The Street Protests Against Trump....

[Sunstone]

Please note: Liberal Only

My question is: How can these protests can be turned into a productive, sustained, nonviolent, and organized opposition to the Republican agenda?

I don't mean sustained street protests, but more something along the lines of creating a movement that could bring us victory in the 2018 midterms or the 2020 presidential election? How could that be brought about? What would it take?

 

[Iti oj]

Idk but I have been discussing it with people on rf and fb today.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

I think we need to focus it on transparency. Trump and his voters have such a huge mistrust for mainstream media that it almost sounds like they're willing to be in the dark (because why trust anyone?). That can mean a lot of really shady business that needs be out in the open, not allowed to gestate behind closed whitehouse doors, where a lot of the people in power have really terrible views and not as much oversight. I have a gay friend who, because she refuses to watch the news and only relies on what she's told third hand by similar-minded people, had no idea that Trump said he was thinking about overturning gay marriage federally and leaving it as a state issue, or that Mike Pence supported gay conversion therapy.

 

[Sunstone]

I think we need to focus it on transparency. Trump and his voters have such a huge mistrust for mainstream media that it almost sounds like they're willing to be in the dark (because why trust anyone?). That can mean a lot of really shady business that needs be out in the open, not allowed to gestate behind closed whitehouse doors, where a lot of the people in power have really terrible views and not as much oversight. I have a gay friend who, because she refuses to watch the news and only relies on what she's told third hand by similar-minded people, had no idea that Trump said he was thinking about overturning gay marriage federally and leaving it as a state issue, or that Mike Pence supported gay conversion therapy.

That's a very important point.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

To add to that, this lack of transparency we're seeing from Trump means that a lot of scared people will continue to be scared due to lack of information (in addition to oblivious people remaining oblivious). So focusing on calling for more information, not letting Trump sit with a limited media attendence in the whitehouse, seems in order.

 

[Quetzal]

In regards to the current protests, we need to distance ourselves from it. I love peaceful protests but there are two key factors that make a protest effective.

1. Nonviolence/non destruction.
2. There has to be a cause.

Right now, the current protests don't have either. Some are violent and they all lack direction. Right now they are protesting his very existence, that is useless. As much as it sucks to say, we need to be reactive and feel Trump out. When he begins to propose change and legislation, then we can start using peaceful protests as a political measure if needed.

Example, @Iti oj and I have been chatting a bit this evening regarding climate change and renewable energy. If Trump begins his plan to disband the EPA, that we can use. We can be focused and protest that. We can give talks, presentations, post on forums, social media, etc. Further, we have to do so in an intelligent way that is nonviolent and non confrontational. We cannot create an us vs them mentality. We have to be clever, careful and patient. There is a right way to do this, but for now... we gotta sit tight.

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

• Many peope have nothing better than to protest. Many think their free government handouts may be stopped. Many just fear change. Very little can be done to change thier minds.

 

[Sunstone]

There is a right way to do this, but for now... we gotta sit tight.

Trump and the Republicans are not sitting tight. They're mapping out what they're going to do their first 100 days in office, and lining their ducks up. You can count on it.

If we don't get ready to oppose the intolerable elements of their agenda now, we'll be caught flatfooted when they roll it out starting January 20th.

http://www.vox.com/2016/11/10/13584390/donald-trump-first-100-days

 

[Sunstone]

• Many peope have nothing better than to protest. Many think their free government handouts may be stopped. Many just fear change. Very little can be done to change thier minds.

This is the Liberal Only forum.

 

[Quetzal]

Trump and the Republicans are not sitting tight. They're mapping out what they're going to do their first 100 days in office, and lining their ducks up. You can count on it.

If we don't get ready to oppose the intolerable elements of their agenda now, we'll be caught flatfooted when they roll it out starting January 20th.

http://www.vox.com/2016/11/10/13584390/donald-trump-first-100-days

Okay, how about this. Physical protesting is out for this second because the message would be too complicated until there is a single element we can focus on. HOWEVER... What we can start doing is taking some of these actions in the article you listed and begin researching and presenting data to counter it. What should be the focus, do you think?

 

[Iti oj]

Lol new title

 

[GoodbyeDave]

You don't need a movement. You need two things: voter registration and voter turnout. Look at the average turnout in recent years:
USA 50%
India 65%
Costa Rica 80%
Can't you do better than the Third World? Decent USians need to campaign to get people to register and to vote.

Why did so few Blacks vote when the GOP has become the "acceptable" face of racism? If their grandparents had been so passive, they'd still be sitting at the back of the bus. Yes, there are many obstacles, but rights have to be fought for, or they are lost.

 

[Iti oj]

I'm a registered green party trying to start a local chapter. The curry county democrats plan to help me and to partner with us. I'm also a member of ccd and we have a solidarity meeting on Sunday .
I emailed and told them we need to plan focused issue based action and a 2018 platform.

 

[Iti oj]

So here in 2018 we have a commissioners sear a state house of representatives and possibly a state Senate seat.

None of the people I voted for won and I will be writing but state and congressional leaders about issues

 

[Iti oj]

Meeting was boring and useless just some old people talking . Will still talk and with with. I'm just disappointed. I guess every one is waiting and watching

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Trump and the Republicans are not sitting tight. They're mapping out what they're going to do their first 100 days in office, and lining their ducks up. You can count on it.

As they should. As would a Democrat government. I agree with @Quetzal in so far as any protesting needs to be targetted to have much cut through with the general populace.

In the short term I'd be targetting the disaffected Democrats, and indeed pausing for reflection on the problems with Democrat strategy.

Ultimately, from a distance, removal of electoral colleges would seem to be the most obvious target right now, in terms of helping future balloting.

Leave direct anti-Trump protesting until he puts his foot in it. Won't be a long wait in my opinion.

 

[Iti oj]

As they should. As would a Democrat government. I agree with @Quetzal in so far as any protesting needs to be targetted to have much cut through with the general populace.

In the short term I'd be targetting the disaffected Democrats, and indeed pausing for reflection on the problems with Democrat strategy.

Ultimately, from a distance, removal of electoral colleges would seem to be the most obvious target right now, in terms of helping future balloting.

Leave direct anti-Trump protesting until he puts his foot in it. Won't be a long wait in my opinion.

At the ccd meeting many people said ultimately the fault lied on the dnc and Hillary. A good sign imo

 

[lewisnotmiller]

At the ccd meeting many people said ultimately the fault lied on the dnc and Hillary. A good sign imo

That's good. This feels like it was the DNCs election to lose...

For me, it's not as much about blame as it is learning so the same mistakes are avoided in future.

 

[Quetzal]

In the short term I'd be targetting the disaffected Democrats, and indeed pausing for reflection on the problems with Democrat strategy.

Ultimately, from a distance, removal of electoral colleges would seem to be the most obvious target right now, in terms of helping future balloting.

Social media might be a good platform here. Posting informed articles, opinion pieces, and historic surveys to engage our networks would be very helpful, I think. Also... we must encourage our base to vote in two years. I know that is a long ways out, but it has to happen. We need to do all we can to gain any ground in Congress.

 

[Scuba Pete]

The very best aspect to the protests? They're pissing Trump off. If he wants us to stop them, then by all means, let's continue them. Whatever Trump says is "horrible" is probably pretty good.