74 Comments
User's avatar
crazybirder's avatar

So sad and so true. As I (white) returned from the protest April 5 on the trolley, a black man who hadn't been in the protest said to the packed trolley of white protesters that if we'd all been black it would have been a much different story out there. Sadly, especially with this racist fascist regime, I knew he was right. I supported the Black Lives Matter protests, too, but it's our turn to fight this battle.

Expand full comment
I Hate this Timeline's avatar

And in DC, I too noticed and mourned how white the protest on April 5 was. Thank you author for pointing that out, presenting data on BLM police violence toward Black people and thanks to you birder for reminding us white people that we must stand up now and always.

Expand full comment
Arkansas Blue's avatar

Unfortunately, racism in this country is still very strong. With magat republicons everywhere, it is not likely to change as quickly as it should. You are right to stay home. It would be interesting to see what happens when the cops start bashing in white heads.

Expand full comment
Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

I get your point and I agree with it, but nobody should forget Kent state and that was white kids.

Expand full comment
John Arrighi's avatar

Kent State was an abomination. But let's not forget that only days later, Black students were similarly murdered at Jackson State in Mississippi and that event never received the attention that the white kids did. Just one more example that informs how people of color respond to current events.

Expand full comment
Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

That happens all the time, doesn’t it, where when something happens to a white person it’s a big deal and the same thing or worse happens to a black person and nobody even cares about it. That’s an abomination.

Expand full comment
Sheri Drisac's avatar

Sadly, it's not that "nobody even cares about it", there are millions of us who do care very much!!! However, it is that the main stream media doesn't report it, especially now that msm is owned by white billionaires.

Expand full comment
John Arrighi's avatar

Sadly true. And now they are trying to prevent schools from even teaching about such truth because, you know, "it's divisive." We tried to change that narrative after the George Floyd murder (and Breonna Taylor, Duante Wright, and, .......) but again with little effect.

Expand full comment
Andrea_W's avatar

Wait, wait. I remember the horror of Kent State. I'm not sure what point you're trying to make, but the fact that you had to reach that far back to come up with an example of white protestors being killed just underscores the point of the column.

Expand full comment
Arkansas Blue's avatar

I don't think anyone who lived during that time will ever forget those kids. It was a republicon governor who sent in the troops and he must have been the one to give the order to shoot.

Somehow, I don't think any military commander would dare to follow such an order today. At least I hope.

Expand full comment
D. Tubb's avatar

It was the Mayor who requested the National Guard, it was the Governor who sent them and no one gave an order to shoot anyone. The National Guard said they fired their guns because they believed they heard an order to fire. One fired and they all started shooting.

Expand full comment
Arkansas Blue's avatar

Are those the official investigation's conclusions? Since this was at the height of the Vietnam war, Nixon's invasion of Cambodia and republicons everywhere in Ohio, I don't think I believe those conclusions.

I find it hard to believe American soldiers would fire on American students without hearing an order. Why were they all acquitted, if they didn't get an order?

Expand full comment
D. Tubb's avatar

Yes it's official. You don't believe those conclusions? What, am I gonna do make it up? You may find it hard to believe but that is exactly what transpired. National Guardsmen fired their M1's at college students who were chanting slogans.

I didn't say I believed the National Guardsmen, I think they had an agenda, I don't think anyone told them to shoot at least there is no evidence that was presented that they had those instructions. I think they thought they were going to teach those students a lesson, rough em up a bit, but someone got careless and fired their weapon and that's all the rest needed to lift their rifles and join in. They tried the "there was a sniper" but that fell flat and there was absolutely no proof. They just screwed up.

Eight were indicted because clearly the students had a First Amendment right to protest and clearly shooting them was a violation of that right. They were acquitted because John Mitchel was the Attorney General at the time and he stopped the investigation. The families filed a civil suit, Ohio tried to stop that and it went all the way to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court rules that parents of three students allegedly killed by National Guardsmen at Kent can sue Ohio officials and officers of the guard. The 8-0 decision of Scheuer vs. Rhodes reverses a lower court decision holding state officials immune from such suits. The decision does not deal with the merits of the suit. justice William O. Douglas does not join the ruling.

Chief Justice Warren E. Burger writes for the court, stating the established constitutional prohibition against a suing a state provides "no shield for a state official confronted by the claim that he had deprived another of a federal right under the color of the law."

And you're right about Ohio Republicans because the first civil trial the jury found that Guardsmen did nothing wrong, then there was a second civil trial and eventually they received an out of court settlement for the one's killed and the ones injured. Ohio wanted this to go away.

The plaintiffs receive $675,000 for injuries received in 1970 and this compensation is accompanied by a statement from the defendants, which reads in part, "In retrospect the tragedy of May 4, 1970, should not have occurred...We deeply regret those events and are profoundly saddened by the deaths of four students and the wounding of nine others which resulted."

You can find the detailed info online at the Kent State Library.

Expand full comment
Carol D Marsh's avatar

As a white woman, I feel it's my responsibility -- as an American citizen and in honor of and gratitude to Black women -- to do the stepping up now. I hope to be a fraction as brave as the women who have sustained democracy and marched for civil rights for so many years.

Expand full comment
Susan Troy's avatar

Thank you for this rational and sense-making explanation. I marched here in Oakland, which has a large black population. The two things I noticed first about the demonstration were how old so many folks were and how few black people there were at the protest. I also noted with some pride that the demonstration was peaceful and that there was no visible police presence, only the presence of some yellow-vested peacekeepers. This was in sharp contrast to the cheering, exuberant but also peaceful crowds at Kamala Harris's rallies. I had been wondering what happened. I am also exhausted having spent so much energy fighting to rid ourselves of MAGA and Trump, but I will continue to show up because I now understand I have an even greater responsibility to do so both because of my age and my race.

Expand full comment
Sheri Drisac's avatar

Re: your noticing of "how old so many folks were". Well, that's because us Baby Boomers are not shy of protesting, nor are we apathetic!!! Many of us are experienced protesters/demonstrators, having protested & demonstrated against the Viet Nam War, for Women's Rights & the ERA, for Civil Rights, for the Environment, the Right to Vote...just to name a few causes!!! We know that: Democracy & Constitutional Rights simply Can. Not. Be. Taken. For. Granted!!! We. Must. Stand. Up. And. Fight. For. Them!!! 📜

We Baby Boomers are the children of all those men & women who fought in World War 2, and the Holocaust was not just a time period in history to learn about in Social Studies class. It was real and many of us had family who were tragically impacted by it. And we know that: Freedom. Can. Not. Be. Taken. For. Granted!!! We. Must. Stand. Up. And. Fight. For. It!!! 🗽

I sincerely hope that on the April 19th demonstration we will see more young 'uns involved!!! It is theirs & their children's Freedom & Constitutional Rights that are in jeopardy!!!

Expand full comment
Meggles's avatar

Very thoughtful comment. I really appreciate it.

Expand full comment
Susan Troy's avatar

Thanks!

Expand full comment
Robyn E's avatar

I'm happy to see White Americans taking the lead in public protests. Because although the GOP and MSM seem to have forgotten, BLM protesters were jailed and never received a Presidential pardon, unlike the January 6th insurrectionists. African American women, such as Letitia James and Tanya Chutkan, punched above their weight in protecting the rule of law when dealing with the Trump lawsuits. Black people are organizing boycotts, which the MSM is not reporting on but corporate America can't hide their impact from the business press. And we have been very vocal about the erasure of Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American patriots from federal government websites. Hands off the Smithsonian and National Museum of African American History and Culture. Lastly, our POC congress people are in the forefront of the political resistance.

Expand full comment
Teresa Baustian's avatar

The conversations on April 5th included the realization that the country—however one wants to describe our history—is markedly less safe for non-white people in 2025. We felt a responsibility to them.

Expand full comment
Anne Jardine's avatar

And so the intimidation begins. Yes, it is our (white) turn now to fight the fight and hope that at election time, the black vote turns out.

Expand full comment
Marie's avatar

We fight but hope is not the answer, convince and prove that we can redeem the horror and misery of black people in America, then, now and going forward.

Expand full comment
Gil Katen's avatar

I was heartened by the large turnout at an April 5 protest in Los Angeles County, and was surprised by the sparsity of black participants. I, too participated in it and was also surprised by the low visibility of uniformed police officers and the apparently older age of most protestors (I estimated the average age of white protestors, like me, to be 50-80).

This article makes a good point that blacks may justifiably feel they have done enough for social justice in the last 100+ years, and/or don't want to have their skulls cracked by Trump's jackbooted thugs. I don't know if that's the case, but I wouldn't find fault with them, if so.

It's also possible (though I doubt it) that there was less police presence as a result of Trump's turning his back on the police in D.C on Jan. 6, 2021, and was intended to send Trump a message.

All I do know, is that the national turnout was large enough to provide reassurance that we are all in this together, white or black, and thankful that we have not had our skulls cracked. . . yet.

Expand full comment
Kat's avatar
Apr 10Edited

Many weeks ago I read that Elon Musk mused that Trump's pardoning Derek Chauvin might be "a good idea." That was so transparent. PS let white people lead the fight this time I'm up to it and so's everyone I know

Expand full comment
Marie's avatar

Not everyone. Most white MAGAs in the South or anywhere have no clue. There are no issues, no conflicts. They are lobotomized by right wing cult media paid for by oligarchs who will one day be ostracized by the orange turd.

Expand full comment
Marie's avatar

And don’t forget the carotid artery and jugular vein are very close to each other :)

Expand full comment
Marie's avatar

A paring knife could do the job.

Expand full comment
Bob's avatar

If that is the diagnosis, what do you think is the cure? How can you/me/we change anger and reluctance into action?

This is a fight between democracy and fascism, and losing is not an option.

Trump's plans to overturn the 14th Amendment aren't a motivator? By extension, it can be used to reverse the voting rights of Black Americans whose ancestors were enslaved.

Removal of people of color and women from the military leadership isn't a motivator?

Defiling the true history of the Underground Railroad isn't a motivator?

We have to stand up, speak out, demonstrate, and put pressure on elected leaders to save ourselves between now and November 2026, then show up and vote. No excuses.

Should my biracial nephew not protest to try to save his (white) mother's Social Security and Medicare?

Expand full comment
Janete's avatar

The answer is for white folks like me to stand up in ever greater numbers. We need to be more visible and louder and stronger. We need to bring our family, friends, and neighbors to protests. When I take action, I feel empowered knowing knowing that I am fighting on behalf of all those who do not have the resources I have, like the luxury of time.

People of color are being disproportionately fired from the federal government right now. Erased from books and removed from libraries right now. Erased from government websites right now. Targeted by ICE right now. They are more vulnerable than before, even during the George Floyd era.

We have a responsibility to stand up for them right now.

Please stop trying to encourage/persuade/coerce POC to be visible and vulnerable right now when it is less safe than ever for them to do so. They can call their members of Congress. They can write letters to the editor. Let your nephew choose how he wants to fight back against fascism. He can make posters for you to carry. Tell him that you will be vocal and visible for him and all other folks who don't feel safe and frankly aren't safe right now. Let everyone choose their way to participate in resisting. They don't need your judgement. They need your voice, loud and strong.

Expand full comment
Lisa Jean Walker's avatar

Did you read the diagnosis (analysis)? The part about Black people in the George Floyd protests being held responsible for crowd disorderliness, the arming up of active-duty troops & soldiers in response, the unchecked roving of white-supremacist gangs who roughed people up, and Trump’s behind-the-scenes eagerness to crack heads. Did you read the part about Black people’s concern that Trump wants to goad them to take to the streets in protest because he is “itching for the opportunity to disappear Black organizers or declare martial law to incite violence and round up African Americans.”

Did you read this at the end:

“Black people know the laws of this country, including the First Amendment, still don’t apply to all its citizens.”

Blacks have many, many reasons to believe they will not be accorded the same rights and protections as white protesters.

I see a clear-eyed understanding here, not excuses. I hope your sister’s message to her son is, Don’t worry about me. Take care of yourself.

Expand full comment
Maureen Brown-Petracca's avatar

It's not just black people. It's any people of color. I have a friend who is Indian-American. She won't go to the protests for fear of what will happen to her.

Expand full comment
R. Sanders's avatar

I’m a 72-year old white, male veteran and I fully understand why Black Americans and Hispanics are hesitant to show up. I do hope a few more will show up for future protests or if they can’t do that, then I hope they will make their voices heard loudly in other ways , especially in contacting any Republican officials in their country/city, District and state and express how they feel about what the administration is doing to, not for, our country.

Expand full comment
Marie's avatar

White women are afraid too.

Expand full comment
Lisa Jean Walker's avatar

Why should I be afraid? I didn’t occur to me that I should be, though my husband prefers to accompany me at protests in case something gets out of control, not that he fears I would be a particular target of violence.

Expand full comment
Ellie Alive In 25's avatar

I just want to say that if anyone is interested, they might look on the website of the Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY), for pictures of the Hands Off protest on April 5th. I'm sure there were more white people than people of color, but it was in no way, just a sea of white faces, as far as I could tell.

It is a danger, though. We cannot let this protest and movement be a segregated one! We are ALL victims of the coming fascism, and we MUST stay together as human beings. John Donne said, "No man is an island." He was speaking of Britain and the Continent, but his words are true for all of us in every time.

Expand full comment
DW's avatar

I lived in Oregon at the time of the BLM protests. For the most part they were completely peaceful, and a wide mixture of races and backgrounds.

The problem came in the evenings when agitators started running through the streets breaking windows. They were wearing black clothes and masks and were completely covered up. My suspicion then, and now, is that they were white supremacists.

They destroyed a lot of property, and gave a bad name to Portland, to protests, and to the BLM movement.

If there were troops in riot gear, etc., it was because of these agitators, not because of the nature of the protest.

(Although the presence of the agitators was definitely a result of the nature of the protest)

Expand full comment
Rachel the Insomniac's avatar

Yes. Those agitators night after night just spoiled it for the peaceful BLM protesters in Portland. I'm sure it was the same group of people night after night: Young, mainly male, and white.

Expand full comment
JJ Simpson-Keelan's avatar

My daughter, who was born in Cambodia, is a naturalized US citizen. I don’t want her at any protest.

Expand full comment
Marie's avatar

I think that is wise. This is a white thang and even that will get very ugly.

Expand full comment
Bad Bunny's avatar

I'm an old hippie from Hawaii, letting my freak flag fly since August '68 when Chicago's finest gave me such a rousing reception. Glad to be a "mutt", as Barack proudly describes himself. And looking forward to the day (albeit it won't happen in this lifetime) when we don't feel the necessity to parse protests by their racial makeup.

Expand full comment
Charles G. Masi's avatar

Love the Jolly Roger Rabbit logo!

Expand full comment