By Gwen R.
You Can Stop Asking Where the Mass Opposition Is. It’s Everywhere. (Mother Jones)
No question about it, the enormous, nonviolent “Hands Off!” rallies around the country on April 5, including the downtown Oakland protest that drew thousands, signaled a new phase in the resistance to the Trump/MAGA regime. Even Stephen Colbert took notice. In their weekly “What’s the plan?” call last Thursday (recording here), Indivisible co-founders Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg said that this massive display of people power sent a clear message to a broad audience.
- To Trump and Musk and their Republican enablers: The people are not behind you; you are vulnerable and weak.
- To conciliatory Democrats like Chuck Schumer: You can lead or you can get out of the way. The people have spoken.
- To courageous Democrats like Jasmine Crockett and Jamie Raskin: We have your back! Keep fighting for us!
- To craven leaders of universities, corporations, and other institutions who are capitulating to Trump’s demands: Trump’s power is neither inevitable nor eternal. The post-Trump era is coming. You might want to be positioning yourself with a longer time horizon in mind than whatever Trump happens to be yelling about today.
- To everyone who is disturbed by this administration: You are not alone. Millions of people around the country agree with you and are bravely making their voices heard.
But now what? How do we build on this demonstration of the deep and widespread popular resistance to Trump? Ezra and Leah said what’s next is a “cacophony of actions” organized by different groups around the country to build social proof, increase movement participation, and keep the pressure on.
Coordinated efforts are emerging for national days of action on April 19 (the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution) and on May 1 (May Day). Here in the East Bay, the April 19 action will be centered at the Tesla Takedown in Berkeley, and Oakland Sin Fronteras will be hosting a May Day action in the Fruitvale District. You won’t want to miss these mass events!
Check out our calendar for other opportunities to make good trouble! This Wednesday the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity is hosting a vigil to protest the proposed ICE expansion at the Dublin Women’s Prison, and on Thursday local activists will be hosting a Hands Off our Social Security event at the Social Security Office in Downtown Oakland.
See you in the streets!
