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New data shows No Kings was one of the largest days of protest in US history
(wagingnonviolence.org)
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this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2025
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Good for the USA.
They had a moment, made funny signs, took some pictures, felt good about themselves.
Now Trump is rolling a military buildup in the country's capitol. We all know how this is going to end.
Good job. Pat yourselves on the back. You achieved fucking nothing.
If the protests were pointless, then why would trump bother to build up the military in cities? Seems to me that the military buildup is to discourage more protests, because they are not pointless.
This is the stupidest take.
If anything, you're arguing that the protests accomplished none of the goals of the protestors, and only managed to escalate and incite a response that was a "warning" that worse will come if we don't keep it up.
So... it still seems fucking pointless to me? Like for fucks sake, we're all just waiting for him to die of natural causes and hope that the coalition falls apart, doing a whole bunch of pointless shit until then because we all know that violence is the only way to remove him at this point.
Naive fucks. The people who support him are just as committed to keeping power.
Was he not going to do that anyway?
Glad someone else is saying it.
No Kings was a joke.
This take makes no sense. One of the largest days of protests in US history is a joke to you? It's a fundamental right of the citizens to protest and exercise this right.
Sure. And it accomplished nothing- if anything, it emboldened the far right who now know that they can accelerate their plans and AT BEST only be met with a “peaceful protest” on a Saturday (if the weather’s nice).
Meanwhile, while No Kings was happening, 4 members of democratic leadership were shot in their homes. They were racking up a body count while “the resistance” was congratulating itself for going outside and holding a sign on a weekend.
Even if a movement went all "blood and violence" it wouldn't be done in a day. What makes you so certain that something is useless just because it doesn't immediately solve everything?
Are you implying that what happened at No Kings was, if not escalating, even ONGOING?
Yes. It's natural that participation will ebb and flow, that's why it's important for folks not to give up and say it was all useless after just one day. Having regular weekly events and a monthly "big" protest seems to be the strategy for maintaining momentum.
Escalation could also be useful - though of course that doesn't necessarily mean jumping to blood-and-violence, there are many other tactics that can be used (like the targeted boycotts, for example, or a general strike). Even more "passive" things like voter education (where polls are, how to register, etc.) can add up over time.
It's the lack of follow up protests, the lack of figure heads setpping up to champion the cause.
It happened and then nothing. Sure there's small things here and there.
But functionally it was a good start and brought a lot of momentum. Which has promptly been squandered.
Who is our gandi, or MLK Jr, who's speaking out rallying more protests. Who's willing to actually turn those masses into something actually impactful instead of a history book factoid.
I disagree with the idea that some "great leader" would be helpful and not a liability. Or the idea that there aren't already leaders in the movement.
Assuming one day of protest is the complete picture is what is comical. The Montgomery bus boycott started in 1955. The Civil Rights Act signed in 1965. One day is just part of the overall story of history. And having the largest protest be against Trump is part of our history now. It will take much more for that be a good story, but it is a good sign.
You don't have 10 years to work this out. Particularly when every media company is capitulating in advance. No Kings was not part of some ongoing movement. It was a weekend and it was as far as Americans are willing to go.