It was a glorious day across this country and in at least 18 other countries as today’s second No Kings protests were attended by millions of people. The estimates of the total number of protesters in the U.S. and around the world will be provided in the upcoming week, early estimates are an astounding 7 million people which would represent a 50% increase from the first No Kings protest this past June. From my anecdotal experience of attending both of the protests in the same L.A. location, today’s protest seemed to be noticeably larger than the first.
The New York Times reported that over 100,000 people in New York City came out, and the NYPD announced that there were no arrests or any incidents. I can vouch for the protest in Los Angeles that I attended (there were several in the LA area, the largest was in downtown L.A.), that the atmosphere was one of positivity, good humor, determination, and confident defiance.
It was quite energizing to be among thousands of my neighbors in this city who reflect how informed, creative, and principled they are. It was a real antidote to the ignorance, bigotry, and hateful cruelty that oozes every day from Trump and his MAGA cultists. Sometimes we need reminders that most Americans are good and decent human beings who truly care about the lives of themselves and others. Those who are the worst out there are often the loudest. They use devious schemes to grab power and money then try to spin it all as evidence that the majority supports them, but they are the de facto minority, as the latest AP-NORC poll shows:
Yes, decent Americans ARE the majority and even a would-be tyrant isn’t free to rule as he wants when the majority of 342 million people stand against him. Today was a demonstration of the reach and power our majority has, and the poll above affirms that.
Trump and his cronies, including House Speaker of Lies, Mike Johnson may have thought they were really notching a propaganda coup by branding all of those who would be attending today’s protest as domestic terrorists, Antifa, Hamas supporters (and probably zombie cannibals) who hate America. Unfortunately for them, those attending the L.A. protests and those across the country and world were simply conscientious, good-natured people of all ages. Grandmas and grandpas (who had signs announcing they were “Grantifa”), moms and dads bringing their babies and children, teens and younger adults, straight and LGBTQ, people with all different colors of hair, skin, and inflatable costumes. In other words…America came out today and said, “No Kings!”.
The Trumpian fear-mongering actually juiced up attendance, and the aftermath of this massive, nationwide (and global), peaceful protest with not one report so far of brains being eaten, hobbles the Trump propaganda machine profoundly moving forward.
To help promote all that’s described above and demonstrate that we, the majority, are strong and united in standing against this attempt at a fascist takeover of our country, here are videos and photos from the march I attended today.
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