It was a spectacular turnout of Americans for “No Kings” demonstrations across the nation. According to early accounts, 2,500 cities in all 50 states put their feet on the ground and their voices in the air against the policies of the Trump administration.
By the time I got to Times Square, the protestors had begun resuming their ordinary Saturday activities but there were members of the rally still lingering, clusters sharing the moment. Some of their signs were still posted on various locations, one that clung to a lamp pole declaring, “Call your senator and Congress people every day.” Another one nearby, held by a man who appeared to be homeless, was a bit more expressive in its strong denunciation of Trump.
Yes, it was a thunderous sound of resentment to the wave of anti-democratic policies sweeping the nation, and it was pleasing to learn that an estimated 7 million folks are concerned about the authoritarian conduct perpetrated by “the orange tyrant,” as one emblazoned poster declared.
This could be a powerful beginning of outrage but to be effective far more boots on the ground are necessary. As one pundit noted, the following marches and declarations must reach at least double digits, which means that some 10 million are needed in the next round of protests. And they will have to find some resonance in the “red states,” and among those living west of the Mississippi and below the Mason-Dixon Line.
It was difficult to discern what labor unions were in the street or to gauge the outrage of social and political organizations, but whatever their contributions, those numbers must be increased exponentially to really move the needle of resistance and bring about the change we witnessed during the civil rights movement. In short, a decisive step has been made and now we must find a way to intensify our stand against the militarization of our cities, the illegal and unwarranted attacks on alleged narco-traffickers, and the general violation of citizens’ constitutional rights in every walk of life.
Many of the complaints I heard walking among the marchers were about the absence of human decency, about abnegation of due process, and the deadly assaults on immigrants unleashed by ICE officers. We have heard the first chorus of peaceful protest and now it’s time to turn up the volume and let the world know who the real “enemy of the people” in America is.