Please let's come up with strong chants that will resonate with middle America. The 'left' has looked ridiculous in the media as early protests highlighted modern dancing, face painting individuals that are not representative of the majority of Americans.
We do not need at this time to stand up for a .4% of the population- we need to align ourselves with the 60% of Americans who are scared to death of Musk/Trump administration, the loss of NATO, Medicare, Medicaid, Education, Allies, Social Security, etc.
As much as we would all love that, it's not actionable/realistic. We need people who voted Republican concerned enough about everyday services to pressure their reps to find their spines and stand up for the electorate. None of these cowering Senators and Congresspeople want to lose their positions. That (and the courts!) are the way we can actually fight this takeover within the confines of our system.
I agree, and I think we need to mention specific things that will resonate with middle America, like Medicaid, SS, the firings (Gutting the Government?). Somehow turn their "waste, fraud, corruption" mantra back on them?
I suggest: Disinfect DC. Get the Musk out! Also: Beat the Beast of Mar a Lago. Remove the MAGA Malignancy. (I'll stop now but could go on. I write poetry & think in metaphors).
Absolutely! Optics matter! The more this looks like a gathering of regular Americans protesting this sick power grab to destroy democracy, the better. This is NOT a time for every protest group, no matter how arguably noble, to join in on the coattails,
Careful...that rhetoric is what is happening from the other side. (Slogan could be misattributed to darn near anyone). And don't forget Trump WAS prosecuted! Didn't seem to matter and calling for it now won't go anywhere.
Back to the very basic everyday things that scare middle class Americans seems wise. What is making those who voted for him nervous about that decision now? That's the focus. 30% of government workers are veterans and they are losing their jobs in droves (illegally!), DOGE is up in your personal business, Musk wants to raid social security - into which we have all paid for our retirements, All of this chaos is funding a tax cut for billionaires who have more than they can ever spend already, etc.
[Seriously, why are these tools not on a yacht somewhere with umbrella drinks?!]
Good point Sara, my comment was tongue in cheek, and problematic. This is a serious issue, and we must respond within the constitutional guardrails and **rules of law**. If we don't we are equally culpable.
Of course, but this is a time to unify. If too many voters got turned off by an imbalance of attention to certain subgroups, we have to get the message.
We ALL lose when it's our democracy, our clean water, our trustworthy government officials.
Someone in my town pointed out that during the anti-nuke movement of the '70s, someone wanted to link it to an abortion issue. It's irrelevant what side they were on, the response was : we MUST unite with one voice, one concern, which impacts us all.
It’s best to not even use their names. As narcissists, they enjoy just seeing their names, and they need no more publicity.
At some point Musk will be thrown out and blamed for everything people are really unhappy with. Trump will either die a natural death from his lifestyle and age, or, once Putin has things her as he wants them, Trump will learn he is also expendable. I doubt anyone will come to our aid. Certainly not Congress.
I was just going to suggest the "Don't Tread on Me" flag myself, except the little-dicked, big-gunned, numb-nutzed, fright-wing dumb bros already stole it.
Flag Suggestion: An American flag with NO KINGS very boldly written on it
(A variant on Jane and the Dropkick Murphys, thanks!)
I believe this can have very wide appeal to everyone who cares about our country, whether they are conservative, centrist, or progressive. It goes back to our history and the foundation of our country, and succintly expresses the fact that this administration ignores the separation of powers and the rule of law..
We need to take our country's flag back from the people who are stomping on our constitution, and this would be a start.
"let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the character of his own, and his children's liberty"
I and my wife and daughter will be on the street in Roanoke, Va. on the 5th with Indivisible. A couple hundred (or more) of us have been on the street for the past four Mondays.
The swearing in oath for the military requires that a soldier or sailor obey the orders of the President and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The US Code of Military Justice also specifies that orders must be legal https://ucmjdefense.com/resources/military-offenses/the-lawfulness-of-orders.html. I took that oath in 1968 when joining the Navy and have determined that the President is giving illegal orders and he is a domestic enemy of the Constitution.
Perhaps a poster: This is OUR military, not Trump's? One of the most dangerous ideas he has is that the military is HIS pet army to do whatever he wants with. The military swears to protect US and the CONSTITUTION! Against enemies like Trump, who is destroying the Constitution! They do not swear loyalty to one man.
Would a flag, replicating our US flag, with a solid circle around the 50 stars, and a swastika with a huge X through it in the lower right corner, stating "Hell No!" be a desecration to our flag?
I would also suggest that those walking in these peaceful rallies, walk arm in arm and shout "UNITED, UNITED, UNITED!" or "Hell No, They Must Go!". I can't walk due to age but I will make my own kind of noise on April 5th!! Thank you all for lifting up my heart!!! So happy to know I am not alone!
It's not enough to say what we oppose. We must send a message to our country and the world about what we stand FOR. The Democrats have thus far failed to identify clear simple messages which represent our values, so we need to take that on.
Agree with positive, affirming messages. Grievance messages are downers. We want Trump to know we are not victims. We walk strong, proud, resilient, defiant.
Please let's come up with strong chants that will resonate with middle America. The 'left' has looked ridiculous in the media as early protests highlighted modern dancing, face painting individuals that are not representative of the majority of Americans.
We do not need at this time to stand up for a .4% of the population- we need to align ourselves with the 60% of Americans who are scared to death of Musk/Trump administration, the loss of NATO, Medicare, Medicaid, Education, Allies, Social Security, etc.
Poetry is appreciated, but simplicity rules when trying to speak to the masses.
Hands off our Medicaid, Hands off our Social Security, Hands off our bodies, Hands off the American Dream.
Or simply - Clean out the White House, get the Musk out.
As much as we would all love that, it's not actionable/realistic. We need people who voted Republican concerned enough about everyday services to pressure their reps to find their spines and stand up for the electorate. None of these cowering Senators and Congresspeople want to lose their positions. That (and the courts!) are the way we can actually fight this takeover within the confines of our system.
I agree, and I think we need to mention specific things that will resonate with middle America, like Medicaid, SS, the firings (Gutting the Government?). Somehow turn their "waste, fraud, corruption" mantra back on them?
I suggest: Disinfect DC. Get the Musk out! Also: Beat the Beast of Mar a Lago. Remove the MAGA Malignancy. (I'll stop now but could go on. I write poetry & think in metaphors).
The land is your land would be great to have people singing
Fabulous idea!!
Congress:
Take Off Your Doge Collar
Congress:
Unleash From Trump
Congress:
Why Have You Forsaken U.S.?
Absolutely! Optics matter! The more this looks like a gathering of regular Americans protesting this sick power grab to destroy democracy, the better. This is NOT a time for every protest group, no matter how arguably noble, to join in on the coattails,
They do need to be prosecuted, you all know that. And it needs to happen NOW!!
So maybe HANDS UP! You're under arrest!!
Lock him up! Lock them up!
Careful...that rhetoric is what is happening from the other side. (Slogan could be misattributed to darn near anyone). And don't forget Trump WAS prosecuted! Didn't seem to matter and calling for it now won't go anywhere.
Back to the very basic everyday things that scare middle class Americans seems wise. What is making those who voted for him nervous about that decision now? That's the focus. 30% of government workers are veterans and they are losing their jobs in droves (illegally!), DOGE is up in your personal business, Musk wants to raid social security - into which we have all paid for our retirements, All of this chaos is funding a tax cut for billionaires who have more than they can ever spend already, etc.
[Seriously, why are these tools not on a yacht somewhere with umbrella drinks?!]
Good point Sara, my comment was tongue in cheek, and problematic. This is a serious issue, and we must respond within the constitutional guardrails and **rules of law**. If we don't we are equally culpable.
Doesn't that 60% of Americans INCLUDE that .4% of the population who are ALSO scared to death of the Musk/Trump administration?
Of course, but this is a time to unify. If too many voters got turned off by an imbalance of attention to certain subgroups, we have to get the message.
We ALL lose when it's our democracy, our clean water, our trustworthy government officials.
Someone in my town pointed out that during the anti-nuke movement of the '70s, someone wanted to link it to an abortion issue. It's irrelevant what side they were on, the response was : we MUST unite with one voice, one concern, which impacts us all.
I liked the photos with captions- Vance=Waste, Trump=Fraud and Musk=Abuse. But everyone’s ideas sound great. Use them all.
I would swap Vance and Musk's titles after that Zelensky debacle in the Oval, and otherwise, brilliant.
YES! Please see the "Do Not Associate" List:
ReframingAmerica.Substack.com/do-not-associate
Trump destroying US
Connect the dots more explicitly. Many still think this is all great work! Until, of course, he destroys their day-to-day lives.
It’s best to not even use their names. As narcissists, they enjoy just seeing their names, and they need no more publicity.
At some point Musk will be thrown out and blamed for everything people are really unhappy with. Trump will either die a natural death from his lifestyle and age, or, once Putin has things her as he wants them, Trump will learn he is also expendable. I doubt anyone will come to our aid. Certainly not Congress.
All credit to Jim Acosta for the first line of this flag suggestion:
What the MUSK???
HANDS OFF!!!
I was just going to suggest the "Don't Tread on Me" flag myself, except the little-dicked, big-gunned, numb-nutzed, fright-wing dumb bros already stole it.
What the Mu$K!?
Might be an option
Flag Suggestion: An American flag with NO KINGS very boldly written on it
(A variant on Jane and the Dropkick Murphys, thanks!)
I believe this can have very wide appeal to everyone who cares about our country, whether they are conservative, centrist, or progressive. It goes back to our history and the foundation of our country, and succintly expresses the fact that this administration ignores the separation of powers and the rule of law..
We need to take our country's flag back from the people who are stomping on our constitution, and this would be a start.
Love this one.
“We the PEOPLE!” not “I the King”
How about the words from Lincoln's address at Gettysburg, "...Of the people, by the people, for the people..."
Or this from his Lyceum address:
"let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the character of his own, and his children's liberty"
HANDS OFF:
Our Courts
Our Rights
Our Money (SS / Medicare)
Our Data
Our Democracy
I and my wife and daughter will be on the street in Roanoke, Va. on the 5th with Indivisible. A couple hundred (or more) of us have been on the street for the past four Mondays.
Where and when? asking for people from Lynchburg who might join you.
1pm at the corner of Elm & Jefferson.
BAD DOGE!
We should take a page from the Dropkick Murphys playbook: NO KINGS IN AMERICA!
The swearing in oath for the military requires that a soldier or sailor obey the orders of the President and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The US Code of Military Justice also specifies that orders must be legal https://ucmjdefense.com/resources/military-offenses/the-lawfulness-of-orders.html. I took that oath in 1968 when joining the Navy and have determined that the President is giving illegal orders and he is a domestic enemy of the Constitution.
Perhaps a poster: This is OUR military, not Trump's? One of the most dangerous ideas he has is that the military is HIS pet army to do whatever he wants with. The military swears to protect US and the CONSTITUTION! Against enemies like Trump, who is destroying the Constitution! They do not swear loyalty to one man.
Ana Navarro on The View today...
"Wake Up! Stand Up!
Speak Up! Act Up"
A reminder, Act Up, the GLBT civil disobedience group from the 1980s, always reminded people that "Silence = Death"...
THIS!! I love Anna Navarro’s slogan and would gladly wear that shirt. I fondly recall ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), formed in 1987. 💙🏳️🌈
Hillary was right: Trump is Putin's puppet!
Or Putin's Poodle.
Correct. What did Hillary know at that time?
How about modifying slogan to “Keep your hands off freedom?”
“Hands off Freedom” could also be a chant.
Make America America Again!
I really like this one! Though I like to use USA not America.
Would a flag, replicating our US flag, with a solid circle around the 50 stars, and a swastika with a huge X through it in the lower right corner, stating "Hell No!" be a desecration to our flag?
I would also suggest that those walking in these peaceful rallies, walk arm in arm and shout "UNITED, UNITED, UNITED!" or "Hell No, They Must Go!". I can't walk due to age but I will make my own kind of noise on April 5th!! Thank you all for lifting up my heart!!! So happy to know I am not alone!
It's not enough to say what we oppose. We must send a message to our country and the world about what we stand FOR. The Democrats have thus far failed to identify clear simple messages which represent our values, so we need to take that on.
For our RIGHTS
For our JOBS
For our FAMILIES
For our SELVES
We FIGHT
We RESIST
We UNITE
FOR OUR ALLIES!
I would add "We are AMERICANS”
For our neighbors
For the world
Agree with positive, affirming messages. Grievance messages are downers. We want Trump to know we are not victims. We walk strong, proud, resilient, defiant.
CHECK AROUND YOUR AREA. I SEE SEVERAL HAPPENING ON THE 5TH NEAR ME. ONE WILL BE AT OUR REPRESENTATIVES OFFICE. I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO WALK.
Without DEI, this country will DIE!