Completely agree. But I don't want to give people the impression that if they need to have a phone for whatever reason that they can't or shouldn't attend a protest, especially one like this where the point is to get as many people in the street as possible rather than achieving any specifically defined goal.
Leaving the phone at home is definitely the safer option, but I want people to know that they can still attend if they have to have a phone on them.
While this is good advice, it's not always very practical. OP indicated they are 17, meaning a minor. That may mean they need to be able to keep in contact with parents/guardians at home. I've also been to actions with groups of people where having contact is important for coordination.
If you need to bring a phone you can do so, but be mindful. Turn off any biometric features (fingerprint, face ID, etc). Police don't need a warrant to access your phone if you have biometrics. They can just put your phone in front of your face or put your finger on it to unlock. But if you have a passcode they cannot force you to unlock your phone without a warrant (and you can always just pretend you don't know the code).
I'd also suggest turning the phone off (or, at the very least, on airplane mode) except when you're actively using it. And minimize when you need it. I typically turn my phone off before arriving and wait until I'm gone from the location to turn it back on.
If you need to bring a phone, don't plan to do anything illegal. Large events like this will always have a significant segment of people who are not doing anything illegal at all. Stick with that group. Carry signs, chant, show your numbers, make contacts with other protesters in the crowd. But if/when you see people in black bloc, don't join them.
I'd rather Bernie be Minority Leader...
My sign is big block letters reading (words on the left in black, on the right in red)
DENY DOGE
DEFUND MUSK
DEPOSE TRUMP
That's really why I was hoping to hear from someone involved in planning. If this event is permitted, will have infrastructure constructed (ie a stage, gates, etc) and has a public schedule of speakers, etc along the lines of the Women's March in 2017, the March for our Lives in 2018, or the various Marches for Science, then I think it's much less likely to see a violent crackdown by the administration.
On the other hand, if this is more along the lines of the airport protests against the travel ban in 2017, the anti-Iraq War protests in 2003, or the 2020 uprising protests, which were all MUCH less structured and had a much more confrontational vibe to them, then I think there's a greater likelihood of a violent crackdown.
My older (5 yo) has already attended a couple of protests at Tesla dealerships over the past couple months. When she was less than 1 year old she went along with my wife and I aas we did mutual aid supply drops at various events during the 2020 uprising.
The younger (3 yo) hasn't been to a protest yet. This will be her first. Suffice it to say, though, this will not be the last either one attends.
I'm not worried about them getting lost. I know how to keep track of my kids in a large crowd pretty well. And my wife will be there, too. We'll have child carrying harnesses so the kids can ride strapped onto our back if they don't want to walk anymore. My concern is about the intended atmosphere of the event.
Also, as someone who never saw my parents engage in politics beyond voting, and barely even ever heard them speak about politics, I think it's important for kids to see their parents engaging in politics, even if they don't really understand what's going on. It shows them that it's not only OK, but encouraged to form and act on their own political ideas. It opens them up to discussing political issues when they get old enough to, and shows them that politics isn't just something for the ruling elite.
Nah, they can have it. It's always been a symbol of white supremacy and subjugation. I don't want it.
I found it on Voyager, but had to search for it with the exact correct spelling "50501.chat" and I only knew about it because I found it referenced in another instance and signed up on my browser on my laptop. I don't think I would have found it on Voyager if I hadn't already known about it.
"The dummies" didn't ruin either Facebook or Reddit. The companies changing policies and algorithms in an effort to drive profit did.
I appreciate and agree with the sentiment, but I think a call to form an entirely new political party demonstrates a naivety with regards to how the American political system works. It's just not going to happen. A third party will NEVER displace one of the two major parties without massive changes to the electoral system that would likely require a Constitutional Amendment.
Our system and political culture is just not structured to allow for 3rd parties. What's more, the 2 major parties have ingrained themselves into the system so much that they have MASSIVE institutional advantages over a 3rd party.
This will never be a successful effort. I think a better goal would be to co-opt and take over the Democratic Party, booting out all the Vichy collaborationists like Schumer, Jefferies, Newsom, Adams, Pelosi, etc, and remaking the party.
With a new 3rd party, best case scenario is it has 0 impact. If it does get any votes, it'll just divide the anti-fascist vote with the Democrats (and any other 3rd parties) making it even more difficult to win.
I was at the Washington Monument with my wife and 2 young kids this past Saturday. I plan to be there on the 19th, too. And we've been at the local Tesla dealership every Saturday there's not a big event planned.
I also really appreciate mentioning this is on a weekend. As a family with two adults who work full-time and two young kids, trying to make an event during a weekday is virtually impossible.