I just attended the April 19th Earth Day/No Kings rally at the State Capitol in Saint Paul, MN, and was horrified to hear the emcee inciting the crowd to chant “Elon Musk . . . PUNCH THAT NAZI IN THE FACE!” multiple times, minutes apart. The crowd responded zealously.
It’s beyond belief that an officially sanctioned speaker would adopt Donald Trump’s vicious and dangerous rally language—and that none of the other speakers or organizers intervened.
Thug-speak from leaders will destroy this movement’s credibility, foment crudeness and extremism at its rallies, attract escalating counter-violence from militias, and make people afraid to demonstrate.
(Circulating purposefully among us today were young men in pairs—black ball caps, no protest signs—looking detached and intent as they reconnoitered the attendees and the site rather than anything going on at the podium.)
To all rally sponsors: Speakers must be better briefed and evidently more carefully selected.
Reporting in from Las Cruces New Mexico rally today: It was very windy and cold but a few hundred stalwart folks clung to our signs in good humor, enjoying many honks and waves of solidarity for well over an hour.
My husband and I were at the downtown Denver No Kings protest today on the steps of the Capitol. I am sad to report that Denver has a real problem: the organizers are allowing this protest rally to be hijacked by other interests, that are being allowed to take advantage of the crowds in attendance. Though the vast majority of attendees were there clearly to oppose the Trump Administration's coup, with on point signs and American flags, etc, the main microphone for the event was handed to totally OFF TOPIC speakers: a "Free Palestine" speaker, and another person At At today's No Kings protest on the steps of the Capitol building in Denver, my husband and I saw that the Denver organizers have a real problem: the speakers at the microphone were OFF TOPIC.
One person spoke about "Freeing Palestine" and another spoke about fighting White Supremacy, at one point labeling Abraham Lincoln a White Supremacist! We, and many attendees around us, were turned off by the hijacking of this event. Sure, it's part of free speech for anyone who wants to come along with whatever signs and flags express their causes; but it is a losing strategy when organizers hand off the microphone to these OFF TOPIC speakers, more likely to divide us than unite us behind the stated purpose of the protests Soon, the thousands there today will stay away...and look for leadership elsewhere.
My husband was so turned off today, he had no further interest in attending Hands Off protests, because the leadership/organizers seem, frankly, rudderless and unable to use this opportunity - there were thousands of people who came out - appropriately. We discussed on the way home why our wonderful government representatives here - Jared Polis, Mike Johnston, Phil Weisser, Jason Crow, et al - have not spoken at these protests in the heart of Denver. The people who attended today, I'm quite sure, are hungry for leadership to guide us in our efforts to overcome this coup. But maybe our representatives have been burned by the lack of judgment of the organizers, and don't want to be seen sharing the podium with the folks of essentially unrelated causes, whether or not they support them. These protests should become opportunities for our political leadership to magnify our voices and take this fight back to our legislatures and Congress. They should be opportunities for convincing those legislators who are afraid to counter Trump to reclaim their values and join us.
I'm curious if folks attending these protests in other cities have witnessed the same problems we saw in Denver today?
My husband and I were at the downtown Denver No Kings protest today on the steps of the Capitol. I am sad to report that Denver has a real problem: the organizers are allowing this protest rally to be hijacked by other interests, that are being allowed to take advantage of the crowds in attendance. Though the vast majority of attendees were there clearly to oppose the Trump Administration's coup, with on point signs and American flags, etc, the main microphone for the event was handed to totally OFF TOPIC speakers: a "Free Palestine" speaker, and another person At At today's No Kings protest on the steps of the Capitol building in Denver, my husband and I saw that the Denver organizers have a real problem: the speakers at the microphone were OFF TOPIC.
One person spoke about "Freeing Palestine" and another spoke about fighting White Supremacy, at one point labeling Abraham Lincoln a White Supremacist! We, and many attendees around us, were turned off by the hijacking of this event. Sure, it's part of free speech for anyone who wants to come along with whatever signs and flags express their causes; but it is a losing strategy when organizers hand off the microphone to these OFF TOPIC speakers, more likely to divide us than unite us behind the stated purpose of the protests Soon, the thousands there today will stay away...and look for leadership elsewhere.
My husband was so turned off today, he had no further interest in attending Hands Off protests, because the leadership/organizers seem, frankly, rudderless and unable to use this opportunity - there were thousands of people who came out - appropriately. We discussed on the way home why our wonderful government representatives here - Jared Polis, Mike Johnston, Phil Weisser, Jason Crow, et al - have not spoken at these protests in the heart of Denver. The people who attended today, I'm quite sure, are hungry for leadership to guide us in our efforts to overcome this coup. But maybe our representatives have been burned by the lack of judgment of the organizers, and don't want to be seen sharing the podium with the folks of essentially unrelated causes, whether or not they support them. These protests should become opportunities for our political leadership to magnify our voices and take this fight back to our legislatures and Congress. They should be opportunities for convincing those legislators who are afraid to counter Trump to reclaim their values and join us.
I'm curious if folks attending these protests in other cities have witnessed the same problems we saw in Denver today?
I'm curious if others on your wonderful Substack are experiencing this problem in the demonstrations they're attending?
We in Greensboro NC had no problems at all with folks trying to impose other issues on our protest march. All smooth sailing with lots of cars cheering and honking us on!
I heard a political commentator on the radio a couple of days ago (not the president of Harvard :) say that old women carrying signs was not going to save the country, but what the heck, I'm doing it anyway. We had about 1500 in Greensboro NC today. And LOTS of young folks too. One young woman turned to me and asked me if this was my first protest rally! Bless her heart.
Determined, motivated, energized defenders of democracy and a significant increase (to my eyes and ears) in enthusiastic responses from those driving by our gatherings, some waving signs of their own outside their car windows and moon roofs!🎉
We went to the 2nd Tucson Hands off protest today and, once again, there are over 1,000 people! We have faith in democracy and the courage to never give up!
I take heart from all of you, and from fellow protesters all over the country.
Just wanted to say THAK YOU to Robert for today's live stream. I was signed up to go to a protest rally but was really feeling blah & didn't feel like going. After listening to him this morning I was re-invigorated, put on my "Resist" shirt & am headed to a protest rally in Culver City. Thank you so much Robert!!!
In today's video, you expressed confidence that members of the military will show fealty to the Constitution rather than the regime. I'm not saying this to alarm people or to suggest that we do anything differently as far as resistance, but I'm not as optimistic. Senator Tammy Duckworth has pointed out that top military positions are being filled on the basis of loyalty, not competence, and I fear that soldiers who need their jobs or are simply following training will implement orders as they have at other times in history. https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/sen-tammy-duckworth-why-trumps-pattern-purging-our-highest-performing-military-officers-dangerous I hope that those who know people in the military will discuss this with them if they see an opening. Michael Fanone, who was assaulted on January 6th, published an open letter to fellow law enforcement officers on his substack page with a powerful message about acting according to conscience, not orders. I hope that we can form alliances with members of law enforcement and military members so that we're united in a common purpose of preserving democracy.
I posted the following question on Joyce Vance’s Civil Discourse “5 Questions” with several experts & scholars discussing topic of “What is a Constitutional Crisis?” It is posted here to ask Today’s Edition” readers to offer their thoughts or answers to my question(s). Thank you.
“After reading the comments of these experts & scholars I was left with the question(s): “How does Chief Justice John Roberts make future decisions about Trump’s potential actions in the context of last June’s “immunity decision?” “Hasn’t the Chief Justice and his extremists colleagues left no room to now decide anything done by Trump is criminal, “a high crime and misdemeanor” not to mention a complete abandonment of any pretense that Trump has any adherence to the Constitution or the oath of office he took.”
I think you and your readers would like to see this video of Heather Cox Richardson's keynote speech at the Old North Church ceremony celebrating the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's ride. Like you, and as all of us should strive to do, Heather often urges us to "do the next best thing." You and she are among my heroes for all you do to be our lanterns that show the path away from tyranny.
Hey friends. When you have time, watch this fantastic conversation between Heather Cox Richardson and Senator Angus King of Maine. They;re talking about the ride of Paul Revere and its relevance for right now. Senator King is AweSOME!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YHvpx3vzCE&t=915s
I just attended the April 19th Earth Day/No Kings rally at the State Capitol in Saint Paul, MN, and was horrified to hear the emcee inciting the crowd to chant “Elon Musk . . . PUNCH THAT NAZI IN THE FACE!” multiple times, minutes apart. The crowd responded zealously.
It’s beyond belief that an officially sanctioned speaker would adopt Donald Trump’s vicious and dangerous rally language—and that none of the other speakers or organizers intervened.
Thug-speak from leaders will destroy this movement’s credibility, foment crudeness and extremism at its rallies, attract escalating counter-violence from militias, and make people afraid to demonstrate.
(Circulating purposefully among us today were young men in pairs—black ball caps, no protest signs—looking detached and intent as they reconnoitered the attendees and the site rather than anything going on at the podium.)
To all rally sponsors: Speakers must be better briefed and evidently more carefully selected.
Reporting in from Las Cruces New Mexico rally today: It was very windy and cold but a few hundred stalwart folks clung to our signs in good humor, enjoying many honks and waves of solidarity for well over an hour.
My husband and I were at the downtown Denver No Kings protest today on the steps of the Capitol. I am sad to report that Denver has a real problem: the organizers are allowing this protest rally to be hijacked by other interests, that are being allowed to take advantage of the crowds in attendance. Though the vast majority of attendees were there clearly to oppose the Trump Administration's coup, with on point signs and American flags, etc, the main microphone for the event was handed to totally OFF TOPIC speakers: a "Free Palestine" speaker, and another person At At today's No Kings protest on the steps of the Capitol building in Denver, my husband and I saw that the Denver organizers have a real problem: the speakers at the microphone were OFF TOPIC.
One person spoke about "Freeing Palestine" and another spoke about fighting White Supremacy, at one point labeling Abraham Lincoln a White Supremacist! We, and many attendees around us, were turned off by the hijacking of this event. Sure, it's part of free speech for anyone who wants to come along with whatever signs and flags express their causes; but it is a losing strategy when organizers hand off the microphone to these OFF TOPIC speakers, more likely to divide us than unite us behind the stated purpose of the protests Soon, the thousands there today will stay away...and look for leadership elsewhere.
My husband was so turned off today, he had no further interest in attending Hands Off protests, because the leadership/organizers seem, frankly, rudderless and unable to use this opportunity - there were thousands of people who came out - appropriately. We discussed on the way home why our wonderful government representatives here - Jared Polis, Mike Johnston, Phil Weisser, Jason Crow, et al - have not spoken at these protests in the heart of Denver. The people who attended today, I'm quite sure, are hungry for leadership to guide us in our efforts to overcome this coup. But maybe our representatives have been burned by the lack of judgment of the organizers, and don't want to be seen sharing the podium with the folks of essentially unrelated causes, whether or not they support them. These protests should become opportunities for our political leadership to magnify our voices and take this fight back to our legislatures and Congress. They should be opportunities for convincing those legislators who are afraid to counter Trump to reclaim their values and join us.
I'm curious if folks attending these protests in other cities have witnessed the same problems we saw in Denver today?
My husband and I were at the downtown Denver No Kings protest today on the steps of the Capitol. I am sad to report that Denver has a real problem: the organizers are allowing this protest rally to be hijacked by other interests, that are being allowed to take advantage of the crowds in attendance. Though the vast majority of attendees were there clearly to oppose the Trump Administration's coup, with on point signs and American flags, etc, the main microphone for the event was handed to totally OFF TOPIC speakers: a "Free Palestine" speaker, and another person At At today's No Kings protest on the steps of the Capitol building in Denver, my husband and I saw that the Denver organizers have a real problem: the speakers at the microphone were OFF TOPIC.
One person spoke about "Freeing Palestine" and another spoke about fighting White Supremacy, at one point labeling Abraham Lincoln a White Supremacist! We, and many attendees around us, were turned off by the hijacking of this event. Sure, it's part of free speech for anyone who wants to come along with whatever signs and flags express their causes; but it is a losing strategy when organizers hand off the microphone to these OFF TOPIC speakers, more likely to divide us than unite us behind the stated purpose of the protests Soon, the thousands there today will stay away...and look for leadership elsewhere.
My husband was so turned off today, he had no further interest in attending Hands Off protests, because the leadership/organizers seem, frankly, rudderless and unable to use this opportunity - there were thousands of people who came out - appropriately. We discussed on the way home why our wonderful government representatives here - Jared Polis, Mike Johnston, Phil Weisser, Jason Crow, et al - have not spoken at these protests in the heart of Denver. The people who attended today, I'm quite sure, are hungry for leadership to guide us in our efforts to overcome this coup. But maybe our representatives have been burned by the lack of judgment of the organizers, and don't want to be seen sharing the podium with the folks of essentially unrelated causes, whether or not they support them. These protests should become opportunities for our political leadership to magnify our voices and take this fight back to our legislatures and Congress. They should be opportunities for convincing those legislators who are afraid to counter Trump to reclaim their values and join us.
I'm curious if folks attending these protests in other cities have witnessed the same problems we saw in Denver today?
I'm curious if others on your wonderful Substack are experiencing this problem in the demonstrations they're attending?
We in Greensboro NC had no problems at all with folks trying to impose other issues on our protest march. All smooth sailing with lots of cars cheering and honking us on!
A great protest downtown Portland Oregon! Beautiful weather. Marching band horns and drums. Dancing to the music. Rally chants. Community.
I heard a political commentator on the radio a couple of days ago (not the president of Harvard :) say that old women carrying signs was not going to save the country, but what the heck, I'm doing it anyway. We had about 1500 in Greensboro NC today. And LOTS of young folks too. One young woman turned to me and asked me if this was my first protest rally! Bless her heart.
Tesla Takedown yesterday in Raleigh, NC.
No Kings today in Durham, NC.
Determined, motivated, energized defenders of democracy and a significant increase (to my eyes and ears) in enthusiastic responses from those driving by our gatherings, some waving signs of their own outside their car windows and moon roofs!🎉
We went to the 2nd Tucson Hands off protest today and, once again, there are over 1,000 people! We have faith in democracy and the courage to never give up!
I take heart from all of you, and from fellow protesters all over the country.
Thank you, Robert, and thank you all!
Bazillions of people at the Manhattan march today up Madison Avenue.
We had 150 people protesting today in (ruby red) Woodstock Virginia!
Just wanted to say THAK YOU to Robert for today's live stream. I was signed up to go to a protest rally but was really feeling blah & didn't feel like going. After listening to him this morning I was re-invigorated, put on my "Resist" shirt & am headed to a protest rally in Culver City. Thank you so much Robert!!!
Good on you, Marilyn!
In today's video, you expressed confidence that members of the military will show fealty to the Constitution rather than the regime. I'm not saying this to alarm people or to suggest that we do anything differently as far as resistance, but I'm not as optimistic. Senator Tammy Duckworth has pointed out that top military positions are being filled on the basis of loyalty, not competence, and I fear that soldiers who need their jobs or are simply following training will implement orders as they have at other times in history. https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/sen-tammy-duckworth-why-trumps-pattern-purging-our-highest-performing-military-officers-dangerous I hope that those who know people in the military will discuss this with them if they see an opening. Michael Fanone, who was assaulted on January 6th, published an open letter to fellow law enforcement officers on his substack page with a powerful message about acting according to conscience, not orders. I hope that we can form alliances with members of law enforcement and military members so that we're united in a common purpose of preserving democracy.
"You are not allowed to give up". I needed to read those words today
I posted the following question on Joyce Vance’s Civil Discourse “5 Questions” with several experts & scholars discussing topic of “What is a Constitutional Crisis?” It is posted here to ask Today’s Edition” readers to offer their thoughts or answers to my question(s). Thank you.
“After reading the comments of these experts & scholars I was left with the question(s): “How does Chief Justice John Roberts make future decisions about Trump’s potential actions in the context of last June’s “immunity decision?” “Hasn’t the Chief Justice and his extremists colleagues left no room to now decide anything done by Trump is criminal, “a high crime and misdemeanor” not to mention a complete abandonment of any pretense that Trump has any adherence to the Constitution or the oath of office he took.”
Thank you, Robert, as always.
I think you and your readers would like to see this video of Heather Cox Richardson's keynote speech at the Old North Church ceremony celebrating the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's ride. Like you, and as all of us should strive to do, Heather often urges us to "do the next best thing." You and she are among my heroes for all you do to be our lanterns that show the path away from tyranny.
https://vimeo.com/event/5056560
Hey friends. When you have time, watch this fantastic conversation between Heather Cox Richardson and Senator Angus King of Maine. They;re talking about the ride of Paul Revere and its relevance for right now. Senator King is AweSOME!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YHvpx3vzCE&t=915s