I wrote a little about the efficacy of protests in a post here, lamenting the futility of the action. I was wrong.
https://solomoneverta.com/2025/04/06/reflections-on-a-day-of-mass-protest/
In another day of protest last weekend where the number of folks who hit the streets certainly eclipsed the number back in April showed the growing movement of people who have had enough of this insanity. However, it’s not the increased number of people participating that changed my mind. I have thought about it and I have talked with people. It’s okay to be wrong and it’s good to accept and learn from one’s own erroneous positions.
While much of what I wrote the month before last is still true, my core belief has changed. It is a good use of time to come together as a community to say no to fascism, or no to authoritarians, or no to uncaring leaders. We have the mass of the country behind us. We are the mass of the country. We will win.
I can still believe that we need goals, strategies, and tactics to be effective. I still believe that no one else is going to save us. It’s just that now I believe that these non-confrontational protests are part of what needs to be done. Do we need more than just this? Absolutely. I believe that we will do more and we will be effective. I believe that not all of the action will be my first choice of how to win.
Of course, there will be dissatisfaction with how people are approaching this struggle. Of course, there will be betrayal of parts of our movement. Of course, there will be mistakes. Take care of yourselves and take care of each other. We can do this.
I was up in my apartment making bread for a memorial service as the crowd went by. I would have attended were I not otherwise engaged. I will attend in the future. This is another place where we can organize. Our success in building the movement can be magnified by organizing. The more successful we are in organizing, the more harm we prevent. If we positively organize for a better future we might even make a better world. In fact, I know we will.
The No Kings protest crosses Opera Alley on F Street in Eureka, California.
Solomon Everta 