The next stage: Will anti-Trump marches become a movement?
ASSOCIATED PRESS
High school students protest against the election of President-elect Donald Trump on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. Students from several Los Angeles schools have walked out of classes to protest the election of Donald Trump as president.
WASHINGTON >> Demonstrators upset over the election of Donald Trump have marched in cities around the country over the past week, and some are making plans to be in Washington for his inauguration Jan. 20. But whether marches will become a movement is an open question.
At this early stage, the protesters who have taken to the streets to brand Trump a bigot and a sexist and chant “Not my president!” appear to be mostly venting their frustrations and do not seem to have coalesced behind overall leaders or a common set of demands.
Columbia University professor Todd Gitlin, who as an early leader of Students for a Democratic Society helped organize an anti-Vietnam War demonstration that brought thousands to Washington in 1965, said the anti-Trump protests by themselves “are not the makings of a movement.”
“A movement requires that clusters of people take responsibility for creating vehicles that can carry through, focus energy, develop priorities, strategize, recruit, figure out how to govern themselves,” Gitlin said.
For that to happen, a critical mass of protesters has to “transform their mindset from protest into successful politics, which is much less exciting,” he said. Gitlin said that means “dirtying our hands in winning local and state battles which are instrumental to changing the national balance.”
On Monday, hundreds of students decrying Trump’s election walked out of schools in Denver, Los Angeles and Silver Spring, Maryland, after a weekend in which thousands of people demonstrated around the country and scores were arrested. Protesters threw rocks at police in Indianapolis and hurled bottles and other objects in Portland, Oregon. Marchers have also converged on Trump Tower in New York, the president-elect’s transition headquarters.
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Among other things, the demonstrators have condemned Trump’s behavior toward women and his stand on immigration and civil liberties.
Ralph Young, a history professor at Temple University in Philadelphia who teaches a course on dissent in America and has written two books on the topic, said it is too early to predict what the marches might become.
Once Trump becomes president and starts making policy decisions, that could crystalize opposition and focus people’s attention on certain issues, he said. If the anti-Trump demonstrations are going to become a movement, they also need leaders who can articulate their grievances, he said.
That’s one thing the Occupy Wall Street movement against economic inequality never really achieved — a proper organization, Young said.
Jamie Henn of the group 350, which organizes protests to fight climate change, said liberal activist groups are still scrambling to figure out how they will push back against a Trump presidency.
“There is definitely stuff coming together and being planned that looks like the messy process of everyone and their mother throwing up something on their Facebook page,” Henn said.
Henn said liberals haven’t seen the need for this level of mobilization since the run-up to the Iraq War. But activists remember glumly how little a dent their big marches against the invasion made then, and may use different tactics this time.
Some groups are already trying to come together, though there are differences of opinion, said Greg McKelvey, a protest organizer in Portland, Oregon. McKelvey said demonstrators are trying to organize with counterparts in New York; Washington; Austin, Texas; Oakland, California; Boston; and a few other cities.
Some activists want to prevent Trump somehow from becoming president, while others feel that’s inevitable and instead want to insulate their communities from his policies, McKelvey said. He said his group, Portland’s Resistance, aims to make sure city and state governments are working on issues such as limiting climate change, pushing for better health care and dealing with racial disparities in policing.
Trump’s election has made activists out of people who haven’t been part of any organized demonstrations before.
Olivia Antezana, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Maryland at College Park, had never been to a demonstration before creating and promoting a “Not My President” event on Facebook. By Monday afternoon, 18,000 people had indicated on Facebook that they would be going to the event in Washington on Inauguration Day.
“I will say I certainly underestimated it,” Antezana said.
Still, Antezana said she is not sure what she will do after the demonstration she is planning is over. She doesn’t plan to join a political campaign, she said, though she would like to keep up with activism. Right now, she said, she has another priority: school.
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Follow Jessica Gresko on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jessicagresko.
62 responses to “The next stage: Will anti-Trump marches become a movement?”
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Keep wasting your time. The results are not going to change the outcome of the election.
Ha, word!
I would only join anti-immigration marches.
Not this election, no.
But may I remind you of another movement — one that began in reaction to another presidential election — a movement of which you may, in fact, consider yourself a member.
How many Senate seats did the GOP gain in 2010 thanks to this new movement, the “Tea Party”? Six. And how many House seats? Sixty-three. Would those numbers turn the tide for the Dems? You know they would.
Here’s our new movement’s “new math”: 2018 = 2010
IRT HanaBataDays, not for the next couple of Presidential elections. There must be a Countrywide change of ideology, such as Obamacare that over time hurts a majority of Americans. At the present time, the 29 items of the Contract with the American voters that President-Elect Trump will initiated in his first 100 days in Office are the 60% – 70% American support issues. What will be your new ideology? The Tea Party made their gains at the local level with Governors and Legislatures. Eventually the House, Senate, and the White House. With the U.S. Supreme Court remaining Conservative, your group must have a clear Constitutional ideology.
How about a recession next year?
IRT TheVisitor967, chances is no recession next year. Why, the confidence of the Market, the initiation of economic growth initiatives, and increase of employment. This will be followed by the reduction of illegal immigrants and shifting of trade for American products and goods. Everything is growth on the economic side.
Really, the movement is for these clowns to move out.
Well they got 4 whole years to get that mojo working!
Two, actually, until we take back Congress the way the Teahadists did in ’10.
Well, that gives you just 24 months to bad mouth anything Trump and congress try and accomplish. You better pick up the pace..
Happy hunting. Good luck with Ellison leading you guys..as Santa would say…HO HO HO!
Yeah that baby killing mantra will really help!
Hanabata, you the clown of all clowns. These riots from the Democraps will Mr. Trump 2 terms.
Organize, mobilize, pack your stuff and march your sorry selves to another country. We all knew what the “rules” were, election was held and your man lost. Embrace the suck and move on or go establish yourself someplace else.
You mean like “Occupy Wall Street”? Come on re-diect your efforts and move on!
They can protest right out of the US to Canada for all I care. lol
Amy (unfunny) schumer
Lena Dunham
Barbra Streisand
Bryan Cranston
Miley Cyrus
Amy Schumer
Jon Stewart
Cher
Chelsea Handler
Samuel L. Jackson
Whoopi Goldberg
Neve Campbell
Keegan-Michael Key
George Lopez
Ne-Yo
Rev. Al Sharpton
Raven-Symoné
Let’s see if these Liberal Democrats can be taken for their word on moving to Canada if Trump won the election. Does their words mean anything if they don’t pack up and leave the US. lol, I bet these people will LIE thru their teeth like all Liberals and Democrats do and maybe some Republicans too while I’m at it. hahahahahahaha
I missed it giving racist Al Sharpton the title of Reverend, I’d take it back if I could have edited my comment above. “smh”
Amen.
You mean this guy.Ex NYPD Cop: We Used to Call Sharpton ‘The Fat Rat’
they stood up in the Publics eye threatening dis and dat. Make your move you Crooked Lying celebrities, we all waiting to see you go to Canada. Come on now, you said it now walk it you Lying Pied Pipers!
Really wanted to emphasize Amy Schumer (twice), huh? But I agree. If you said you’d leave, then leave! I hear northern Canada is really nice in the winter! But honestly, you COULD use your celebrity status to help make the US a BETTER place instead of doing the chicken _ _ _ _ thing and bailing!
I wonder why they chose Canada and not Mexico. Must be part of their “anti-racist” belief system. 🙁
Did you forget Jesse Jackson?
Did Jesse mention moving to Canada if Trump won the Presidency? I’m better than them Liberals/Democrats who’ll construe words to make someone look bad using smoke and screen. I despise Liars just as much as Backstabbers
Why Canada and not Mexico?
Racist, do not care to associate or live among Latinos?
Being a liberal they will go back on their word. TRUTH & RESPONSIBILITY aren’t in their genes.
That’s a lot of talent there. I don’t want repeats of The Apprentice on every channel.
Ex-lax might help these intellectually constipated protestors with their movements.
palani, love your pun on words describing protesters!
Yes, this will probably become a movement and IMO it will not only fail but the push back will very possibly make it worse for the protestors. Part of Trump’s victory is due to people becoming fed up with the progressives and their PC world where they control speech, they want to tell you how to live, what to eat, the type of energy we/you use, the names we give things, who gets into universities, which laws we enforce and which we don’t, they want timeouts when their feelings are hurt, etc. and now which candidate has to win an election. Enough already.
Sorry your keiki didn’t get into Hahvuhd.
Sorry you lost in a LANDSLIDE.
Landslide?! Who exactly won the popular vote?
Whose the President Elect? Yikes, your Liberal/Democrats minds are warped.
There are people that are lost sheep blindly following the lead dog. Why would SA publish this piece of trash article which amounts to no more than inciting and fueling the fire? What is the intent? Give it a rest. It is time to get back to business as usual.
Totally agree.
The AP still trying to be relevant and the SA reprinting the crap.
one big national movement expelling the democrat culture of corruption, fear mongering and hate speech.
americans of all colors, religions and genders together elected trump president of the united states.
as bill clinton put it, “the awful legacy of the past eight years” is over.
the only movement that counts is the liberals moving to foreign countries as they promised if trump won. but, of course they lied.
The old socialist’s keep recruiting dumb kids…but eventually they get jobs, grow up and straighten out. Must be frustrating. I remember the SDS trying to recruit me back in 1970…bunch of old commies.
If there’s a problem, the National Guard will be in attendance.
Same “movement” that just lost this election big.
Anybody involved in a protest should be deported!
He’s not in office yet, and he is already backing down his words.
From deporting all illegal immigrants to only the criminal immigrants.
So, It’s ok for the illegal immigrants stealing american jobs to stay as long as they don’t break the law!
Isn’t being an illegal immigrant in America breaking the law? Hence the word “ILLEGAL” immigrant.
he is not backing down he wants to build a wall then go after the illegal criminals in this country including drug dealers, murderers, and gunrunners, then he will look at all the other illegal immigrant problems, so just relax and wait.
bakatade – Before any illegal can take a job, someone has to hire them. An employer caught hiring illegals faces serious legal action.
And lets not forget many of the jobs they do take are ones Americans will no longer do. How many high school kids do you see actually working manual labor today versus decades ago?
Not saying it is right, USA needs a solid guest worker program as many other countries do. Sad to say our elected bureaucrats lack the cojones to get it done.
bakatade…take a D E E E E E P breathe and relax…you lost in a LANDSLIDE….get over it.
“Movement”? For what? More like a bowel movement.
To be part of the movement and part of the growing, part of beginning to understand.
Aye, Calypso, the places you’ve been to,
Save the Earth!
So many utterly weak of mind millennials who are afraid to leave their “Safe Spaces” and go out into the real world.
If they are not happy in this country, they can pack their bags and move to another country. They will not be missed. Everyone who leaves will let Trump claim another job opening created.
Sooooooo what are you waiting for”
Nothing better to do? Look, I am saddened by the two candidates for POTUS both IMO are not worthy, period.
At least I have a view of my beloved Mauna Kea – Big Island Love! OBTW I’m brown and The Donald does not scare me!
I got an idea for their movement, how’s about movementing their A$$es to another country if they cannot accept the will of the people. Bunch of cry baby cowards!
Depends on how much $$ soarass wants to spend.
Movements often start off as misguided because we have a bunch of people with different agendas–and some of these agendas may not be widely accepted–and thus such movements will be viewed by the general public as more of a nuisance than a remedy. Thus a movement should be based on universally accepted principles which will be easily embraced–preferably an issue that many already feel strongly about. So in this case the message could be a very simple one, “Abolish the Electoral College.” In my opinion, it’s always better to be united for a cause than against someone. These protestors are in the minority now–but it could change if they argue on principle–widely embraced and universally accepted principles such as: “Hillary Clinton won the popular vote. In a democracy, shouldn’t everyone’s vote count? Why isn’t she our president?”
@ tigerwarrior: ITA.
https://fee.org/articles/the-accidental-genius-of-the-electoral-college/
An interesting read, which describes the history behind and reason for the college. Although the two party system has undone Madison’s original premise, the staggered election cycles still serve us very well. Rather than switch to purely popular presidential vote, I’d rather see Maine’s delegated electoral vote distribution be adopted by more states.
Out of work punks being paid up to $1500 a week to protest by George Soros. Seen posts of Craig’s List ads.
It’s already a movement – a bowel movement. According to the NBC affiliate news station KGW in Portland, OR, more than half of the protesters that were arrested in that city did not vote or were not registered to vote.
and again the liberal media is spinning it in one direction and only one direction. I heard the news last night on KITV talk about how this is the biggest demonstration we have seen in Hawaii for along time…over 1,200 protestors, yet they lied when it was happening with SB1. They reported 300-500 protestors were at the legislature…..how about 4,000-5,000…..how about reporting facts and letting people use their heads to figure stuff out…I am so sick of the Main Stream Media…..like they got it right about the polls and Trump….and folks still just drink it all up
with this movement, all constipation problems will be healed. best sit down in days!!!!
Depends whether an organization of the likes of the OSF will fund such a movement. Check IRS Form 990-pf any year after 1993 for the this organization. Recently a suit of 550 million dollars was filed against the Chairman by an individual who suffered damages as a result of the Ferguson riots. It is reputed that it indict this individual through his charitable foundation is responsible. He is a naturalized citizen and ex-noncom of the former German Army whose net worth is over 26 billion dollars. One of the objectives of the organization is formant unrest so that “Marshal Law” is implemented and the country can be controlled by his minions who will by then be installed in positions that matter. Could be Fascism as the objective.