I have seen several posts on this sub criticizing signs for being too focused on being funny or too arts and crafty or focusing on the wrong issues.
Guys, this is not Tumblr. Starting arguments and criticizing the people who are coming to the protests is counter- productive. Leftists constantly fail to organize and create solidarity due to this kind of in-fighting.
Yes, times are scary and horrible things are happening, but the social movements that have succeeded have always centered joy, creative expression, and humor. It makes protests approachable and appealing, and is more likely to draw the numbers we need than doom-and- gloom protesting.
If you think the April 19th protests should focus on those who are being deported and disappeared by ICE, well I agree with you! You can say so without criticizing someone’s sign and creating a post that generates time-wasting argumentation. We have one day left, you should be reaching out to your friends and encouraging people to join, not making the people that have already joined feel like crap because they like brunch or cosplay.?.?
We need numbers right now, not perfection and not purity. If you think people should be doing something differently, you can say: “I think we should do x instead of y,” rather than "Doing y means you haven’t woken up, and you’re incapable of really engaging or staying the course, and your politics aren’t authentic or whatever other criticisms you want to work in there.
For example: "If you don’t like what you are seeing at protests, be an example of what you want to see and reach out in good faith to create that change. Go out today and post stickers or signs in your downtown area or your local library encouraging people to join the protests. Spread your vision into the real world. "
Don’t do MAGA’s job for them and alienate people by bickering with them, ESPECIALLY when they are out there in person.
Originally Posted By u/GentlewomenNeverTell
At 2025-04-18 11:33:34 AM
| Source
It’s worth aknowledging that gathering will never do anything.
We have to do SOMETHING with the numbers.
If they don’t voluntarily step down we need to use our numbers to physically stop them.
This is engaging with reality.
Voting for another Neoliberal will not fix any problems. We already learned this lesson in 2016 and 2024
It’s time for leftist leadership
The downvotes on comments like these is really concerning. It’s too early for downvote bots on Lemmy, so these are genuine USA landers who don’t understand that their country is past the tipping point. Democracy will not peacefully return all by itself.
I know it’s a hard truth to hear, but downvoting the comments that are most level headed won’t save your fantasy.