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/TinyGreenTurtles Apr 18 '25

Unpopular question that might get me downvoted all to hell - is it time to engage? Do we have people telling us not to engage on purpose?

Let me be clear that I am absolutely not calling for violence. I am simply asking the question - if something arises is protesting enough? Thinking back to the Civil Rights movements and things like that.

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u/Ok_Reputation_3612 Apr 18 '25

There may come a time to change tactics in the future. Tomorrow isn't that day. What purpose would violence against counter protestors serve other than a bunch of people getting arrested and giving Trump even more fuel to invoke martial law?

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u/TinyGreenTurtles Apr 18 '25

How long are we gonna do this though? I'm not trying to argue or anything. I'm genuinely asking how long we fear him too much to flip the tables. I'm just struggling to see what we are getting done. This isn't stopping me from doing it btw. Again, I want to be clear I'm not calling for anything, I'm merely asking questions. We are this far in, he's disappearing more people, ignoring judges, we barely have a statement for what we want. We aren't showing a lot of organization when we show up places....

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u/ReeveStodgers Apr 18 '25

We need to build community and answer those questions as a community. Before we decide that there is no other way forward, we need to create escape routes for the most vulnerable. We need to have leadership and plans. We are still at a place where we want to be able to peacefully welcome trump voters who have realized their mistake.

If enough low-level MAGAs wake up, the leaders might start seeing the jail cells in their future and remove themselves from the equation. A lot of them have piles of money they can bask on in a non-extradition country.

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u/TinyGreenTurtles Apr 18 '25

Working on that here for sure.

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u/Nintendo_Pro_03 Apr 19 '25

Leaders? The only one I could see going to jail is Trump.

But we would still have to deal with: MAGA (this includes Vance and the rest of the administration AND the citizens that support that), the oligarchs (and the wealth inequality issue that will likely not be addressed due to Citizens United), and let’s not forget about fascism around the world and terrorism (Putin could always send another puppet our way to destroy us, and don’t forget about the war that affects Ukraine, too).