Of the 300 or more partner organizations that participated in the “No Kings” day demonstrations on Oct. 18, only a few have announced plans to continue opposing Trump’s authoritarian government. One of them, the longstanding Refuse Fascism group, has plans to continue the protests on Nov. 5 in the nation’s capital. They are right when they say a single day’s outpouring of disgust and anger is not enough to stifle the onslaught against our democratic rights.
“What’s needed is protest that is determined and sustained, protest that won’t stop until Trump’s regime is driven from power,” a statement from the Refuse Fascism declared.
The group is hoping that their call for a massive continuation of resistance will create “a political earthquake from below which impacts the sharp divisions among those in the institutions that run this country and those with ties to such people,” thereby creating a political crisis in this society so profound that Trump’s regime cannot go forward with its program.”
It’s a lot to hope for, and it’s worth pondering a moment about what happened in the past after monumental turnouts. The massive Civil Rights Movement in Washington in 1963 needed the march from Selma to Montgomery and several other follow-up demonstrations to achieve even minimal change. So the proposals by Refuse Fascism are certainly pertinent and called for.
Let’s see if their call reaches even a portion of the critical mass needed to sustain No Kings. The outcome of several key elections, particularly the mayoral race here in New York City may provide some impetus, especially if Mamdani is victorious. The fight against fascism and the Trump administration requires more than the current plans by Refuse Fascism, though there’s no denying the potential it represents.