this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2025
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Political Discussion and Commentary

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It’s been going around Bluesky for a while now. Here’s one: https://bsky.app/profile/anonymousprofitt.bsky.social/post/3lhti24dmwk2o

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[–] jontree255 55 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Even though I think a non critical mass of people will show up and participate in these events this should be used as an opportunity to start organizing now and building support/aid/action networks. Tell people about it and plant the seeds of resistance. At the least you’ll figure out who’s you can rely on and who’s going to roll over.

We also can’t give up early when/if these actions don’t yield the results we want either. Things are going to get VERY bad before they get better. We have to be more persistent than the fascists.

[–] distantsounds 7 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Absolutely. Making irl connections and building community plans are such an important component attending protest.

[–] Fredselfish 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Wish I could but just started a new job and would be fired if I don't show up Monday. Sucks but unless we get enough people in on it. I can't afford to starve and become homeless.

[–] distantsounds 3 points 5 days ago

Mutual Aid networks are good to know about and can help facilitate a stronger community…so it doesn’t become so dire if you miss one day of work.
https://lemmy.world/post/25588154

[–] Klear 5 points 3 days ago
[–] [email protected] 36 points 5 days ago (3 children)

That would be great if a significant number of people did it. Unfortunately, I doubt enough will. I would help if I was an American, instead I can just wish you luck. You need it. (Not that the rest of the world isn't affected too, of course)

[–] [email protected] 28 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I went to the last one of these. It was worryingly small. I'm still going to this one.

Speaking from the POV of someone inside the US: It is extremely likely that shit will get out of hand at some point, and it would be good to be at least somewhat plugged-in with the people who are against it. Alone, we're fucked.

[–] Plastic_Ramses 5 points 5 days ago

By the time it gets "out of hand" everyone will be too destitute to protest.

I am actually shocked people can do it now. If i were to take 3 days off from work with short notice, i would be left without without asthma meds and the ability to breathe.

[–] distantsounds 7 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I doubt there will be significant numbers with the low temps predicted. Still gotta show up if you care, non-Americans excluded 😉.

[–] tamal3 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)
[–] distantsounds 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Their privacy policy seems a bit sus. I can’t seem to find a direct link on mobile. But yes, people don’t realize this is gonna be the bare min. Shit gonna get hard

[–] tamal3 2 points 4 days ago

Yeah, I'm not sure about a privacy policy. Would love to hear more of your thoughts on that, and a better rec if you have one. IMO this group has one main advantage:

CRITICAL MASS I know plenty of people who want to do something but it's really hard for people to take off work if there's no guarantee that their efforts will make a difference. I'm in the same boat. I want to contribute to meaningful change, but 10 people marching downtown is not worth my job. But if I knew it would be 10k? I'd make sizable sacrifices to get there.

[–] vatlark 4 points 5 days ago

No harm in taking the day off if you can

[–] [email protected] 21 points 5 days ago (4 children)

Who specifically is leading and organizing this?

Constantly spreading around leaderless calls to action is actively harmful to real progress.

[–] ByteJunk 24 points 4 days ago

Irrelevant.

This has got to be the most American thing ever, expecting there's some hero that's going to save the day.

Go out and be one yourself.

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[–] blackbelt352 28 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Siiiiiigh strikes don't get organized overnight, they take quite a lot of planning and logistics to pull it off successfully. People still need to eat and sleep and survive even while on a strike. Posting a canva flyer with dates on lemmy doesn't tell us how the hell any kind of logistics or support is going to come to the people on strike.

https://www.ueunion.org/strikes

[–] gimmelemmy 12 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Hi friends. You are starting with the end game if you are worrying about where support is going to come from, etc There will be no support until it arises organically, following buy-in of people who see something happening that they are down with If you don't build it, they definitely won't come

[–] blackbelt352 8 points 5 days ago (1 children)

"no support until it arises organically" that is literally the point of unions and mutual aid groups and literally any kind of organizing. Support and logistics is foundational to any kind of political organizing.

[–] distantsounds 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

…and people get connected to those groups by showing up to events like this. Sometimes you need to jump instead of worrying about the chicken or the egg coming first

[–] blackbelt352 5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (9 children)

Strikes are not the places to be meeting people to organize, strikes are the endgame, one of the last options to take when all other negotiations break down. Organizing and logistics and meeting people, that's what union meetings and finding yourself a local mutual aid group are for, not the actual day of the strike.

Movements of all kinds live or die on logistics and organization.

[–] distantsounds 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

“What came first, the chicken or the egg?”

Grassroots, real get things done stuff, is how things get done. That is done by stepping out to real events that you align with. That’s best where and how to learn about organizing. City council meetings, protests & everywhere in between all are valid…and ways to pursue change under the first amendment.

I have met some amazing people a protests that I still hold as dear friends..I suppose your mileage may vary.

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[–] Makhno 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

These never work. The US isn't a high-school you can just pass literature around

[–] ComicalMayhem 1 points 3 days ago

50501 worked. lots of people turned out

[–] emmy67 8 points 4 days ago

Monster hunter wilds drops the same day as 2. Coincidence?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I can easily do the 2nd and 3rd one, but no way I could handle the first one.

[–] distantsounds 4 points 5 days ago

Do what you can. Any and all resistance is needed

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Few people will show up. Things are still abstract and few people are directly affected by four weeks of the authoritarian ramp up. But give it time.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 days ago

gotta start somewhere with something. even if it's small, if you think it's important show out and do it

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago (7 children)

What about those of us who have to work to put food on the table? Attending a protest or rally is one thing, but participating in a general strike is something else entirely.

[–] distantsounds 7 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Your life is yours, and how you participate is up to you.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I can't just call out of work for this, but if another protest is planned a bit more in advance I will totally go. I think there are a lot of people like me who would attend these protests if they were a bit better planned.

[–] distantsounds 3 points 5 days ago

It’s ok. You don’t have to, this may not be for you. It’s really not difficult to plan for, but that’s my opinion. People protest not because it’s easy, but because it’s important to us.

[–] Triasha 4 points 5 days ago

You can sick out.

If you can't do that, I for one understand.

I have regretted every protest I skipped and none of the ones I attended, for what it's worth.

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[–] A_A 4 points 5 days ago (2 children)
[–] distantsounds 7 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)
[–] A_A 5 points 5 days ago

Great, please add this in the header of your post so all users will know readily.

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