A Battle Plan

Twice in the month of April, thousands of people turned out to protest the Trump coup. Here in Red Indiana, thousands gathered on April 5th and again on the 19th, despite cold, rainy weather. They gathered with clever (and not-so-clever) signs, and with determination (some in wheelchairs or with walkers). They came with small children and elderly parents. And they came in surprisingly large numbers.

There are plenty of nay-sayers who dismiss protests of this sort as wasted effort. They’re wrong, for a number of reasons. At the very least, those of us who have participated in these events come away with heightened resolve, recognizing that our concerns and anger are widely shared, that we stand in solidarity with others who are determined to protect what I have called The American Idea.

There are many avenues that citizens can use to resist and hopefully defeat a national turn to autocracy. In a recent Bulwark article, J.V. Last published a “battle plan for dissidents.” That plan was “half mass mobilization and half asymmetric warfare,” in recognition that– during the coming year– such tactics “will matter more than traditional political messaging as it has been practiced here in living memory.”

Last lists eight recommended tactics:

  1. Demonstrate popular power in the provinces through large-scale rallies.
  2. Use these events to organize the resistance into a mass movement that can be called into action.
  3. Direct the mass movement into targeted political strikes: Getting blowout wins in special elections; boycotts of Tesla; etc.
  4. Politicize everything: Attack the authoritarians for every bad thing that happens, anywhere in the world. Flood the zone.
  5. Elevate the corruption/graft in a way that pits the billionaire insiders against the “forgotten man.”
  6. When the moment is right, bring this movement to the Capital for a show of strength.
  7. Use this demonstration as a slingshot to take back legislative power in the 2026 elections.
  8. More importantly, use it to send a message to the institutional actors that people will have their back if they show courage..

While I agree with all eight, it is important to recognize that numbers 1, 2, and 8 are dependent upon the sorts of peaceful mass demonstrations we’re now experiencing. Large turnouts by everyday Americans of the sort we are seeing are a demonstration of power–people who are willing to get off their couches, create signs, gather and march with others are people who will cast ballots in upcoming elections.

The mechanisms used to inform citizens of these upcoming demonstrations will also serve as the initial organizing machinery for further actions–boycotts or strikes, for example. (I will note that those mechanisms need to be greatly expanded; significant numbers of people, many of whom would have been likely to participate, remained totally unaware of April’s protests. As the grass-roots groups sponsoring these events build out their informational webs, that will undoubtedly change.)

But Number 8 is by far the most important of the three identified purposes of these mass protests.

We would not be in the position we’re in if the GOP invertebrates We the People have elected to Congress were doing their jobs. Granted, some of these officials are as bigoted and ignorant as the current administration. Some are “out and proud” White Christian Nationalists rejecting modernity and enthusiastically applauding the destruction of the federal government. (Here in Indiana, that cohort includes Senator Jim Banks.) But a significant number of those elected officials have placed their ability to retain their positions–and escape the ire of the would-be King–over their obligations to the Constitution and fidelity to their oaths of office.

It is that latter group of “institutional actors” that can be moved by mass public demonstrations–by evidence that large numbers of their constituents will “have their backs” if they oppose the ongoing coup, but will vote against them if they continue to cower. (Are you listening, Senator Young?)

There is one other value to these gatherings that the essay failed to note, probably because it is hard to document, and that’s the informational value inherent in such events. In a world where people get their information from wildly disparate sources, significant numbers of Americans remain unaware of the actions of this administration and the very dangerous implications of those actions. When fellow citizens protest in great numbers, some of the uninformed will encounter information they didn’t previously have.

For that matter, protestors angered by specific issues are frequently unaware of the full range of Trump’s bad actions, given their rapidity and number. The speeches and signs at mass events expand participants’ understanding of the threats we face.

Education occurs in many venues. Protests are one of them.

25 Comments

  1. That list of 8 descriptions of protests could be used to describe the greatest protest movement here, after the Revolutionary War, to describe the Civil War which took only one shot from one southern protester to set off the Civil War. We probably came closer to a 2nd Civil War with the anti- Viet Nam protests; the ugly actions against returning military troops was as psychologically harmful to many Americans as the Reconstruction of the south was physically and financially.

    The MAGAs had “A Battle Plan” prepared for win or lose; a loss would have been a continuation of the “Stop the Steal”, the 2024 win was putting into action the words of the grudge they carried over the 2020 loss. Democrats believed they couldn’t, shouldn’t and wouldn’t lose in 2024 so they had no plan for a possible loss when they tossed out President Joe Biden and didn’t bother fully supporting Vice President Kamala Harris. They were so busy blaming her for THEIR loss of the presidential election that they had no plan to deal with what Trump warned them was coming.

    “In a world where people get their information from wildly disparate sources, significant numbers of Americans remain unaware of the actions of this administration and the very dangerous implications of those actions. When fellow citizens protest in great numbers, some of the uninformed will encounter information they didn’t previously have.”

    “Hindsight is 20/20.” “Monday morning quarterbacking.” “Locking the barn door after the horse is gone.” And for some of us, “I told you so.”

  2. I believe the protests must build momentum so that the naysayers become converts. Gladwell talked about this in his “tipping point” concept. Those who sit back with their remotes and discount those gatherings will eventually set their remotes down and join others. I watched that intimately with the OWS movement.

    The good news, or bad news, is that Trump and his clueless minions will provide plenty of fodder for movement leaders. The international response to Tesla equated to a 71% drop in the brand’s quarterly revenues. Musk doesn’t understand since “he’s trying to save trillions of dollars for Americans. #bullshit

    As we’re learning, his motive (and others too) was to extract government data wherever he was allowed. He’s using it for his machine learning GrokAI and probably for nefarious reasons. For HCR readers, she mentioned this yesterday when stating:

    “…the NIH is collecting Americans’ private medical records from federal and commercial databases, including from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Indian Health Service, medication records from pharmacies, and data from smartwatches and fitness trackers.”

    Smartwatches and fitness trackers!! They are using data from our wearable tech, which means companies like FitBit, which Google bought out, share our data with the government. #shocker

    They also track us using our wearables and phones because they both have GPS. For those who didn’t catch it, when the Tesla exploded outside a Trump property in Vegas, Musk could track the owner’s movements before he left home.

    If you go to a protest, and you’re wearing a fitness tracker or take your smartphone, they can track you to that specific spot. Just beware.

    Also, I am hoping that Sheila caught the news where our Trump acolytic governor snuck in a last-minute addition to the budget bill, replacing the three (3) IU graduate allotment Board of Trustees appointments with his own control because Braun said, “IU is definitely not going in the right direction.”

    He didn’t elaborate on what direction IU is heading or what changes he plans to make. It was a very shitty move!!!

  3. 9,insist people read the news. dont allow being yelled in your ear by the other side,and told how to think. study a few issues that are your core value. keep abreast of the issue everyday. keep a file of that issue,and pass it on to others who walk the same line. press for,the press. talk why you support your source of information by/from viable,steady line of fact based opinions and journalism. dont debate,talk imformation and how its tied to others life. support someone elses line of defence. make sure you dont swallow the bait to cause trouble,point it out before it happens. that happened here in NoDak with tigerswan during the water protests. trump wants to,thwart the next election,make sure he cant. the 2026 vote maybe your last one.

  4. I agree with Jack’s last sentence, but my concern is that we not have a 2026 election. The MAGAts also know about protests and their power. But the worst of them also know that if the voices of protest are disallowed by fair elections they will keep their hands in power. The recent attacks on ActBlue are evidence that they don’t want to allow political opposition at all.

    What will be the first shot fired that starts the coming civil war? Remember, the CinC of our military is a raving, deteriorating psychopath. Perhaps, instead of CinC, we should use Rex Tillerson’s more apt description: F***ing Moron – or just FM for brevity.

  6. The efforts made by Democrats and others opposed to Trump have been good so far with the exception of one important thing…. a simple, unifying, positive message. I propose that message be “I support the Constitution!”
    At hundreds of protests across the country the majority of participants held signs that stated what they were against, and that list of grievances is varied and long. Together they screamed opposition to Trump and what he has done and is doing, most of which has flown in the face of our Constitution. And it is that utter disregard for the Constitution and Rule of Law that is at the basis of our outrage.
    So again, “I support the Constitution!” A large banner at the protests? T shirts? Yard signs? Hats?

  7. I agree with the need for one unifying simple message. Have protested with INDIVISIBLE here in Fort Wayne, Indiana with two large well run protests, over 1000 each time. I feel that the “Indivisible, under God, with liberty and justice for all” is a good message. We have had two town halls one reaching 390 in attendance, and the last one over 200 without any Republican elected leaders, though they were invited. We have a weekly ongoing protest by clergy and committed at the Republican headquarters Main Street right next to our historic CONEY DOGS, our signs saying SHAME SHAME SHAME which has resulted in great constructive conversations, made the news, lots of honking support ….with three Mondays 11 am to 1 pm. This is ongoing with Pastors using clerical robes and pastors of Presbyterian, UMC, Church of the Brethren, and UU, appearing so far. Most comments are “THANK YOU! I am greatly encouraged that the protests are: 1. Giving out information; 2. Creating meaningful dialogue; 3. Growing. And so far, no opposition.

  8. “So again, “I support the Constitution!” A large banner at the protests? T shirts? Yard signs? Hats?”

    The public must support the Constitution and protests appears to be the only way to accomplish that support; the banners, hand made signs, T shirts, hats and yard signs are our mode of freedom of speech now. All three major branches of government; Legislature, Executive and Judicial are all either taking open action against the Constitution or ignoring those taking action against it.

    Trump threatened “blood in the streets” if he lost in 2020; I have more fear for “blood in the streets” with his 2024 win. He has gone berserk; taking over the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian, selling his meme coins with the prize to highest buyers being dinner with him, his Executive Orders are accepted as laws, his Cabinet appointees are allowed to run amok along with him. Considering his past dinners during his first term; will they serve McDonald’s or Burger King?

  9. Pete, I agree, but let’s get legislation ready to go to Congress and not rely on illegal Executive Orders for Project 2029.

  10. Excellent proposals Theresa. Positive is always better than negative. I am going to make a sign like that for the May 1 protest. I hope others will join me for both!

  11. I am happy that my proposal is meeting with support. Thank you. Now, to get things going I would gladly pony up some dough for this project. Who could take the lead and find an artist to design the signs?

  12. A few contrary thoughts….

    1. Given the pathetic understanding of the Constitution thanks to not teaching civics and critical thinking, that theme is unlikely to move the masses.

    2. By 2026, our chances may have been greatly diminished without something stopping “the wave”. There are many local elections being held this November at the city and county level. We must use these to begin to turn the tide, in terms of candidates, issues, turnout and results.

  14. Agreed, I took an oath to support the constitution is 1972,i volunteered to join the Navy. the war was ever,and defense of who,supported freedom and against government tyranny was always in the back of my mind. I listen to WW2 vets discuss the war at the local park while playing checkers and dominos. they talked why it happened. today we are clear to fact. this is a playbook still in rock hard concrete, how to desolve a democracy. when republicans visited orban in hungry,i read and reread, euro news and right and left news here. it was stark in your face, and this is what is now happening in ,your live and in color news. fact is, the republicans have lied to us for 40+ years,and we have been assaulted by the pacs and nationalists etc, into a con job to those who missed out becuase they didnt pay attention.hate is the forerunner,and now oppression coming into the back door to,the rest of us. we didnt leave Vietnam until it was protested it to the ground and people who controled those strings were due a public hanging via the news media we once had for a decent opinion. yea make fun of the songs of the anti war stuff, but i remember well how those stations everywhere told the masses to join and fight against the war,and government oppression. today we depend on social media,(excuse my callousness, i dont,and now many know why)boycott them,boycott amazon and the likes of pete thiel. if you want to make a dent in the issue, stop supporting it. they are called billionaires, who screwed the working class out of aliving wage,and majority power..protest that..

  15. Lester, think of it this way. You put up the sign in your yard. A neighbor stops by and asks what it means and you, yes you, Lester, get to respectfully educate that neighbor about the Constitution and how it applies to him/her. What a great way to bridge the divide in our country.

  16. Jacobin.com
    turning retiremnet against workers, Jim Kane
    /if you have investments in hedge fund assets, ya might wanna read how
    they use it to secure themselves over your needs..

  17. Thank you $heila.
    And thanks to Teresa for the turning of the charge, of the words, to a positive.
    Blaming tend to create anger, let’s look to the good.
    The MAGA Movement has always been about “stating the bad and blaming others”. This has created the possibility for entrance of violent act and speech.
    What would happen if we all sang sings together, as the IWC does at Community Sing A Longs?
    Support Peace not War.

  18. I agree with Teresa. Let’s get with it. I would be glad to help fund signs, etc. I am not a designer, but suggest multicolored hands holding up the document.

  19. Theresa, CGH and Sharon; I still have my pre-election yard sign posted, “For the love of God, anyone but Trump”. Am ready to respond to requests or orders to remove it that it is still my prayer to remove him by whatever action it takes.

  20. At the last protest in Indpls. there was so much to protest I just made a sign that said, “Stop Tyranny”. My husband carried ” No kings in USA” sign. We know that in Trump’s house of cards he’s trying to be King. There were a lot of people who carried “hands off” signs listing: our rights, SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, public lands etc. etc. We want to keep the good that we have.
    Staying positive and peaceful is vital to having a winning effect. The organizers of 50501 gave out whistles to use to draw attention to any threats to anyone, also if trouble started, they would play “Amazing Grace” or” America the Beautiful” as a sign to just sit down.
    I find that protesting has a calming effect and realizing solidarity at this volatile time is empowering.

  21. Rose – Focus on Medicare, Social Security is less “culture war”/partisan….

  23. Good luck, USA. My thoughts are with you. Long live the People’s Front!

    Note that in my head, I can’t help but immediately hear the Monty Python gang argue about whether they are the “Peoples Front of Judea” or the “Judean People’s Front”, while sneering at the “Splitters!” But it doesn’t trivialise the issue; it galvanises it. The world is truly careening towards a very dark place, and all efforts by decent people are necessary.

    Viva la résistance!

  24. Lester, the last time I protested was the Viet Nam War, so it’s a relearning process for me. Thanks, I agree with your advice.

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