Experts agree: millions of Americans are showing up in the streets, non-violently, in response to the second Trump regime.
The best known scholar of contemporary popular protest in the United States is probably Erica Chenoweth from the Harvard Kennedy School. Along with co-authors
New data shows No Kings was one of the largest days of protest in US history
... While media attention is often focused on actors acquiescing to Trump’s demands, in the streets the popular protest movement continues to push back against the administration with notable persistence over time. Consistent with our past reporting, 2025 so far has seen far more protests than were recorded at this time in 2017 — a trend that continues through at least the end of July.
... In addition to the number of protests taking place, there are, of course, other indicators of the growing commitment of protesters to participate in a durable pro-democracy movement. One indicator is the willingness to participate in peaceful protests despite the threat of political violence. Tens of thousands turned out in Saint Paul despite the killing and attempted killing of several Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses the morning of the No Kings protests on June 14, followed by a warning of potential targeting of protesters by the at-large gunman. One peaceful marcher was killed in Salt Lake City by an armed volunteer who fired shots at a nearby armed man, who was also wounded. Counter-protesters in several locations around the country brandished weapons at No Kings protesters. However, those incidents of violence were exceptions — over 99.5 percent of reported protests had no injuries or property damage, with the latter reported in only 10 locations (just under 0.5 percent).
... Popular mobilization through protest is neither the entirety of the opposition to the Trump administration nor sufficient in and of itself to compel change. But historically, the mass public — in tandem with other societal actors like opposition politicians, lawyers, labor unions and courts — is likely to continue to play a crucial role in the U.S. and elsewhere in standing for the rule of law and democratic norms.
And we don't quit.
* In three national mass trainings since mid-July under the banner One Million Rising, hundreds of thousands of people have been introduced via zoom to the basics of organizing opposition to the Trump regime. Participation has been huge:
- 250,000+ people have been skilled up and are ready to take action.
- 1300+ subsequent in person gatherings have taken place.
- 400+ more gatherings are scheduled.
There's always room for more people to get involved; visit One Million Rising, view the trainings. (If you are an old time agitator like me, and already embedded in a community of resistance, you might able to skip to Session 3 which offers three specific action options. )
* Now Trump has directly sent his personal secret police (ICE, SS, FBI, etc.) and troops into DC. But the people of the capital are not giving up. Check out Free DC for the latest. Note especially the call to allies across the country.
* And let's not forget that the brave people of Los Angeles have gotten themselves together to resist Trump's first experiment with occupying a blue city. Our media have been neglecting this story, but we can all learn from Michelle Goldberg's tale of resistance: They Saw Their Neighbors Taken Away by ICE. Then They Made a Plan.
We can do this; in fact, we are doing it!
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