When I was a college student, protesting against the Vietnam War was one of the defining acts for my generation. By the end of the 1960s, it seemed like almost everyone I knew was taking part in those demonstrations.
According to political scientist Larry Sabato, the largest of those protests nationally peaked at 2 million participants.
By contrast, organizers of Saturday’s massive “No Kings” demonstrations say they brought out 7 million people! Even allowing for some exaggeration, it appears that the crowds in thousands of cities, both red and blue, reached at least somewhere close to 5 million.
The question, of course, is whether this unprecedented outpouring of opposition to Trump’s grab for complete power will translate into political action, i.e., votes for Democrats in next year’s midterm elections and beyond.
It took many years of antiwar protests, large and small, to have an impact on our government’s policy in Southeast Asia, but most historians would agree that they did eventually help end the war.
Fast forward to 2025, when we may not have the luxury of years to prevent Trump from his goal of turning our democracy into an autocracy.
But as noted by David A Graham of the Atlantic, “Trump’s authoritarian takeover is unpopular—his approval is deep underwater, rivaled only by his first term for the worst since at least the 1950s—which means that its progress depends on despair and surrender from the majority of Americans who oppose it. The huge and energetic crowds that came out this weekend are an antidote to that.”
And the “No Kings” movement is just getting started.
HEADLINES:
Trump’s response to ‘No Kings’ marches only proved the protesters’ point (CNN)
Long Live ‘No Kings’ (Bulwark)
Why the ‘No Kings’ Protests Matter (Atlantic)
Trump can deploy National Guard in Portland, appeals court rules (WP)
Vance Flexes Marines’ Might as Mass Protests Against Trump’s Agenda Take Place (NYT)
The ‘Anti-Woke’ Tax That All Americans Are Paying (Atlantic)
Deadly Gaza flare-up tests Israel-Hamas ceasefire (BBC)
A Fragile Cease-fire Between Afghanistan and Pakistan Ends Violence, for Now (NYT)
Lawmakers slam Ice after US military veterans are arrested, injured (Guardian)
Government shutdown drags on as Republicans, Democrats dig in (CSM)
Mental health distress among the nation’s LGBTQ+ youth is increasing, study finds (CBS)
4 surprising things that may reduce your risk of Parkinson’s (WP)
Sabrina Carpenter Knows What She’s Doing (Atlantic)
AI Will Never Be Your Friend (Nation)
OpenAI’s ‘embarrassing’ math (TechCrunch)
Katy Perry Releases New Single About Superiority Of Canadian Manufacturing (Onion)
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