I was going to see the rally at our county seat, but when I saw one by the city hall here I pulled over, got out of my car, barrowed a spare sign and waved it at passing traffic for about an hour before my back insisted I go home.
My first protest ever at age 66.
I made it this time. It definitely skewed younger, and there were slightly more people than the last time. Plus it was better organized and more flamboyant (same volume and shouts, but a lot more costumes!)
The opposition also showed slightly more, but that was limited to a few trucks shouting opposing but still polite slogans. One of them drove past the protest several times, though, up to the point where I would have alerted the organizers had they continued, but then they drove away.
There were at least 2 police officers on every corner of the protest. I initially thought that that was a bad thing, and I’m not sure it wouldn’t have been a bad thing had there been a physical altercation that didn’t involve gun violence. But the police were a net positive this time, because several times they made sure that regular traffic that wasn’t even in the protest simply obeyed normal traffic rules. I almost wish that they would do this at every corner all the time!
They accompanied an organized group of blind walkers to cross with their sticks. Not sure if cars would have otherwise gone in front of them, but it totally fits into the character of this town. For instance I chose my eye doctor to be the one literally across the street from me, so I could walk home if my eyes weren’t good from the droplets, and I still almost got run over walking home despite having a walk signal. If I go back again, I am seriously considering buying a white cane so that people know that I can’t see very well after my eye exam!
The other time was when I, and other protestors, walked across the street, again, when we had a walk signal. A police officer walked in front of our group to stop a car that was turning right that otherwise would have continued toward us.
I went to a protest in Bailey’s Crossroads Virginia and had a very pleasant and peaceful time. We didn’t bring anything, but someone gave me and my son little flags to wave. Fun and entirely peaceful.
The Woodlands, TX. Suburb north of Houston.
1,000 people, it was one of two planned protests - several blocks long lining the sidewalks. Very safe. Very friendly. No police or anything. Brought my 8yr old daughter and her friend and they setup a station making signs for people. That was a hit.
Really good experience all around.
Best sign: It’s gotten so bad even the introverts are out!
Late: a deaf and blind woman attended. Not sure what to say but it’s worth noting.
The Indianapolis one had a surprisingly large number of middle aged and elderly white men, which was nice to see.
I read someone make a comment that ‘I’m a non-practicing white’ and I related to that.
Probably 350-400 in my small (20k) town in Kansas. Lined both sides of the street for a couple of blocks. Lots of signs and flags. A whole bunch of friendly honks and a few birds flipped. Overall, a success, IMO.
Just home form the rally in Cinci. Big turnout, perfect weather for it. Keep up the pressure!
From the other side of the Atlantic:
Looked promising: now do it again next week and bring your mother.
Great crowd in our little NC town of Black Mountain. At least triple the size of any prior protest. Lots of positive energy and great support from the folks driving by. This gives me hope in our dark times. More and more folks are no longer sitting at home. More and more people are saying “No” to the current Fascist takeover.
I learned last night that there was a rally planned at a park just a couple of blocks from me. On the north shore of Long Island, organized by our local League of Women Voters. I’m bad at estimating crowd sizes, but there were at least a few hundred people there. Speeches, singing along to folk songs, and chanting slogans. Although I didn’t have time to make a sign, there were lots there. My favorite was one that said “No Faux King Way.”
Very peaceful, one local cop watching from the back. If there were any counter-protesters I didn’t see them. Many of the cars and trucks passing by honked their approval.
Just finished with the Phoenix rally. Hard to estimate numbers, but probably at least 10k.
I was in a suburb of St Louis that voted 60% Trump, but we had a nice turnout, especially since it rained hard at times. Many honks and thumbs up, only one guy in truck with huge Trump flag (he was there in June,too).. It is near a bookstore, and I overheard an old lady complaining about the protests, with another Maga friend on her phone, who was giving obscene guestures to those outside. I went outside to show my solidarity with those protesters and they told me to “just ignore, that infuriates them.” I am not so good at ignoring, so I made my hand into the “heart sign” to the woman on the phone of the woman in the bookstore. I could see her head exploding … so satisfying. No real counterprotests, therefore, unless you count those 2 women and the flagman.
I had to work today and also my health is still shaking so I did go to any protest.
However, I did receive notice from several people that if they did not contact me again by X time to assume they were detained and to notify family and others in that circumstance. As it happened, no one in my circle had any trouble but I’m trying to tell myself that was also a contribution.
Indeed it is. You made it safe and feasible for them.
About 250-300 in our little corner of Mississippi. Not bad! And I met a Congressional candidate, which is good, because last time no one filed to run against the incumbent in that district.
It’s a great quote, but it’s not from Emma Goldman. It came from her discussions with the other Kropotkin, who was rather prudish about sex and chastised Emma for her outspoken sexuality. Her response was roughly, “yeah, if I was your age, I probably wouldn’t be thinking about sex either, but I’m not!” This was later reformulated by feminists in the 1970s who made it clear Emma hadn’t said it but it sounded like something she would have said and expressed their opinion about joy and revolution.
In other news, there is a “No Tyrants” demonstration in Vancouver, BC today, but I can’t make it.
I did it!
Took me maybe 10 minutes to find parking. The feeling in Ferndale, Michigan is overwhelmingly positive. Maybe a couple thousand people or more. My friend found me and took me back to the median in the center of Woodward to meet his Dad (who is 86!) and his neighbor. I waved my little American flag. The people driving by were continuously and loudly honking in support, it was just non-stop honking, people waving flags out the window, people hanging out of car windows and leading chants with bullhorns. The city bus driver was sitting there and you know she can’t express support without getting in trouble, but she was giving us that look, you know, and tapping her hand, and smiling and we’re like, “We see you!”
Afterward we had lunch, and I’m surprised it wasn’t packed, but people dispersed quickly so there wasn’t even a wait. I think it’s the most optimistic conversation my friend and I have had about politics in ages.
I would say limited police presence, nothing more than an occasional cruiser, and I don’t think I saw a single Trump supporter. Pictures to come.
A lot of good photos in this article:
I went to a local protest in Northern Virginia instead of downtown DC today. I didn’t have anything yellow to wear except a sort of tawny-gold pashmina, so I brought that. It was jam-packed with people! It was a lovefest, a joyous celebration. There were inflatable animal costumes. Many of the people in cars passing and beeping were also carrying protest signs or forming the two-handed heart gesture 
to us. One woman in a passenger seat stuck a bubble-blowing machine out the window like a priest blessing the crowd. We got beeps and encouraging waves from a car with the “Don’t tread on me” snake license plate. How about that?
Those who feared being grabbed by the federales or something like that, with thousands of protests all at once across the land, they can’t possibly cover all of them. Safety in numbers.
