cross-posted from: https://50501.chat/post/93776
We are building a massive, visible, national rejection of this crisis—and today’s numbers are proof that the people—the majority—are taking action to stop a hostile government takeover.
Because let’s be clear: We do not have a functioning democracy anymore. Trump and his billionaire allies have dismantled our system of checks and balances, stacked the courts, silenced dissent, and declared themselves above the law.
They are disappearing people, attacking universities and the free press, and purging agencies meant to protect the people—from the environment to civil rights to public health.
This is not politics as usual. This is a hostile takeover by billionaires, corporations, and authoritarian enablers.
They are gutting the country for parts—and selling us out in the process.
They are not leaders. They are traitors to the people of this country.
So we are building a People’s Movement. And history shows that when just 3.5% of the population engages in sustained, peaceful resistance—transformative change is inevitable.
But we have to earn it. And we have to fight for it.
We may no longer have a functioning democracy—but we still have a chance to restore it. The window is closing though. And we are the ones who must rise to meet this moment.
So here’s what you can do: 📱 Use the 5 Calls app or Resist Bot to contact your elected officials—every single day.
🎤 Demand town halls. Show up at their public appearances.
🚫 Boycott the corporations funding this hostile takeover.
🗣️ Talk to your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors. Don’t let them sleep through this moment.
📸 Share protest footage, updates, and facts on social media. Amplify the truth—because the billionaires are trying to drown it out.
📲 And follow us to stay connected, get updates, and join future actions.
We are not alone. We are not powerless. And we are not backing down.
#50501movement #PeoplesMovement #FiftyFiftyOne #50501 #ImpeachTrump #HandsOff #April5
Originally Posted By
u/FiftyFifty1MovementAt2025-04-05 07:56:36 PM| Source
I hate to ask this, but is this really going to make any difference with Trump/Musk et al. ?
I mean, they sure as fuck aren’t going to clean up their act (maybe try to hide it more now); sure as shit they won’t leave the office/WH either. None of their policies will change by their own hand.
So.
What did it change yesterday?
3 M across the country? I think you need 3 Million in one place - ie Washington DC. Enough to show them, Jan 6 was nothing.
Otherwise, I fear they will just, “ride out the news cycle and double down again before The People can organize again.
The spark is lit now, but it hasn’t caught yet enough to burn this evil shit down.
BLOW ON IT!!!
Let’s get this to 10, 20M nationwide, with millions descend in on wherever Trump is at the moment (golf course? Lol).
This was big, but not big enough I fear.
God, I'm sick of these concern trolls trying to dissuade the people from taking action in Every. Single. Thread about protests. You're wrong, go away if you have nothing positive to contribute. We're just getting started.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world
If you’re calling me a troll, let me clarify something. When I said blow on it, i meant to encorage “the spark”; for you sir however, I use it in the pejorative.
More people showed up in DC yesterday (100k ) than at Jan 6th (80k high estimate - snopes.com ).
This is the beginning, not the end result. Protest activity is off the charts and rising steadily:
Link to full article from WagingNonViolence.org
These movements take time to build, but this one is building much faster than previous efforts. I've been on the front lines since the 2nd Iraq War protests (which were huge) and this movement is already larger, smarter, and more organized.
It is making a difference - don't allow yourself to believe otherwise. You can see the cracks starting already with the infighting at the top of Trump's team and the defection of key republicans.
They're just as scared of our mob as they are of theirs.
Because we're stronger than they are - there are a lot more of us - and we have REAL cause to be angry now.
What's really interesting about the effort to dismiss these protests is by comparing them to centrally organized protests of the past like the women's march. Those antiwar protests are probably the closest comparison since there was no institutional backing then either.
The thing that gets me is that this movement is literally from reddit, by redditors, organized by real people exclusively. No corporate sponsors or dem support, no campaigning or fundraising. Just people going to the streets saying "we are peaceful now. Do not force our hand" and 3 million came out.
Keep pushing the message keep spreading the info, this is the result after only 2 months of activity that went completely unseen on any mainstream media. Make them regret it. Make them being afraid your greatest weapon. Those republican stooges love to hear MSm isn't covering something. Wake them up. Turn them into patriots willing to fight for this country. Dismantle this regime and return power to Americans.
This wasn't the first nationwide protest of his second term nor will it be the last. This was the 4th nationwide 50501 protest. Plus other movement like Tesla Takedown had large nationwide protests prior too. It's just that now it's gotten large enough that the media can no longer ignore it. It took time to get here. Each protest keeps getting larger than the last
Millions of people have just been put in touch with the various local groups organizing these protests. Usually at these protests they'll be people going around giving info, sigining people up for mailing lists, etc. That's a good part of how each protest gets bigger
Besides just protests, that will enable much more action and more rapid action in the future. For instance Indivisible does tons of work on directed pressure of congress and local leaders. 50501 organized smaller boycotts in the past when the crowds were smaller. Now they can organize boycotts more with more effect
Exactly on the more action part. Right now connections are being made and organizations are organizing and mobilizing people. It takes time to mobilize people and the size of these protests will hopefully encourage more.
One thing unique about Trump/Musk is they really do live in a Kool-Aid filled bubble.
Hitler, Stalin, especially "modern" dictators like Putin and Kim seem well-informed. Surrounded by yes-men, sure, but they have a good information apparatus, some intelligence, and a much "higher" view than their general population. They know some lies they tell, they know what they're doing.
Trump? Musk? They are utterly coddled by algorithmic, warped, narcissistic information environments. Everything post they see, everything people tell them, every waking moment strokes titanic egos. They live in a disinformation bubble, which is both a weakness (it leads to objectively self-harming decisions traditional dictators wouldn't make) and a danger (they are extremely insulated from protests. They truly think they're Chosen Ones in the eyes of "good" Americans).
Hence, I think they are going to ignore large protests because they earnestly think it isn't a big deal. Which is good, as it might allow the protests to get extremely large and gravity to take effect.
The thing is, Trump is dumber that Musk, but he's older, wiser (which is not intelligence, just knowledge gained from experience,) and Trump knows, and has accepted that the "peasants" don't like him, and he's never liked them. He's learned how to con, and grift, and brainwash them over the decades.
But Musk... he's genuinely blindsided, and hurt that the peasants don't see him as Saviour Tony Stark. He's been insulated in his entitled, spoiled, Whiter than White Princely bubble his entire life, and is genuinely destroyed when told no, or mocked. When he was booed off stage at the Chapelle concert, his employees were genuinely concerned he was going to off himself. The narcissistic wound of rejection hurt him that bad. And it's happening again.
Putin thought he would take Ukraine in 3 days.
Speaking of information bubbles; there's no evidence Putin ever actually said this.
I said he thought it, not that he said it. https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/putin-thought-he-could-take-ukraine-in-three-days-leaked-emails-reveal/news-story/bf4de32af600b8b653069cdc34c174c8
According to that article, the "Three days" claim came from the Murdoch tabloid The Sun, who in turn claim it came from "an anonymous source"
He thought Trump was going to win the 2000 election. That Trump would follow his order, and not aid Ukraine in any way. He was so sure he openly assembled his invasion force before the election.
To be fair, this is reasonable considering how the first Ukraine assault and Georgia.
https://cup.columbia.edu/book/why-civil-resistance-works/9780231156820/
Here’s a study on how many people you need to effectively start a movement. You’ll be pleased to hears it’s not many. If ever person that went out yesterday brings 4 friends were basically there.
We really need leadership and organization, here, strong messaging, and gathering of people to support popular change. Before we get steamrolled by a dictator. Do not let apathy destroy the world this year.
Yes. Read the author's entire website for inspiration and education. She has lots of papers and books out there.
We’re trying to scare the Republicans in Congress into growing a spine. If they feel that their seats are threatened, they may actually begin to dissent.
Honestly you are way past that. At this point, the ask should be a complete abolishment of the 2 party system and a full reset
Pretending the mummies from the GOP or the dummies from the DNC will fix this is asking for another topping on the shit Sunday they are serving you
You do understand you’d be asking the people who have power from the current system to change it?
Our best chance at change is engaging more than the current ~20% turnout in Democratic primaries to replace centrists with progressives. It’s far more likely to be successful than rallying entire districts around a third party.
then you'll be back here in the next cycle... you don't have enough progressivess to effect change
How many elections do you estimate it would take to gain a majority vote in a third party? How much longer do you want to allow Republicans to remain in control while you promote a new party? We’re facing the worst administration in US history and you’re advocating for splitting the vote over changing out the members of the most popular party in the last 20 years.
a billion? which is why I'm arguing for a full reset. You don't have enough democracy to fix this mess by voting
What does a full reset look like to you? It sounds a lot more like anarchy than progressivism to me.
for starters, electoral reform to abolish the 2 party sistem
you'll never get progressivism with the same 2 groups
I’m not asking about the goal. I’m asking about the path. How do you propose we accomplish this? It’s far from a new idea.
I am far from an expert but I think a general strike would be the first step.
By the way, having an opinion has to what needs to be done does not mean I also know how to get there or that my lack of knowledge on the "how" takes away value on the "what"... I know if my roof has a hole it needs to be fixed, and me not knowing about rafters, decking, weather proofing and/or shingles does not mean the hole does not need repair, or that "thoughts and prayers" won't fix the hole.
Neither will actionless criticism. Idealism is great, but entirely useless without an actionable plan. Complaining about the better of two options without direction to improve it, is indirectly advocating for the worse of the two. It’s been the Republican playbook since Nixon. They do it, because it’s effective.
I’m not asking you stop having ideals. I’m asking you to figure out a better way to realize them. Until then, maybe you should try taking the advice of people who have been trying to drive change for decades.
Agreed, I was not advocating for that so I guess you just wanted to point it out of thin air
So you still think voting Democrats will fix this problem. Do not get me wrong, I was not in the "don't vote Harris camp" but I think it's pretty obvious the democrats cannot, and more importantly, will not make any significant change... would they be better than Trump? well yes, so would my cat acting as President
And what have these people accomplished? I am eagerly waiting with my notepad here
Actionless criticism is saying “this is what we should get, but I don’t know how to get it.” It’s the entire premise of your argument.
As I said above, I think that our system only has room for Republicans or Democrats to win seats in Congress in partisan primary states. Therefore, progressives in those states have far more influence by registering as a Democrat and voting in the primaries than they do voting for a third-party candidate.
As for the presidential election, there is zero chance of a third-party win in FPTP. A vote for a third-party is effectively a vote for your third choice.
I’m not defending Democrats. I’m trying to help people see how progressives have been consistently disenfranchised for decades, and advocating for a way to have their votes make an impact.
No, that is just providing an opinion. If every option/observation were shut down with this "do not talk unless you have it solved", there would be no progress ever
If I took your pedantic stance, I would say you are simply insane as you want a different result by trying the same thing again and again and again... maybe the 20th time is the charm?
Today? sure, but your system is broken and you should probably focus on fixing that, instead of expecting the cancer is suddenly going to kill itself
What progressives? AOC and Bernie are the only ones that raise a voice and they have been (unfortunately) 100% ineffectual. The Democrats themselves have made sure nothing AOC or Bernie push gets anywhere
Again supporting my point that you need electoral reform
And you want to give those progressives that have been and continue to be disenfranchised a vote which would mean what? they cannot act and there are not enough of them....
I'm starting to think you are projecting your own "actionless criticism" on me
I’m simply saying your opinion is useless without a plan for action. The only way to get electoral reform without violently overthrowing the government is by electing more progressives. The action I’m suggesting is progressives voting for more progressive candidates in Democratic primaries to replace the centrists. Progressives have been unsuccessfully voting third party for decades, so that’s the one way we can be certain it will not happen.
Only Bernie and AOC? You’re not a US citizen, are you? There are many progressives in the House. The problem is there is only one in the Senate, Bernie.
https://progressives.house.gov/caucus-members
You write a lot of words in condemnation, but offer no real substance for action. Please keep to yourself about politics that you are neither informed of nor impacted by.
as are all opinions, are you new to social media?
Quick reminder to the audience that anyone advocating "tear it all down", especially as a way of dismissing more realistic solutions, is parroting Russian propaganda.
Ok I am actually impressed. This is a BRILLIANT line of propaganda. Suggesting that anyone accusing Russia of interfering with US politics is functionally equivalent to the racists claiming Mexicans are bringing in drugs etc. That's exactly the kind of wedge to drive in the left wing tiktok activists. And just subtle enough - "foreigners", it's the perfect word. You could probably throw in some of the West Coast complaints about Asian businessmen buying up housing stock, for maximum chaos. You pit knee jerk anti-racism against legitimate concerns and threats, and you're able to push the narrative that anyone complaining about Russia is a MAGA in disguise. Drive a wedge between various left-wing factions. It's not Russia, it's "foreigners".
Whoever came up with this line deserves a commendation.
This will probably get deleted but I still wanted you to know I was impressed. Well done.
"progressive" liberals when you tell them that not all of their countries problems are caused by foreigners.
Yes I did the Jan 6th Gallows on my sign, and the back said next time it’s 2A time.
These people are all in violation of their oath to the constitution they need to be reminded that we can remove them from their post the old-fashioned way.
The effects of Trumps tariffs and Musk's meddling are barely being felt yet though. We're on the precipice of economic disaster but most Americans aren't feeling it personally yet. Once they do and the leopards are out eating faces in earnest the protest numbers will go way up. Unlike usual recessions which most lay people don't really understand this has a clear origin point: Trumps idiotic tariffs. There's no spinning that.
Majority of my neighborhood will be still blaming Obama.
Move I guess?
No. These protests aren't going to change anything.
People will post photos and videos of their participation on their socials, then in a year and a half they'll vote for the same shitty people that are plundering us: Republicans and Democrats. What incentive do the people pillaging us have to change when they know they'll have your votes in the next election?
The protests, I think, would be more successful if they were modeled off the way we see the Nazis protesting: Uniformed, everyone armed, and people having all of their identifying features covered. I don't think peaceful protest is enough anymore. There needs to be a credible threat to the status quo.
Yes they will and BTW protests aren't the only thing people are and will be doing. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world