working like slaves for less than minimum wage! 🫶
We also have the General Strike on 5/1, aka May Day! It takes 3.5million not working or shopping for 24hrs to force change within the corp world. Let’s make it 10million+!!!
Absolutely! This is what Democracy looks like! They're not laughing- they're scared of DT & scared to lose their seats. We have democrats town halling in Repub districts bc they're scared to meet their constituents,knowing people are mad. Dems will win their votes and they'll lose their seats.
Considering there are only 435 in Congress and 100 Senators, American protest is what creates change. History shows in the past 2 centuries change in the US occurred due to the PEOPLE rising. Women's voting rights, Civil Rights, the end of the Vietnam War. We March until we get the change we need.
YES! You got it. It's like a steam roller and it's working, Nationwide. Bernie Sanders and AOC are doing an Oligarchy tour that's attracting thousands to their events, our 50501 Movement is mobilizing millions, town halls every week in red districts- the judicial system is winning. We cannot let up.
Hello can you please verify the source of the number 5.2 million? I just want to ensure I am providing accurate information. I will say mobilize Tucson confirmed at least 20,000 in attendance for our local protest alone, and with over 1400 protests, I wouldn't doubt 5.2 million at all.
If this number is accurate that is about 1.5% of the US population. I read somewhere authoritarian regimes usually collapse once just 3.5% of the population rises up against them in protest.
We proved to ourselves that we have 1) numbers 2) real passion. Next direct the arrow with simpler message: ‘Take back the Flag’ protect core American values, rule of law and freedom of speech, without which we lose everything else. Flood right wing media sites with this theme
Alt National Park Service, thank you. Can you tell us where you are getting the official counts from? Not disputing them, just want to know. The mainstream media is NOT giving out total participation estimates. Neither is https://handsoff2025.com . (Or they did and I need new glasses.)
I just saw a couple listed for 4/19 and 5/1 and a random date here and there. I’m guessing in a day or two it’ll start filling up with events for upcoming dates
Reach out to rural voters who should be terrified Trump will cancel their farm loans, post offices, social security, medicare and force more farmers and farm towns deeper into the abyss.
When they show protests in our countries they look huge. But America is so massive. Therefore our protests need to be MASSIVE. We the people have the power! Imagine if all 70 million voters turned up.
So proud of all the demonstrators who turned out in our little town yesterday. Particularly interesting that so many elders were there. How can we encourage more young people to join us?
Check out @operationanti-king.bsky.social! They’re leading a campaign for impeachment and need people who are willing to send an email to reps tomorrow 4/7. Especially if you’re in the south or Midwest!
Impeachment is silly- there are scores more maga/project 25 knuckleheads willing to take his place. We need to stop ANYONE’s ability to do this ever again, which imho might include new parties participating in the democrat election process
Ugh, edit button! For clarity: I don’t agree that impeachment is silly, per se; I do agree with everything else you said. The best thing is to find something you’re passionate about advocating for and put it out there! Maybe it’s impeachment, maybe it’s not lol
He’s been subject to impeachment proceedings before. With his ownership of the Legislature and the Supreme Court, there’s no reason to believe that anything would come of it.
No real harm, however, it may well be a way to focus our attention and energy on something meaningless, rather than finding a way that actually would work.
Just posted for Indiana. Look at https://fiftyfifty.one. Search local events. If you don't see it, GO regardless. Most people are running in ten directions and forget to add on their to-do list. We continue working full time and volunteer with this endeavor.
No. I don’t think peaceful protest does anything unless you get attacked (and other people care) or you accompany it with a strike. Otherwise it’s just outputting frustration to /dev/null (i.e., please file your complaint in the shredding pile.)
Thanks to community input, I was able to repost pictures from #HandsOff #Colorado protests from 26 locations around our state! I encourage other groups to use hashtags and community input to gather documentation of our community's efforts! We are not alone!
Does anyone know of any ride-share program for elderly people to attend protests in the US?
My mother-in-law is in her 80s & she wants to attend the next protest near her hometown. However, my MIL is much too far away for me to drive her. So, I need someone to drive my MIL to her local protest❤️
Check @50501movement.bsky.social @indivisible.org @moveon.org and Reddit there are r/50501 and r/city name. Post and email inquiries. People are super helpful. There may even be a local chapter of each organization.
Maybe do some internet searches for 'her hometown' Democrats group, Progressive group, Indivisible group? They might have something set up for transportation or suggestions on where to look?
We took someone that reached out via our community facebook page. Is there any sort of equivalent where she lives? Most people will totally take an extra person along with their group.
Do they have Uber/Lyft in her area? (Not all places do.) Is she reasonably tech-savvy for her age that she can use apps? If so, you can even arrange to pay for her to get there and back!
Amazing! We just need to bring 1.5% more Americans out to join us!
A 2019 study of nonviolent protest movements over the past century found 3.5% of the population was the threshold for success. Movements that mobilise that much or more never failed.
You can Google "Estimating Crowd Sizes" and there are a number of explanations. I could provide you one, but thought it would be best for you to take a look and find one that you understand. 🙂 The NPS Alt account must have volunteers doing this for each protest.
The method that I personally witnessed at my local rally yesterday was a person with a clicker manually counting people as we marched by at the beginning of our route. I don’t know if there was a method for counting people who didn’t march but stayed at the rally starting point.
Not sure is one method; but there are several ways, ranging from no or low tech to software and drones. I know wildlife biologists have a lot of practice when needing to estimate numbers wildlife or forestry in estimating numbers of trees, etc. Drones can use software to accurately count as well.
I googled: The most accurate and cost-effect method of counting a large static crowd is density analysis. If the crowd has a consistent density then just estimate the size of the event area (usually measured in square metres) and multiply it by the estimated number of people per square metre.
Many signed up through Indivisible, 50501, the Democratic party, etc. I, for example, signed up with the Dem party, but a friend who came with me wasn't signed up, so she wasn't officially counted. There were 8-10,000 at our rally, which you could estimate by sheer crowd size, drone footage, etc.
I googled: The most accurate and cost-effect method of counting a large static crowd is density analysis. If the crowd has a consistent density then just estimate the size of the event area (usually measured in square metres) and multiply it by the estimated number of people per square metre.
ChatGPT can estimate crowd size using density analysis from aerial photos. I did this from a drone photo of the Boston rally, and gave it a landmark in the middle, and it estimated 75-85k, which is amazingly close to the human estimates I’ve been seeing of “almost 100,000”
I’d also like a source for that number! I’ve heard “estimated millions” but haven’t seen an official count. Alt NPS tends to report stuff other people have done & not provide sources.
Google says: The most accurate and cost-effect method of counting a large static crowd is density analysis. If the crowd has a consistent density then just estimate the size of the event area (usually measured in square metres) and multiply it by the estimated number of people per square metre.
Planning a protest 🪧 for Easter weekend, and only 2 weeks after the last one, seems like it will burn people out and stall the movement entirely. We also need the source for our attendance numbers to maintain legitimacy. This might last 4 years, we need to be strategic so we can stay the course.
We need to be in the streets weekly, or daily. No waiting around in this crisis! Think Arab Spring, or nightly pot banging in latin america, or daily protests in Turkey. They are pushing hard; we need to push harder!
If I get burned out and don’t want to go I’ll just remind myself of what Cory Booker did and suck it up and go, just like I did on Saturday when I was not well and went with my meds, water and a mask because I knew what needed to be done. We can show up because the alternative is much worse.
Many of us have already been protesting weekly or close to it — everyone else is just catching up. We do not have the time to spread them out. The need for the People to speak up and out is months ago…but right now is second best.
In Vermont, we'll rally on Earth Day 🌎 4/22. We will simultaneously call for VT elected officials to protect our environmental and climate policies and not allow Governor Scott to rollback policies. #vtpoli ##actonclimate #nextsteps
What a brilliant start. Hopefully this will inspire and energise others to join the next one - if every participant brings one more person then we double that incredible number to 10.4m
Where are you getting your numbers from for protest attendees? How do you know? Almost all news media reporting approx 600,000. R they lying to us? Scary if so. I'm trying to figure out who's got it wrong. Very different numbers
There were about 2,000 in my purple-red county at the protest. 600k was about the number of people who officially RSVP’d.
NY and DC had at least 200k between them.
Yes, I know, but this still doesn't explain where an additional 4 and half million attendees were accounted for. I'm a liberal. I was at a protest. Not trying to be difficult, but just looking for a solid answer as to why Alt National knows it to be 5 million. They're the only ones reporting this
Look at the drone visuals of all the crowds in the large cities. It was millions. They were over 1,600 gatherings. Many of those gatherings had thousands of people. Purposeful undercount IMO
I was at my local protest and there were easily a couple thousand people. Many arriving an hour and a half early - I was one of them. Our local news channels reported “around 100 protesters”. Photos and video posted were from about the time we arrived. The media is lying.
Definitely same experience at our local protest. I also saw at least one park dept person there along with many from a number of other organizations. There was no shortage of people tracking the numbers where we were.
I meant for yesterday's. Thank you for the links.
Strange that there's not more on social media. I expected LA to be NY type turnout.
And yes, this helps, thank you.
Yea it's so hard to get an idea of turnout from the pictures, the pictures do look like there were many folks there though! I emailed Indivisible to request clarification on the headcounts nationally and internationally... They may not even have the data but we'll see what they say! 🤞
The numbers are being massively underreported. AJ even stated 250k nationwide. A pitiful percentage. Wild how many more than ever anticipated showed... Unfortunate nothing major has been affected by the parading yet.
I haven't seen 50501 have this on their page. Doesn't mean your area can't organise and get this done, but I haven't seen a confirmation as of this afternoon.
Comments
TIA, ANPS and Bluesky peeps 💙
#tagthepress
#Handsoff2025 #wearetheflood #mobilize.us #protectpubliclands
A protest on April 19th is imperative
https://open.spotify.com/track/6OwdsnnMC4bjtcLsDW9RJs?si=HtfwTotlTXCHFh9jQwJxOA
#BecomeUngovernable
#GoodTrouble
Don't buy into the bullshit about wearing masks. Agitators benefit far more from masks than anyone else.
We will NOT be silenced!!!
Lots of honks and waves. Very few flipped birds and only one or two belligerents in pickup trucks.
We need to train more safety officers, lots of online threats. May come true next time.
Proud patriots defending our constitution and decency!
#handsoff
Non-stop 12 million in the streets and the regime folds.
https://wefingtoldyouso.substack.com/p/the-resistance-has-begun-43f
In 2020, a Pew Research Center poll found that:
29% of white evangelicals believed Trump was "anointed by God" to lead.
Another 49% didn’t necessarily think he was divinely chosen but still supported him strongly for policy reasons.
This is 5-10% of the US.
https://bsky.app/profile/majorhightide.bsky.social/post/3lm3mdbwyws2a
There is data behind that number:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world
Unfortunately some posters on Bluesky are doing THIS as well.
Those who 'pretend' to support something - so they can then work against it 'from within' - are familiar to those experienced in advocacy/activism.
Their behavior should be seen for what it is. Always.
I only found one so far for St. Louis.
Were the 3 areas protesting not labeled as St. Louis?
I'm trying hard not to miss any locations.
Brentwood at Eager Road
O’Fallon somewhere
This way when I find some I'll know they represent the St. Louis area.
I'm sharing everything I find - so it's ALL located - on my profile page.🙂
Not just online but in person
Gotta focus on the issues that affect all, not just Trump haters, and get away from Fuck Trump, pictures of him etc.
Change the focus and messaging of signs etc.
34,700,000 is 10%.
17,350,000 is 5%.
3,470,000 is 1%.
1,735,000 is 0.5%.
So for 3.5% we would need 10,410,000 + 1,735,000 = 12,145,000 People total
Have 5,200,000 People already
We need 6,945,000 more people to reach that goal
Then we can aim for 5% & 10%
ALL OF US
We MUST get to 12 Million. And sustain it at ALL protests.
It may sound tiring. But it’s our best chance to disrupt an autocracy.
Pranksters vs Autocrats: Why Dilemma Actions Advance Nonviolent Action
From Cornell University Press
Free download!! I know the link looks a bit scary, but I pinky-swear it’s clean.
https://d119vjm4apzmdm.cloudfront.net/open-access/pdfs/9781501756078.pdf
https://beautifultrouble.org/toolbox/tool/clandestine-insurgent-rebel-clown-army
https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/carr/publications/questions-answers-and-some-cautionary-updates-regarding-35-rule
Still, they expressed hope in this Resistance Lab training:
https://www.youtube.com/live/_xMpZmLwdHw?feature=shared
Here's a summary by Erica Chenoweth.
Also https://fiftyfifty.one
Grateful for all the Americans who stood up yesterday.
But I'll still be cheering for everybody who does go!
It's my husband's birthday, and we're going to a memorial concert for an old friend who died. :(
I hope we can fit it in, but my daughter gets overwhelmed if we do too much in one day. :(
You could even bring a sign with you and hold it out the window… A car decked out in posters made at least four trips through our intersection yesterday.
I call after business hours and leave a message (easier for Introverts like me).
An open google sheet for tallying up the 4/5 protest list and estimated attendance..
https://tinyurl.com/337nw4rh
Tariffs not a “national security issue” seriously QUIT with the stupid “rip off” talk.
Such crazy crazy lies
Lutnick on Face the Nation fuck this
Let it tear itself apart, so we can rebuild something more progressive.
WHERE: Bryant Park, New York City
WHEN: 12pm EST
WHY: OUR CITY, OUR FIGHT! PROTECT MIGRANTS, PROTECT THE PLANET
ICE out of NYC. NYC out of fossil fuels.
Sign up: https://actionnetwork.org/events/our-city-our-fight-protect-migrants-protect-the-planet?emci=1a6a896a-daf3-ef11-90cb-0022482a94f4&emdi=47c755f1-01f9-ef11-90cd-0022482a9fb7&ceid=3391902 #HandsOff #Resist
Imagine needing to buy people to your perspective. We don't know anything about that. But Elon sure does.
They definitely don’t want that, way too greedy.
https://lokiexcelsiorsmith.substack.com/p/but-why-tho?r=fd4u4
#handsoff
I've got to cancel some things for that day since crossing the race route will be next to impossible!
I don’t want to rain on your parade, but…REALITY.
Next step must be a general strike. Close every business and every store. Shut down all manufacturing. THAT will hurt the billionaires more than anything else.
Who decided this would be the best date?
What's wrong with the weekend after that?
As for the source, I’d wager somebody contacted @indivisible.org which probably requested tallies from everywhere that signed up.
Got any sway with Park Service admins? They’re bending a knee…
The Easter holiday weekend is scheduled "family time" for many well in advance of protests
Participate as you are able, but let’s not beat each other up here. Infighting only serves those we oppose.
It’s also the Saturday Earth Day rallies/celebrations are typically held (Earth Day is a Tuesday this year)
What better way to celebrate
https://handsoff2025.com/millions-turn-out
So unlike J6.
#WeThePeople
#Revolution
Protestors hear their own voice & bask in their Right to Free Speech.
They hear a neighbor's voice join in and remember, as Americans, they remain Free to Assemble.
Spring sign making party circuit is just getting started!
April 5, 2025
==================
People on Canton Center Road gather freely at the "Hands Off" rally, to mock fascistic inclinations of the 47th President and his minion fascist Elon Musk.
Jeez!
Thanks to all who showed up. ❤️
Then panned the street, but only the building tops, none of ground level
Folks, this needs to be followed up with 5x this count, so grab 5 people to bring with you Apr 19.
In the meantime make calls ☎️☎️☎️☎️☎️
MoveOn applies the 3.5% rule: Historically, no autocracy has withstood active rebellion (meaning, I think, discrete actions) by 3.5% or more of its population. That means we need a day of action that includes 12MM. Earth Day #1 had an estimated 20MM. We can do it again
https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/carr/publications/questions-answers-and-some-cautionary-updates-regarding-35-rule
Still, they expressed hope in this Resistance Lab training:
https://www.youtube.com/live/_xMpZmLwdHw?feature=shared
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Lexington_and_Concord
250 years of no kings.
Not being an asshole
But the people in “charge”
DO
NOT
GIVE
A
FKKK
They’re laughing
The people with integrity
& decency already know what’s wrong
so protesting for them is pointless
I’m genuinely asking what the goal here is ?
My concern is that history has NEVER
EVER
seen a more corrupt &
UNQUALIFIED
regime
They watch the protests
& laugh
So my question was a pragmatic one
I get that historically,
“marching” was powerful
🇺🇸is now in a place it has never been in
where its leader is LITERALLY working for the enemy
exactly what Chump did with SCOTUS (and what THEY LET HIM DO)
It was breathtakingly corrupt
They all went along with it pretty much
The revenge and destroy obsession he has is disturbing
So THIS is what I was wondering
I’m not American (Canadian) our politics work quite differently
But I NOW grasp what the goal is
It’s to start at state level to systematically dismantle the traitors presence in Congress, senate etc
This I understand
Piece by piece💯☮️
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250405-hundreds-gather-across-europe-protest-against-trump-musk-hands-off-democrats
https://bsky.app/profile/50501movement.bsky.social/post/3lm6nvbeihc2m
Almost halfway to 3.5%!
Impeachment is our only legal option. And it would at least act as a braking mechanism for the next f-ing “knuckleheads”.
We need #solidarity now more than anything else!
Watch Rick Steves’s speech
https://youtu.be/86hnPrWozUo?si=s-hMv-SmYXzRWhXz
https://bsky.app/profile/jkinneberg.bsky.social/post/3llx3kfzzrc2s
Did you think protest is a vending machine?
Out come laws!
Read this, for example.
https://open.substack.com/pub/statuskuo/p/thoughts-on-the-sunday-after
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world
My mother-in-law is in her 80s & she wants to attend the next protest near her hometown. However, my MIL is much too far away for me to drive her. So, I need someone to drive my MIL to her local protest❤️
#elbowsup and keep 'em up.
@indivisible.org
#50501movement
@50501movement.bsky.social
A 2019 study of nonviolent protest movements over the past century found 3.5% of the population was the threshold for success. Movements that mobilise that much or more never failed.
NEVER.
Keep it growing!!!
It’s great to raise our voices, but let’s get something done.
@scresistcharwest.bsky.social @socoresistance.bsky.social
NY and DC had at least 200k between them.
If coverage for yesterday: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-05/rump-protests-kick-off-in-l-a-and-around-the-nation
(Funny the link says "rump" 😅)
If finding future events, keep an eye on the local Indivisible groups (https://indivisible.org/groups) and/or https://fiftyfiftyone.org
Hope this helps!
Strange that there's not more on social media. I expected LA to be NY type turnout.
And yes, this helps, thank you.
Also, I just found the #HandsOffLosAngeles tag here that seems to have quite a few posts with pics from yesterday if you're interested! ☺️