I think I will skip the April 5th protest.

by Rod Williams, March 31, 2025- On April 5th there will be anti-Trump protest across the county, including a protest here in Nashville at Centennial Park. I have been anxious to take part in such. I probably do more to resist Trumpism than many; I blog, I engage in social media, I fly a Ukrainian flag outside my house, and I subscribe to media outlets speaking out against Trumpism. It seems so anemic, so pointless and ineffective. I want to do more. I just don't know what one can do. I have been itching to vent my anger as our nation slides into authoritarianism. I am not even sure a street protest would do much good, but venting would make me feel better.

When I first saw that there was going to be an anti-Trump protest here in Nashville, I immediately said to myself, "Yes, I will attend."

After looking a second time, I am now unsure. The protest is organized by a group called Indivisible. Their mission statement says: "We’re a grassroots movement of thousands of local Indivisible groups with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda." 

If you go to Indivisible's website, you learn, "Indivisible was founded in response to Trump’s election - but we know that Trump is a symptom of a sick democracy, not its cause. We face two fundamental problems: first, our democracy was rigged from the start in favor of the white and wealthy. Second, in the last few decades, an alliance of white nationalists and the ultra-rich have been actively working to further undermine democracy and cement their hold on power permanently. That’s how we ended up with Trump. " They also speak of, "Defeating a multi-decade right-wing takeover of American government."

I don't buy that. That does not reflect by view. I do not believe our democracy is rigged to favor the White and the wealth. I support our democracy; I don't want to overthrow it.  I do not want to march under a progressive banner. I do not want to elect progressive politicians. While I would like to take part in a massive anti-Trump protest, I would like to do so as part of broad pro-democracy coalition, not as part of a movement to elect progressives and promote a progressive vision of democracy.

I think I will skip the April 5th protest. 

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