# What good does it to be a part of a protest on inauguration day? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 18, 2017, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463 "2017-01-18T12:46:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/1 "2017-01-18T12:46:12Z")
Here is whats come out on Facebook: [10 Acts of Resistance on Inauguration Day](http://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/01/14/10-acts-of-resistance-on-inauguration-day/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=johnpavlovitz&utm_content=10+Acts+of+Resistance+on+Inauguration+Day). Most of which are benign. Ex. serve the needy, reach across divides, pray, do something creative, etc… Only #9 “Be Visible” where it says to join in all the acts of protest that are taking place across the nation and in DC itself. Here is a list of [major groups protesting Trump in DC](https://mic.com/articles/165653/trump-inauguration-day-protests-here-are-the-major-groups-marching-on-dc-this-weekend#.5DHR3gBsP). What I wonder is what do they hope to accomplish? They cant possibly hope the election will be overturned. 2nd question - some of these groups are probably going to be committing some acts of violence and maybe terrorism. Why would you want to be associated with that? ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/2 "2017-01-18T13:00:03Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Here is whats come out on Facebook: [10 Acts of Resistance on Inauguration Day](http://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/01/14/10-acts-of-resistance-on-inauguration-day/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=johnpavlovitz&utm_content=10+Acts+of+Resistance+on+Inauguration+Day). > > Most of which are benign. Ex. serve the needy, reach across divides, pray, do something creative, etc… Only #9 “Be Visible” where it says to join in all the acts of protest that are taking place across the nation and in DC itself. > > Here is a list of [major groups protesting Trump in DC](https://mic.com/articles/165653/trump-inauguration-day-protests-here-are-the-major-groups-marching-on-dc-this-weekend#.5DHR3gBsP). > What I wonder is what do they hope to accomplish? They cant possibly hope the election will be overturned. How about doing a minimum of research? Here from your first link in the description of the Women’s March: > [@](#): > > In response to Donald Trump’s misogyny, people from across the country will march in Washington the day after the inauguration to send the message “that women’s rights are human rights.” Sending a message will most likely be the purpose of the other protests and groups as well. > [@Urbanredneck](#): > > 2nd question - some of these groups are probably going to be committing some acts of violence and maybe terrorism. Why would you want to be associated with that? As an argument that applies to almost any large scale protest with high emotional content, which makes it rather stupid. The same argument was used against civil rights demonstrations, do you think those protestors should also have stayed home to avoid the risk of being associated with “some acts of violence and maybe terrorism”? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/3 "2017-01-18T14:14:11Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Here is whats come out on Facebook: [10 Acts of Resistance on Inauguration Day](http://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/01/14/10-acts-of-resistance-on-inauguration-day/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=johnpavlovitz&utm_content=10+Acts+of+Resistance+on+Inauguration+Day). > > Most of which are benign. Ex. serve the needy, reach across divides, pray, do something creative, etc… Only #9 “Be Visible” where it says to join in all the acts of protest that are taking place across the nation and in DC itself. > > Here is a list of [major groups protesting Trump in DC](https://mic.com/articles/165653/trump-inauguration-day-protests-here-are-the-major-groups-marching-on-dc-this-weekend#.5DHR3gBsP). > What I wonder is what do they hope to accomplish? They cant possibly hope the election will be overturned. > > 2nd question - some of these groups are probably going to be committing some acts of violence and maybe terrorism. Why would you want to be associated with that? - People unclear on the concept of [right to freedom of speech and public assembly](https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment). ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/4 "2017-01-18T14:21:47Z")
The Tea Party used to protest. The “pro-life” people march in Washington every year. Peaceful resistance is part of a healthy democracy, and god knows our democracy could stand to get a little more healthy. Raising awareness that a large group of Americans doesn’t support the current administration is a time honored tradition that does, to perhaps a small extent, undermine the ability of that administration to get bad stuff done. Plus, Trump will hate it. I think it is important that Trump being sworn in is not the only story of the day. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/5 "2017-01-18T14:39:16Z")
You might as well ask why does anyone ever protest? Inauguration Days offers an advantage in that you have a bunch of media types swarming over DC, so you have a much better chance of getting your message out there (as compared to some random calendar day). I don’t think many (or any) of the protestors are expecting to overturn the election-- too late for that. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/6 "2017-01-18T14:44:49Z")
For one thing, I think it is good to constantly remind people that Trump is not a popular president. He lost the popular vote and his approval rating on his first day will be the lowest in history for a newly sworn in president. There is going to be a huge contrast between the small crowds and D list celebs at Trump’s swearing in and the masses protesting the incestuous Russian puppet (allegedly, sure does talk about banging his daughter a lot and he sure does seem to be doing Putin’s bidding). By keeping constant pressure on him, we achieve a few things: Ideally, we can establish the narrative for his presidency that he is a loser and failure. Presidential narratives, once written are very hard to overcome; Gerald Ford was framed as a clumsy bumbler and that was his narrative, never mind that he had actually been a gifted athlete; once the narrative is written that is all the press looked for. Also, constantly reminding Republican members of Congress, governors and state representatives that Trump is unpopular makes it harder for them to go along with Trump’s agenda. They will be constantly on alert for a Trump backlash and think twice before endorsing his worst plans. Finally, this it Trump, he is thin skinned and mentally unbalanced, the more we can bait him with protests and challenges to his narcissistic personality disorder, the more likely he is going to lash out in bizarre and alienating ways. He hasn’t even been sworn in yet and he’s called the CIA Nazis; there is a real chance we can drive him out of office and into a mental institution. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/7 "2017-01-18T14:46:55Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > 2nd question - some of these groups are probably going to be committing some acts of violence and maybe terrorism. Why would you want to be associated with that? Nice try. First, you address this _actual_ association to violence and terrorism, then ask about some _hypothetical_ one: [KKK’s official newspaper supports Donald Trump for president](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/11/01/the-kkks-official-newspaper-has-endorsed-donald-trump-for-president) ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/8 "2017-01-18T14:58:10Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Here is whats come out on Facebook: [10 Acts of Resistance on Inauguration Day](http://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/01/14/10-acts-of-resistance-on-inauguration-day/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=johnpavlovitz&utm_content=10+Acts+of+Resistance+on+Inauguration+Day). > > Most of which are benign. Ex. serve the needy, reach across divides, pray, do something creative, etc… Only #9 “Be Visible” where it says to join in all the acts of protest that are taking place across the nation and in DC itself. > > Here is a list of [major groups protesting Trump in DC](https://mic.com/articles/165653/trump-inauguration-day-protests-here-are-the-major-groups-marching-on-dc-this-weekend#.5DHR3gBsP). > What I wonder is what do they hope to accomplish? They cant possibly hope the election will be overturned. They are venting. > [@](#): > > 2nd question - some of these groups are probably going to be committing some acts of violence and maybe terrorism. Why would you want to be associated with that? Not in DC they’re not. At least not “probably” ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/9 "2017-01-18T15:20:52Z")
One reason why people do this is that is comforting to know that there are other people out there who feel the same way you do. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/10 "2017-01-18T15:21:11Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Nice try. First, you address this _actual_ association to violence and terrorism, then ask about some _hypothetical_ one: > > [KKK’s official newspaper supports Donald Trump for president](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/11/01/the-kkks-official-newspaper-has-endorsed-donald-trump-for-president) Not only that, but Trump has a prominent white supremacist on his staff and has called on his supporters to commit violence at his rallies. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/11 "2017-01-18T15:30:52Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > …but Trump has a prominent white supremacist on his staff … Who? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/12 "2017-01-18T15:32:33Z")
Social Justice Warrior writ large… ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/13 "2017-01-18T15:34:44Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > 2nd question - some of these groups are probably going to be committing some acts of violence and maybe terrorism. Why would you want to be associated with that? Donald Trump committed acts of sexual assault, asked his followers to commit violence, suggested the assassination of public officials, mocked the disabled, mocked veterans, repeatedly promised to do illegal, unethical, and unconstitutional things when elected, lied repeatedly–basically ubiquitously- while painting his much more honest opponent as “crooked” and dishonest, threatened to use political power to incarcerate his political opponents for non-crimes much less severe than those he himself committed as an act of revenge for merely running against him, and emboldened some of the worst elements of our society. And yet an awful lot of people wanted to be associated with that. So let’s knock off the false naivety, please. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/14 "2017-01-18T15:43:00Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Who? Steve Bannon. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/15 "2017-01-18T15:51:42Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Steve Bannon. “prominent white supremacist”? Based on what? Did he burn a cross in someone’s yard? Participate in a KKK rally? Is there video of him using the n-word? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/16 "2017-01-18T15:59:02Z")
Breitbart News, under his leadership, published an array of racist trash. You want to split hairs between “he is a white supremacist” and “it was just part of his vision to give a platform for white supremacists to spew their bile?” ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/17 "2017-01-18T16:02:07Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > “prominent white supremacist”? Based on what? Did he burn a cross in someone’s yard? Participate in a KKK rally? Is there video of him using the n-word? He ran a racist website. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/18 "2017-01-18T16:03:18Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Breitbart News, under his leadership, published an array of racist trash. You want to split hairs between “he is a white supremacist” and “it was just part of his vision to give a platform for white supremacists to spew their bile?” Yeah, I want to draw a distinction between people who actually do racist shit and people who don’t. Calling the latter a “prominent white supremacist” is not only factually incorrect, but it dilutes the significance of the label. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/19 "2017-01-18T16:07:35Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Breitbart News, under his leadership, published an array of racist trash. You want to split hairs between “he is a white supremacist” and “it was just part of his vision to give a platform for white supremacists to spew their bile?” > [@DrCube](#): > > He ran a racist website. What’s the most blatantly racist thing on Breitbart’s home page today? What % of their content would you label as “racist”? ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463/20 "2017-01-18T16:20:15Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Here is a list of [major groups protesting Trump in DC](https://mic.com/articles/165653/trump-inauguration-day-protests-here-are-the-major-groups-marching-on-dc-this-weekend#.5DHR3gBsP). > > What I wonder is what do they hope to accomplish? They cant possibly hope the election will be overturned. But they can hope that, with enough organized resistance, at least some of the things they fear could happen as a result of the election won’t. Sometimes, this even works. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-does-it-to-be-a-part-of-a-protest-on-inauguration-day/777463.md?page=2)