Organizers call for 11 million people to march and rally in this weekend’s effort to ‘protect democracy’

Protesters poured into the streets of cities and towns across the United States again on Saturday, in the second wave of protests this month, as organizers seek to turn discontent with Donald Trump’s presidency into a mass movement that will eventually translate into action at the ballot box.

By early afternoon, large protests were under way in WashingtonNew York and Chicago, with images of crowds cascading across social networks showing additional demonstrations in Rhode IslandMarylandWisconsinTennesseeSouth CarolinaOhioKentuckyCalifornia and Pennsylvania, among others. Americans abroad also signaled their opposition to the Trump agenda in Dublin, Ireland, and other cities.

More than 400 rallies were planned, most loosely organized by the group 50501, which stands for 50 protests in 50 states, one movement.

  • ramenshaman@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    Pretty good turnout in SF. We started at the civic center then marched to the Tesla showroom. There was already a protest at Tesla so the two crowds joined up. Nobody at the Tesla showroom showed up to work today.

  • HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 day ago

    This one felt fucking awesome. I barely hve my voice from screaming so much. Buying a fucking megaphone for the next. Get your asses out and protest people!

    • cmbabul@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      I wish I could say the same, the one I attended in Seattle was paltry compared to the last. I am happy to hear that wasn’t ubiquitous though

      • Gerudo@lemm.ee
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        1 day ago

        I was unable to attend, but north texas was way smaller than the last one too.

        • Today@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          Also in north Texas. Didn’t go but did make a few phone calls - Chris Van Hollen and the two Texas Republican representatives who voted no to vouchers. Not much, but more than i did yesterday.

  • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    50 states, 50 protests, 1 movement.

    Ireland: “Can we join in?”

    I mean, I appriciate the support, but now we need a new name.

    50+Ireland501 just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

  • Phoenixz@lemmy.ca
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    1 day ago

    If indeed 11 Million people showed up, that would finally be a good begin

    To see this through though, it should be at minimum a multiple of that amount and it should last for months before this government will let go.

    Good luck

  • tamal3@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    Check out your local May Day protests, too. Hopefully even bigger than today! I’m ready to do this every two weeks until we are prepared for a general strike.

  • nkat2112@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    I much enjoyed the Chicago one today! Great turning and many creative posters out there. It was very intense! I loved it!

    Oddly, there’s something therapeutic for me about attending protests against fascists and oligarchs.

    • Skunk@piefed.social
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      21 hours ago

      There’s something therapeutic for us in the rest of the world too. Seeing you guys protesting and not agreeing with what is happening makes us proud of you and happy.

      Keep it on, as a famous philosopher once said: “Apes together strong”

      • whodrankarnoldpalmer@startrek.website
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        20 hours ago

        Sorry, no- watching Americans wait for a weekend to get the proper permits and “protest” just enough not to upset anyone would be comical if it wasn’t so dangerous.

        • tamal3@lemmy.world
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          14 hours ago

          We’re building toward a general strike, but it would be irresponsible to call for one now. There is actual preparation required for something like that, which includes both the financial preparation but also the garnering of support and commitments.

    • whodrankarnoldpalmer@startrek.website
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      20 hours ago

      If you “enjoyed” and “loved” it, you did literally nothing. You had a weekend parade because the weather was nice, someone got the required permits, and it eased your guilt. This is “thoughts and prayers” shit.

      Pre-emptive lazy retort: “well what are YOU doing?” as if it’s a Canadian’s job to fix your country.

      second pre-emptive lazy comment: “HEY you’re not even American, you don’t get to make comments about our failure to do anything at all”

      I reserve the right to a pre-emptive jerkoff gesture should any big strong Americans decide to respond with the most boring, obvious shit

      • lemonaz@lemmy.world
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        18 hours ago

        God forbid people feel something when they go to a protest. Don’t be a dick, dude. That person is doing their best. They can’t literally call every American out to action.

        And don’t get me wrong, I also respect your right to jerk off at America’s FAFO moment (hey, who hasn’t at least a little?) since a whole bunch of people there need a reality check, the hard way. But a lot of innocent people both in and out America are also suffering and dying because of the recent cuts, so let’s reserve our hatred to those handing out the pain, and let’s encourage fighting back in a constructive way, because I guarantee you nobody anywhere will be safe if this regime finds its footing and achieves long term stability.

        Also, it’s this nihilistic low-trust doomer mindset, induced by decades of neoliberalism, that brought this Joker-mode fascism in the first place, because people just gave up fighting for a future and just want to burn everything to the ground and jerkoff to watching others suffer so they can forget about their own misery. We all need to start believing in something good before it’s too late, regardless how “cringe” that might sound to either of us.

        • whodrankarnoldpalmer@startrek.website
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          18 hours ago

          That person is doing their best.

          Bullshit.

          a lot of innocent people both in and out America are also suffering and dying because of the recent cuts, … I guarantee you nobody anywhere will be safe if this regime finds its footing and achieves long term stability

          Correct. Sounds to me like Americans should stop patting themselves on the back for doing protests like it’s the fuckin’ Bush era.

          • lemonaz@lemmy.world
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            17 hours ago

            I think people can be proud of their actions while also improving. Not to mention, others might be inspired to follow their lead, people sitting on the fence one nudge away from joining.

            But by all means. If you have any suggestions, how about provide them instead of berating people for standing up — especially when you yourself admitted it can be dangerous.

            • whodrankarnoldpalmer@startrek.website
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              17 hours ago

              If you have any suggestions, how about provide them

              Are you saying that the resistance is simply suffering from a lack of imagination? The problem is that they just don’t know what they could possibly do? Jesus, you’re absolutely boned.

              • lemonaz@lemmy.world
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                16 hours ago

                I don’t have “the resistance” in the room with me right now to ask them what they do or don’t know. But you seem to know, since you’re being very critical that they’re not doing the things you want them to do, without saying what they are — so I’m asking you what you personally think they should do rather than what they shouldn’t.

  • Lemming6969@lemmy.world
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    17 hours ago

    Less than 5% of possible voters as a best case scenario in a peaceful protest… Will be entirely ignored.

    • caffinatedone@lemmy.world
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      16 hours ago

      Well, didn’t hit 5%, so time to go home everyone. Many thanks to lemming6969 for letting us know so we don’t waste our time.

    • FlyingCircus@lemmy.world
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      16 hours ago

      Fascists will always ignore protests. The point isn’t that the protests themselves will change things, the point is to organize now so that when violence becomes more widespread, resistance groups already exist and can effectively recruit partisans.

      This coup isn’t going to end peacefully. It’s time we start realizing that and preparing ourselves to fight.

    • tamal3@lemmy.world
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      14 hours ago

      Yes but if those same people get on board for a general strike… Suddenly everyone will have to listen.

      I understand the Saturday protest mentality right now. We can’t all take a weekday off to see if somebody shows up downtown to protest, but we can meet up on a Saturday to stir the pot and make connections with each other. Strikes take a lot to organize and we don’t really have labor unions anymore.

    • vvilld@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      16 hours ago

      I trust, then, that you got out there to add yourself to the numbers? The next big day is May 3. What are you doing to increase these numbers so we can surpass the 5% mark?