Organic Protest vs. Astroturf?
This weekend, something called 5051 staged a wave of demonstrations around the country. Let me begin by saying that I have nothing negative to say about what I see in this CNN Piece:
‘50501’ protesters denounce Trump administration in nationwide rallies while supporting impacted communities
Story by Alaa Elassar and Kristin Chapman, CNNA national day of action against President Donald Trump and his administration has united an outpouring of protesters across the country who are rallying in defiance of what they describe as a relentless assault on democratic institutions and civil liberties.
Over 80 protests were held at state capitols, courthouses and city halls in several states as part of the “50501” demonstrations – short for 50 protests, 50 states, one movement – condemning what they describe as Trump’s executive overreach, including deportations without due process, the dismantling of federal agencies and threats to higher education.
In addition to rallies, Saturday’s day of action saw communities coming together through food drives and donation campaigns, offering support to those most affected by the administration’s policies.
“We are sending a clear and urgent message to the country and to those in power: the people are paying attention, we are organizing, and we will not accept authoritarian overreach, fascist policy, or the dismantling of our rights under the Constitution,” Sarah Parker, one of the 50501’s national coordinators, told CNN.
“The administration’s continued targeting of marginalized communities, the criminalization of dissent, and the erosion of civil liberties demand a response — and this is ours.”
CNN has reached out to the White House for a comment.
In Washington, DC, protesters assembled outside the White House and the residence of Vice President JD Vance, who is currently in Rome, where he was meeting with a senior Vatican official on Saturday. Trump was at his golf club in Virginia.
In addition to rallies, Saturday’s day of action saw communities coming together through food drives and donation campaigns, offering support to those most affected by the administration’s policies.
“We are sending a clear and urgent message to the country and to those in power: the people are paying attention, we are organizing, and we will not accept authoritarian overreach, fascist policy, or the dismantling of our rights under the Constitution,” Sarah Parker, one of the 50501’s national coordinators, told CNN.
The only queasy feeling I get from this summary of sizable demonstrations is that this particular article comes from good old CNN -- a red flag for me, but it does not mean much as of now. I have no reason to doubt that the text is an honest description of organic organizing.
Lots of people are getting pissed off enough to do something about it.
Step One.
Chez mois, I would prefer rhetoric aimed at the Permanent Government rather than at the current POTUS, but that is none of my business. These pioneers are doing what they want to do. Good on them.
What I think we should all watch for is cooptation, which happened to Black Lives Matter. I know first-hand that national media attention is intoxicating and addictive.
Cheers to the organization and all its participants.
Anybody here go to one of those demos?

Comments
We are living
in a Military Industrial dictatorship, and while I am heartened by these demonstrations against the administration's crimes against the American people and against free speech, I'm frightened by the fact that they don't seem to understand the connection between these crimes and the slaughter of the people of Ukraine and Palestine.