WE THE PEOPLE — The Weekly Opine

A crowd surges toward Daley Plaza in Chicago. And no, these people were not paid to protest. They are fed up. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

We’ve had it

Not being a presidential historian or, for that matter, a recognized historian on any subject, I cannot say for sure if what we are seeing is unprecedented. I do feel comfortable saying the first 81 days of the second Trump administration have been highly unusual, particularly the amount of protesting against Trump and his sugar daddy Elon Musk. It’s more than protests by individuals coming together at large outdoor gatherings like what transpired last Saturday.

There are also protests taking place at town halls and at Zoom meetings. And, despite high profile capitulation by several prominent East Coast law firms – who’ve agreed to provide more than 100 million dollars’ worth of pro bono legal work to Trump – overall the justice system is fighting back against the plethora of illegalities put forth by Trump and his corrupt cabinet. For example, federal judges consistently rule against Trump’s shenanigans. Plus, voters (e.g., folks in Wisconsin and Florida) are using the ballot box to say “no” to Musk’s and Trump’s fascism ambition.

As nationwide protests unfolded last weekend, Trump was hiding at his Florida golf course with representatives from Saudi Arabia. Yep, Trump was entertaining Saudis, the same country that provided funding for 9/11 terrorists to hijack planes and destroy New York’s World Trade Center and attack the United States Pentagon. (Trump now has the gall to request a $26 million military parade for his birthday.)

Still, the visual of over 1,000 “Hands Off” protests taking place simultaneously last Saturday, in multiple locations in all 50 states, was mind blowing. I attended the protest in downtown Chicago’s Daley Plaza. Organizers estimate the crowd totaled more than 30,000 fed up citizens. There were a throng of protesters in what was an amazing display of togetherness. The people, each with priority issues most critical to their individual circumstance, shared a common goal of thwarting Trump’s and Musk’s attempt to destroy American democracy.

And to those who say protesters are paid to show up, I say nobody paid me (it would have been nice if someone paid my parking fee). Claims that protesters are paid are easily proven false. The rare, outlier protester who says they are paid never provides details, e.g., how much they are paid or who paid them. It’s hogwash. Considering Elon Musk paid voters in Wisconsin’s recent state Supreme Court election, it would be more likely that a few people at protests are being paid by Musk to say they are being paid by Democrats. See how easy it is to make stuff up?

I have a hunch protesting will get bigger before it gets smaller. Especially as more and more hoodwinked MAGAs regain common sense. Maybe they will personally experience the uncertainty of job loss, the pain that comes with losing healthcare, and/or experience sickness afflicting a loved one (as diseases like the measles needlessly spread due to RFK Jr’s incompetence). That may be what it takes for some MAGAs to realize their error of unrequited loyalty to a man who could care less about them. MAGAs who reject Trump will find it liberating, as did Jim Jones cultists who escaped the madness in Guyana.

Check out the photos below of last weekend and join the resistance protests next time!