this post was submitted on 29 Mar 2026
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[–] GuyFawkesV@lemmy.world 31 points 16 hours ago (9 children)

Last year many articles were saying that if the protests hit 3% of the population Trump was done. Welp it’s happened, so what does his exit look like?

Otherwise this is performative bullshit while we need hard action.

[–] leadore@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

Unfortunately with a population of almost 350 million people, it will take more like 12 million to hit the 3.5% (not 3%), so there's still a ways to go. Each one has been bigger than the previous one so maybe it's possible, especially if the consequences of this idiotic war get really bad for the average USian--and I don't see how that won't get way way worse.

The other thing about that paper with the 3.5% thing, it was talking about sustained protests, not just one every few weeks or months.

On the bright side I don't see how trump will be able to pretend to be compos mentis for even another year, let alone the rest of his term. But on the dim side, his regime will remain in place even if he's goes tomorrow.

[–] Batmorous@lemmy.world 10 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Everyone forgot that there is a hidden big good function for protests more than just a good way to show unity

The hidden function is to enable people to be together so they can socialize, get to know each other, and brainstorm on what they can do together to make things better in some way. Brainstorming, doing, and collaborating united

Everybody in a protest getting things done is more effective than a protest where everyone is only just walking with signs

[–] leadore@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

Right! For example I found out people are organizing like in Minneapolis for if/when ICE ramps up anything here. There were people handing out cards with a number to call to report ICE activity and others organizing to help affected families. Respect to Minneapolis for being a model for the country.

[–] PhoenixDog@lemmy.world 4 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

Welp it’s happened, so what does his exit look like?

Give it until November since no one can really do anything until then.

And if November doesn't change it because his administration creates it impossible to vote, wait until a bullet changes things.

The side that wants to advocate for guns better get ready when the other side starts using them. I'd say to ask Charlie Kirk but he's a little quiet recently.

[–] ZoteTheMighty@lemmy.zip 8 points 11 hours ago

That's the problem with protests since Trump was elected. It turns out you can just ignore protests, and this never occurred to politicians up until this point. Up until then, politicians acknowledged protests as a good-faith effort to represent their constituents.

[–] cynar@lemmy.world 10 points 13 hours ago

It needs a trifecta. Protests, Politics, and "Persuasion".

The protests give weight to the political group. They also give cover and a place to organise for harder actions.

The political elements act to focus the will of the protestors, and provide guidance to the agitators.

The "Persuasion" group add teeth to the political demands. They also act to defend the protestors, when the government gets aggressive.

The 3 need to work together to achieve major changes. "The Troubles", in northern island are a good example. The IRA didn't achieve much/anything practical. What they did was force the UK government to sit down and negotiate in (vaguely) good faith. The protests and marches acted to show large scale support for the changes.

Against an intelligent, aware government, the need for violence is implicit, rather than explicit. It's a lot better to engage early and diffuse political hot potatoes. Unfortunately, the US government doesn't seem like they will take the hints.

The marches should be used to crystallise the other 2 requirements. A political agency, to act as a voice. As well as those willing to go further, to act as the muscle.

[–] PhAzE@lemmy.ca 21 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (1 children)

3% of 320 million is like 9.6 million. I guess they needed another 1.6 million people before the world changes for them.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 13 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

I've been using 3.5% of 335,000,000 million, which is 11,725,000. Figure 12,000,000.

This No Kings was about 8 million, which was bigger than last time. There are also millions of people at home that are committed to the end of MAGA, but won't go to a protest.

We hit that 3.5% of committed resistance long ago.

[–] Yondoza@sh.itjust.works 6 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

I could be wrong but I think the 3.5% protest observations assumes but doesn't count non-participatory support. So the 3.5% is meant as the number in the streets with some much higher percentage of 'quiet' support.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 5 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Valid. I'm sure they want that 3.5% in the streets so they can unequivocally claim a Tipping Point (although a Tipping Point is NEVER guaranteed, just possible). No Kings participants want to play down the non-patricipants as not being committed enough, but for many, it simply isn't possible, due to age, physical limitations, distance, anxiety, etc.

But that doesn't mean they aren't just as outraged, and just as committed, and those silent voices of outrage fuel the fire BETWEEN No Kings Rallies. And when the No Kings Rallies are happening, it's important to acknowledge that the number is much, much higher, meaning those in the streets have an enormous block of silent power behind them. We need to make MAGA understand that as big as those growing crowds are, they are dwarfed by the angry Citizens at home. We need to make them very, very frightened of us.

[–] ClassStruggle@lemmy.ml 7 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

The mythical 3.5% rule is to keep protests peaceful, which only helps the oppresser

[–] witten@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Oh, so you've read Chenoweth and disagree with her analysis? Which parts?

[–] ClassStruggle@lemmy.ml 0 points 4 hours ago

I read the entire thing when it came out. And it read like bullshit propaganda to keep people from rising up and threatening the existence of the status quo

[–] Ryanmiller70@lemmy.zip 7 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

"B-but it takes so much time and effort!! Don't worry we'll be able to do something after 5 more years of doing this once every 6-12 months on the weekends when businesses are closed. We can let him keep murdering people like every other president does in the meantime."

[–] witten@lemmy.world 6 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

If you think No Kings is the only resistance work happening right now in the U.S., you're really not paying attention.

[–] AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 1 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

Are their demands concrete?
Have they escalated their tactics?

[–] witten@lemmy.world 6 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Yes. And yes. Here's one example of resistance work in the U.S. resulting in concrete wins: Avelo Airlines used to run deportation flights for ICE. They were on the receiving end of an escalating pressure campaign from resistance groups to end those flights. And guess what? They finally did.

[–] AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 1 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)
[–] witten@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Feel free to join a resistance group working on that. There are many to choose from.

[–] AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 1 points 5 hours ago

Oh really? SimpleX me active ones.

[–] Ryanmiller70@lemmy.zip 0 points 8 hours ago

Nah it'll just be like "The day the world said no to war" which is often held as a massive achievement in nonviolent protesting despite it accomplished fuck all.