"The 3.5%" rule has been reached with over 11 million protesters

[BigmanPigman]

"Malcolm Nance has frequently discussed and referenced the "3.5% rule" in the context of political change and challenging authoritarian regimes. He highlights research, often citing scholars at Harvard, suggesting that mobilizing this percentage of the population in sustained, nonviolent resistance can be highly effective, even in bringing down authoritarian governments".

Over 11 million protesters marched on June 14th, NO KINGS protest. WE DID IT!!!



Unhappy Birthday to the "oldest US POTUS"! Gavin Newsom posted that comment about him being "oldest". Good for Newsom!

:

[unweird]

1. Sustained Nonviolent Resistance

We’re just starting this journey. There will need be more SNR to come

mobilizing this percentage of the population in sustained, nonviolent resistance can be highly effective, even in bringing down authoritarian governments

My bold.

[0rganism]

3. "Sustained" being a very important part of the definition.

This has to happen many more times, and the "nonviolent" part is going to need a higher percentage of the coverage than it's getting.

[Jack Valentino]

2. That figure over 10 million is being disputed,

and the organization that is claiming it has credibility problems, according to many here...

The actual organizers of the protest have yet to post their own figures,
but most estimates published say it was about five million nationwide....


However, my personal estimate of those who would have liked to be there,
including myself, but failed to show up, is another 20 million people

[MuirHero]

6. Rachel Maddow reported a figure of 5 million on her show tonight.

[WarGamer]

4. 75,000,000 Americans said NO to Trump on 11/5/2024

[wanderer54]

7. 77,000,000 Americans said YES to Trump on 11/5/2024

[orleans]

8. but what they were really saying yes to was cheap eggs! nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

10. But for the 3rd time in a row, more people voted for someone else....

than voted for Trumpy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_presidential_election#Results

Trumpy = 77,302,580

Harris plus all the other candidates = 77,935,722

633,142 more people voted for someone else than voted for him.

This is the third election IN A ROW where that has been the case. He might have "won" 2 of them, but it wasn't because more people voted for him than anyone else.

[pat_k]

5. A great milestone. More to come.

The scale is so inspiring. And moves us forward. Some threshold number of people in the streets is not enough, but when someone takes action -- like turning out for a protest -- they are more likely to take some other action, and another, and another. When the positive feedback loop of hope and action starts with a base-level of engagement of more than 3.5%, that is where you are moving toward transformation. Why? Because such a high percentage of those 3.5% do something else, that inspires others, who do something too... and on it goes.

People turning out everywhere makes the opposition to the 47 regime visible.

And not just the coverage in local news.

People in smaller communities see their neighbors out there with their own eyes.

I suspect that a couple weeks from now we will see a show of organized, or perhaps even spontaneous, independence day opposition. What better time to declare our intent to redeem the soul of the nation by opposing the actions of the regime?

The steps in the right direction are adding up.

Now, if we can just get more of us lobbying Democratic members in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate to get on board in a joint statement, declaration, or letter to America (whatever they want to call it) -- i.e., a statement that lists, clearly and simply, the facts of our grievances against our current mad king. Surely their are violations that every member with a soul, a sense of decency, and a conscience can agree on???

The power of such a statement from nearly 1/2 the congress cannot be overstated. It would be a powerful message to the world. A message to American's who are in despair at the apparent inability of seemingly decent people elected to serve us to get their f-ing act together and take a stand TOGETHER.

And, it is not too early for people, particularly in Republican strongholds, to be on the lookout for Pro-Impeachment primary challengers. I think we are going to see a growing number of Pro-Impeachment Republicans.

And for Democrats and independents to get commitments to impeach from U.S. House candidates, and remove from U.S. Senate candidates, as a condition of support. People in the streets is not enough, but when someone takes action -- like turning out for a protest -- they are more likely to take some other action, and another.

As Desmond Tutu says,
"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."

[BigmanPigman]

9. Hear, hear!!!

That is why, since 2016 I have only worn my 2-sided, hand made "lock him up" earrings with his face behind bars on one side and a red slash going through his name on the other side.

I use them to get feedback as well as starting conversations with total strangers at the stores I shop at. Since I live in a Blue area the response is always positive. People even ask me to take pictures of them. I originally made them in 2016 but in 2020 the straps on my COVID mask got tangled so I retired them for 4 years then when I got them out last year they broke!!!

But it was a good thing since my newer pair was even more professional looking since I was an illustrator. My protest signs are pretty professional looking, too. I even make my own bumper stickers that I have continuously had on my car since 2016. I am a stubborn Dem with a lot of passion and energy.

[pat_k]

11. And you inspire others. Know that in your bones.

I'm a stubborn optimist because to me it is the only sane response. I know how hopelessness immobilizes. I refuse to go there.

I'm also a soon to be 65 year-old lady who made a difference a few weeks ago just having a conversation with a 20-something client of mine who then insisted I have a meal with some discouraged friends of hers. Not a big deal, but I saw a shift toward engagement in handful of very hopeless, cynical, younger people. Of all the bits of things I do, that came about from simply taking a little more time to actually answer a "how are you" question.

When I wonder if I'm "doing enough" I remind myself that just being in the world, authentically, makes a difference.

And FWIW, a few photos from the No Kings event I showed up at (a relatively modest event at the University of Washington compared to the 70,000+ who showed up at Cal Anderson Park here in Seattle).



Raging Grandmas


My sign front and back: