Why the Protests Yesterday Really Mattered
Massive protests, and a fence goes up around the White House
I am constantly asked about organizing a large protest. What I have told folks from the beginning is that activism happens organically, and when it was time, it would happen. Yesterday was that day.
Because the “Hands Off” march grew organically, its scope and size was unexpected, reportedly, even by the groups organizing it.
The Washington Post reports on the Washington D.C. protest:
rally organizers in D.C. said they anticipated a crowd of 10,000. By Friday night, though, the organizers said they expected at least 20,000. Saturday afternoon, they were estimating the crowd was five times as big as they predicted.
Philip Gourevitch of The New Yorker posted on New York City march:
I asked the one high ranking policeman I saw on 5th Ave why there were so few police. He said “We did not expect anything like this. Don’t tell anyone but I’ve only got 44 officers out here — and it’s a great crowd, great event, no incidents.”
I was at the New York City march so I’ll more to say about it.
Depending on the news outlet, there were at least 1,200 or 1,400 or 1,600 protests across the country. Thousands protested in seas of red in North Carolina, Wisconsin, Florida and Georgia. Hundreds protested in small towns in Vermont, Arizona, Ohio and Iowa. Protests were EVERYWHERE!
I want to add here that protests have already been remarkably impactful! Thank you to those of you who have been showing up before yesterday (clap, clap, thank you, take a bow!). Even before the Trump tariff meltdown this week, Tesla showroom protests played a large role in even the most bullish analysts noting that Elon Musk’s brand had been damaged, possibly beyond repair, and the stock being down 36% year to date. There is also a reason Republican House leadership has advised their members not to hold in-person events. Thank you again.
But the broad base scope of yesterday is an inflection point. Why does yesterday matter?
A tool of authoritarians