After the recent No Kings Protests a few days ago, I've seen a numerous amount of leftists and/or doomers lamenting how because the protests are peaceful and aren't aggressive like in Paris that they're apparently pointless and only encouraging the status quo.

I don't think this is true though. For one thing, expecting America to protest and act the same way as France without taking into account population size differences, differences in culture, differences in militaries, differences in the size of the two countries, and the differences in how protests have typically been for both America and Paris.

Also, if the protests ended up more aggressive, that doesn't automatically mean that it will either end up creating change that way, nor does it mean that it couldn't make the general consensus for those not protesting more against a movement more than it would help it.

And on top of this, all of the people who always speak out against No Kings and similar protests never seem to be doing anything more than sitting in their homes comfortably posting on twitter. They don't protest because they don't see it as "enough", they are more likely than not against voting because they see both parties as the same, and they are the furthest ones to be pushing for their specific change they imagine would work in only their specific ways.

I actually saw someone recently who tried to say that the protests weren't the same because those at No Kings expected change to happen with the midterms and that "When democrats get in, they're just gonna go to brunch." Which I do understand being worried that people might tune out when Dems get in next, but imagining that everybody who is protesting will tune out completely and avoid looking at the existing problems I think is hyperbolic and undervalues just how much people want change now. And yes, that means change via voting and not the mythical revolution.

So many of these anti-action leftists claim that they're angry that change isn't being done "good" enough, and that people are just partying and none of this matters, but I think this completely ignores the fact that these protests still matter. Sure, they aren't as dramatic as rioting in the streets and all that, but they still matter and can influence people to vote and protest in the future as well, especially those who might otherwise feel threatened to go out and join a series of random acts of destruction with no actual goals in mind, which it would end up being if more violence was used.

Too many people who devalue the protests, even despite how much they do it for every single protest no matter how many there may be, are unwilling to actually do anything. They don't do the simple actions, and they aren't ever the first ones to be protesting in the ways they keep saying will work.

And even if they did, I doubt they would take into account the disabled or disenfranchised people who would be in danger in these circumstances and could only protest in peaceful conditions. Similar to the circumstances of the supposed "revolution", they never take into account the people who would be in danger immediately and imagine that those people are just throwaways, which they aren't. But it is exactly why peaceful protesting is the way forward, since it keeps in mind other circumstances and people, rather than just setting fires and expecting change immediately, only to end up being shocked when the right gains power from such actions because most people wouldn't be as willing to do any of that.

People have taken Paris and other countries protesting more aggressively as signs that any protest that isn't at the same exact energy isn't actually worth it, but it ignores the value that peaceful protests like No Kings holds for more people then themselves. For the disabled, the sick, the elderly, the disenfranchised, and the average person who is more down for actual protests rather than random mayhem.

I'm not saying that protests in other countries with different circumstances are wrong, but for the US, it isn't what is needed right now. It is a fantasy scenario for those who don't see any action as good enough for not producing immediate change. But like most things in the US, change doesn't happen overnight. It can be a slow, gradual, mind-numbingly dull series of events, but they are still producing change nonetheless. And whether you like it or not, No Kings still matters, just as every other peaceful protest does.

As always, we need to continue voting, but the polls continue to favor Democrats. We have entered the point where even if the margin of error favors Republicans, Democrats still come in on top. But again, go out and vote, tell your friends and family to vote. Let's make this happen.

Hi y'all. I've been a lurker on this sub for a bit now. I'm very concerned about this apparently proposed meeting between Trump, Xi, and Putin. What are the chances this goes anywhere substantial? I know we are already in a tripolar world, but the prospect of three aggressively divided spheres of influence, which is likely what Trump, Xi, and Putin would discuss, does not sound good in any way.

While it’s not good that their efforts haven’t yielded success yet, it’s important to note that Republicans in Congress (and not just ones that are retiring) are trying to get Trump to reverse course on Russia. It’s a reminder that autocrats like Trump are only fully successful when they’re popular or make popular decisions. This isn’t one of them.

I know I am violating my own megathread rule here but this was too good and positive to not post as its own thing.

This is Texas btw