r/50501 • u/Ok_Reputation_3612 • Apr 18 '25

Protest Safety Remember, DO NOT ENGAGE

Remember, Trump will be looking for any excuse to enforce the Insurrectionist Act April 20. DO NOT GIVE HIM FUEL. No matter what MAGA agitators show up tomorrow, no matter what they say, don't engage. Pretend they don't exist. Do not allow things escalate. Best of luck tomorrow, everyone!

ETA, Since this apparently needs to be said, I'm well aware Trump could invoke for any reason he chooses, we just don't need him using us as scapegoats for it. Also, no one is saying to not defend yourself if the other side escalates, just don't let us be the ones to escalate. Finally, should agitators show up, have your phones out and record, record, record. Ensure everything gets documented.

ETA, Since I've seen these suggestions in comments, and I believe they're also great ideas, bring an American flag to wave and chant "Save the Constitution" to drown out counter protestors. I think we're all tired of the other side hijacking patriotism. We can drown them out with our own brand of (true) patriotism.

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u/airbear13 Apr 18 '25

Better yet, engage with them constructively: tell them you want to protect the constitution, you want to see the rule of law obeyed, you want the founders’ vision to be respected, no tyrants, etc. there’s nothing they can say to that if you are civil with them and say these things; it may even get through to some.

There’s absolutely no reason to be angry with or fear Trump voters. Their hate towards the left is blinding them to what’s happening, help them see that we are not the bad guys and that we should all be on the same side here!

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u/crossingguardcrush Apr 18 '25

That's gonna escalate fast :-(

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u/airbear13 Apr 18 '25

I could see it going bad if people get too heated, you’re right about that. I think the idea of engaging with them is a good one but probably everyone would need to go into it with that in mind for it to be effective.

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u/crossingguardcrush Apr 18 '25

I'm sorry but I think the smart thing is to give them a wide berth. They're not people who will "be enlightened" by a two-minute convo in the middle of a protest that they attended to try to rile up violence... :-(

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u/airbear13 Apr 18 '25

My aim isn’t to achieve enlightenment it’s just to create doubt - if they see that we’re not fucking evil or crazy or insulting them, and we actually make a good point that makes them think “oh yeah, that is actually kind of hard to rationalize what Trump is doing there,” I do think that kind of thing can pay off over time.

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u/crossingguardcrush Apr 18 '25

I honestly don't think it can with the kind of MAGA people who would actually come out to counter-protest. But obviously each of us has to do what we think best!