Or was it just a way to release social tension and stop things boiling over?
Its basically a massive “you are not alone” statement.
Because if the protests stops happening, people will start to feel like they are the only freedom fighter in a sea of authoritarians, then they might lose the will to fight, or even stop thinking about it, they’ll think: it’s futile, why bother resisting, tyranny always wins. That’s why tyrants always want to shut down protests, they don’t want words to spread, because eventually the anti-tyranny sentinment evolves, and even the most peaceful of protests could become a revolution that will cause the downfall of tyrants.
Edit: I want to share something interesting about lingustics: In Chinese, “political demonstration” is translates as “示威”, 示 means to show, 威 means force, 示威 is literally translated to “show of force”.
[示威]
(1) to show power; to show one’s might; to show one’s state of being intimidatingThat’s what this is. We’re proving to the government that we have the numbers on our side. “Comply with demands or risk escalation” is the message. Americans have always been very rebellious, its one trait I always loved about Americans, I have hopes.
Yes. Once people see that they have numbers on their side … and the No Kings movement does … that can cause a shift in belief for change. Change in beliefs can create action.
The Emperor’s New Clothes is not a story about seeing the king’s dick. It is about the power of assembly in the face of tyranny. Not the power of websites, not the power of zoom meeting, not facebook. But the power of assembly in person together to cut down dictators and their toadies.
Nah. Millions of people protesting didn’t stop Brexit. Millions of people protesting didn’t stop Tory cuts. A few thousand people protesting in separate towns is going to achieve squat. Trump is already making fun of it.
Not with that spirit. It’s a warning:
“If you don’t stop and get off your mighty throne now, we will take matters in our hands, taking democracy back to the American people”.
social proof and awareness of likeminded community is very important to political outcomes.
Even just forming connections with like minded people. No, I dont expect Trump & Co. to say “wow, these people really dont like me, I better step down,” but I do expect two (or more!) motivated, active people meeting downtown will do a lot more good than if they never met
Politicians keep track of public sentiment, because it affects their jobs.
People generally don’t want to protest, they just want to get on with their lives. If large numbers get up and start protesting, that means there’s a lot of energy there which politicians can use for campaign phonebanking and canvassing and donations.
Yes, and no. It brings attention to folk who may be unaware that no one likes this path. The voters apathy is cancerous and I’m not discounting more voter interference from an illegitimate president.
I really don’t like that people are down voting your very good question. I read in a book once by establishments connected to “the powers that be”. Not the president but those who control the presidents.
It specified that they allow protest so that the masses feel they have control over their dissatisfaction with the gov and that it prevents them from rebelling. Unfortunately the average America does not get this very important understanding
