University of Kwazulu-Natal

The Resistance Reaches Into Trump Country Msn

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
the resistance reaches into trump country msn

Demonstrators take to the streets during a nationwide "No Kings" protest in Rock Springs, Wyoming.Imago via ZUMA It’s been a week since an estimated 7 million people across 50 US states and the District of Columbia—and countless others all over the world—took part in the “No Kings” protests to speak up... From Washington, DC, to Oakland, California, protesters proudly waved American flags and declared their love for the country. They spanned generations, and many were dressed in various inflatable costumes—ducks, SpongeBob Squarepants, dinosaurs, and more—borrowing from Portland’s example of defying the rhetoric from Republicans and the administration that vilified anyone who demonstrated as... The peaceful October 18 pro-democracy protests, which naturally drew the ire of President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, marked one of the largest single-day demonstrations in US history. Two million more people than the previous “No Kings” gatherings from June showed up across 2,700 events in big Blue cities and, notably, in reliably Republican towns.

“Even my small, conservative hometown of Brenham, Texas, held a ‘No Kings’ Rally with at least a hundred people in attendance,” wrote the ACLU Justice Division leader Ellen Flenniken in a post about the... No crowns!” “The current protest movement has already reached deeper into Trump country than at almost any point during the first Trump administration.” This article was originally published on Pat Mitchell’s blog and weekly newsletter. Tuesday marks the 100th day of Donald Trump’s presidency, and many Americans are unhappy with him and his administration. According to a new Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll, “Trump’s approval rating is lower than for any past president at the 100-day mark in their first or second terms.

… In broad strokes, the judgment of his presidency so far is that a majority think Trump has exceeded his authority, a majority say the economy is worse and about half say that U.S. leadership in the world has become weaker.” During Trump’s first term, public demonstrations of disapproval were rapid and massively visible. The 2017 Women’s March, held the day after the inauguration, was the largest single-day protest in history (later surpassed by the George Floyd protests in 2020). This time around, it’s building in a different way. Researchers at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Crowd Counting Consortium note that 2025 protests “are far more numerous and frequent—while also shifting to more powerful forms of resistance,” such as commercial and labor boycotts.

“In February 2025 alone, we have already tallied over 2,085 protests, which included major protests in support of federal workers, LGBTQ rights, immigrant rights, Palestinian self-determination, Ukraine and demonstrations against Tesla and Trump’s agenda... They came out in defense of national parks and small businesses, public education and health care for veterans, abortion rights and fair elections. They marched against tariffs and oligarchs, dark money and fascism, the deportation of legal immigrants and the Department of Government Efficiency. Demonstrators had no shortage of causes as they gathered in towns and cities across the country Saturday to protest President Donald Trump’s agenda. Rallies were planned in all 50 states, and images posted on social media showed dense crowds in places as diverse as St. Augustine, Florida; Salt Lake City and rainy Frankfort, Kentucky.

“Pouring rain, 43 degrees, biting wind, and people are still here in Albany in the thousands,” said Ron Marz, a comic book writer who posted a photo of the crowd at the New York... While crowd sizes are difficult to estimate, organizers said that more than 600,000 people had signed up to participate and that events also took place in U.S. territories and a dozen locations across the globe. On Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, the protest stretched for nearly 20 blocks. In Chicago, thousands flooded Daley Plaza and adjacent streets, while, in the nation’s capital, tens of thousands surrounded the Washington Monument. In Atlanta, police estimated the crowd marching to the gold-domed statehouse at more than 20,000.

In this report, Matthew Cebul, Lead Research Fellow for the Nonviolent Action Lab, examines the effectiveness of nonviolent action movements in supporting democratic resilience globally. Identifying challenges faced by nonviolent pro-democracy movements, Cebul offers key takeaways for combating accelerating democratic erosion in the US and abroad. The historic number of No Kings Day protesters and their expansive geographic spread are signs of a growing and durable pro-democracy movement. This article was originally published in Waging Nonviolence. In this report, Matthew Cebul, Lead Research Fellow for the Nonviolent Action Lab, examines the effectiveness of nonviolent action movements in supporting democratic resilience globally. Identifying challenges faced by nonviolent pro-democracy movements, Cebul offers key takeaways for combating accelerating democratic erosion in the US and abroad.

In this op-ed, Liz McKenna examines the second ‘No Kings’ protest on October 18 and offers strategies for translating successful protest movements into influential policy change. She emphasizes the importance of sustained organizational efforts alongside protest activity to engage actors across partisan lines, building a broad coalition and a durable base for the movement. Archon Fung and Stephen Richer are joined by University of Pittsburgh’s Lara Putnam to discuss the recent No Kings protest movement. “It does have the effect of exposing the shambolic and slapdash and utterly incompetent behavior of the Trump administration,” the MSNBC host says Rachel Maddow spent nearly 15 straight minutes recapping various protests and other forms of resistance against Donald Trump throughout the country on Thursday night, as gatherings are popping up far and wide. Highlighting action being taken in at least 11 states — including Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina and Utah, which all went for Trump in the 2024 election — Maddow applauded people fighting for their friends...

It led her to one message for viewers: keep going. Because, according to the MSNBC host, the press coverage of these events, though “depressing,” is doing nothing but exposing the actions of Trump and his administration. “It does have the effect of exposing the shambolic and slapdash and utterly incompetent behavior of the Trump administration as it embarks on this cruel and unconstitutional adventure for which it wants to be...

People Also Search

Demonstrators Take To The Streets During A Nationwide "No Kings"

Demonstrators take to the streets during a nationwide "No Kings" protest in Rock Springs, Wyoming.Imago via ZUMA It’s been a week since an estimated 7 million people across 50 US states and the District of Columbia—and countless others all over the world—took part in the “No Kings” protests to speak up... From Washington, DC, to Oakland, California, protesters proudly waved American flags and decl...

“Even My Small, Conservative Hometown Of Brenham, Texas, Held A

“Even my small, conservative hometown of Brenham, Texas, held a ‘No Kings’ Rally with at least a hundred people in attendance,” wrote the ACLU Justice Division leader Ellen Flenniken in a post about the... No crowns!” “The current protest movement has already reached deeper into Trump country than at almost any point during the first Trump administration.” This article was originally published on ...

… In Broad Strokes, The Judgment Of His Presidency So

… In broad strokes, the judgment of his presidency so far is that a majority think Trump has exceeded his authority, a majority say the economy is worse and about half say that U.S. leadership in the world has become weaker.” During Trump’s first term, public demonstrations of disapproval were rapid and massively visible. The 2017 Women’s March, held the day after the inauguration, was the largest...

“In February 2025 Alone, We Have Already Tallied Over 2,085

“In February 2025 alone, we have already tallied over 2,085 protests, which included major protests in support of federal workers, LGBTQ rights, immigrant rights, Palestinian self-determination, Ukraine and demonstrations against Tesla and Trump’s agenda... They came out in defense of national parks and small businesses, public education and health care for veterans, abortion rights and fair elect...

“Pouring Rain, 43 Degrees, Biting Wind, And People Are Still

“Pouring rain, 43 degrees, biting wind, and people are still here in Albany in the thousands,” said Ron Marz, a comic book writer who posted a photo of the crowd at the New York... While crowd sizes are difficult to estimate, organizers said that more than 600,000 people had signed up to participate and that events also took place in U.S. territories and a dozen locations across the globe. On Fift...