So i went to a local protest yesterday, just to see how people around me are feeling about the current political situation. i've known for a long time that i disagree with liberals on a lot of issues; but wow, this experience was pathetic.

To be clear, i completely agree with the demands of the "hands off" protests on the domestic front (protecting social security, medicare, womens right to choose, etc). However:

• there was not a single mention of Palestine anywhere. I made a sign that said "free Palestine", and I was the only person with a Palestine sign. I got a lot of nasty looks from people. someone even whispered "free Israel" to me in passing. However, There WERE a lot of pro-ukraine signs everywhere. I guess they do care about imperialism, just when its done by countries the US doesn't like.
• There were a lot of signs praising Cory booker. which is baffling to me. His speech accomplished nothing. why are we praising him
• Someone had a sign implying that Trump is controlled by Putin; but then, Putin had hammer-and-sickle symbols surrounding him. Because, as we all know, putin=bad, and communism=bad, therefore putin=communism.

However the main issue I had with this protest, and the reason i say it was a waste of time, is because everyone there felt so confident that they were DOING something, when they were doing absolutely NOTHING. everyone consistently expressed this proud attitude that they were fighting against tyranny and fascism. "THIS is what democracy looks like!"

A bunch of people came together and made signs. stood on the side of the road. listened to people honk as they drove by. got some middle fingers from trump supporters. the cops patiently watched the protest, unfazed. and then everyone went home. I just don't understand the point?

The US government has been abducting people off the street without due process. decades ago, people fought and died for the rights to social security, medicaid, and for labor laws; and this government is smashing those programs. and we're sitting here doing cute little chants about it.

These protests need to stand for something. maybe some tables for mutual aid or political orgs to get people involved in local organizing. SOMETHING.

Perhaps the Pro-palestine protests that hasan was at had some of these elements. I'm curious if anyone else in this sub had a similar experience yesterday. just wanted to vent.

gonna show this clips to my normie friends who don’t understand why and how this will negatively impact us

Thanks for showing up and nice fit.

I live in a very conservative small town in southern Oregon. We had about 1000 people show up! I get so sick of being surrounded by conservative cult maga bullshit all the fucking time. This just restored some of my faith in my community.

k

as a second gen mexican american, i’m very proud to say that my grandparents have always been socially and morally on the right side of things and helped me a lot with my own upbringing and values <3