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1. Embed this notice
   Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 08:17:54 JST Paul Cantrell

   Tomorrow is another national day of protest.

   What’s essential is that all of us who •can• show up •do• show up. (And not everyone can on any given day. But we all need to do what we can.)

   Whether is not a question. The question is where.

   1/

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 08:20:24 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     There’s an effort to stage another protest at the capitol building here in Minnesota, which seems laudable.

     On reflection, however, I’m leaning toward going to my usual Saturday #TeslaTakedown event. Tesla releases earnings reports on Tuesday — a report which will almost certainly be rife with falsified data, given Tesla’s track record of outright lying about sales, mileages, reliability, everything — and I would like to create maximum investor nervousness surrounding that report.

     2/

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 08:21:31 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     The one thing I’m clear on is that all protest / rally / march actions help, and by showing up for any of them, we are helping all of them. These events are not in competition.

     3/

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 08:25:02 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     There’s a lot to be said for massing a lot of people in one single place. It makes the movement look large; it gets the attention of the press.

     Except…the mainstream press is pointedly plugging its ears and saying “LALALALALA” to large protests. A few weeks ago, we had one of the largest single-day protests in US history (maybe the 3rd largest, maybe only like the 5th largest, but in that vicinity), and the press shrugged it off. Only a few mines on the home page. Minor feature on the print front page, turn to p.17. NPR called it “not very compelling:” https://www.readtpa.com/p/not-very-compelling-how-npr-dismissed

     4/

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 08:27:04 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     Right now, instead of making protests feel •large•, I’m leaning more in the direction of making protests them feel •ubiquitous•. Create a feeling of “oh, wow, this is everywhere.” Don’t rack up the headcount; make the heads impossible to count.

     Make it something people can’t escape in their daily lives: the Tesla dealership, the freeway overpass, the local street corner, dang it, people just keep showing up!

     5/

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 08:31:59 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     Guided by that principle, I’d say if there’s not a rally in your area, just make a tiny one: grab a couple of friends or neighbors, make a couple of signs, and hang out on a local street corner.

     Ubiquitous. Uncountable.

     /end

   • Embed this notice
     Ivey Janette McClelland (iveyjanette@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 08:33:03 JST Ivey Janette McClelland

     in reply to

     @inthehands Because they were nonviolent and MAGA didn't show up to start confrontation.

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 08:33:03 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     • Ivey Janette McClelland

     @IveyJanette
     That and they’re terrified and trying to not to remind the fash they exist so their funding gets cut. (Fat lot of good that will do them.)

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 08:40:46 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     • Ivey Janette McClelland

     @IveyJanette
     Yup. So isn’t appeasement just the rational decision for them? (Spoiler: their funding will get cut anyway)

   • Embed this notice
     Ivey Janette McClelland (iveyjanette@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 08:40:47 JST Ivey Janette McClelland

     in reply to

     @inthehands If they tell the truth?

     They lose funding.

     People lose jobs.

     Stations go off the air. To be replaced by the "Educational Media Foundation" aka K-LOVE and its sappy ass Christian crap.

   • Embed this notice
     Darrin West (obviousdwest@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 08:50:31 JST Darrin West

     in reply to

     @inthehands Some people (me!) aren’t comfortable in large crowds. So have a separate protest-alone up the street from a bigger one (you’re the opening act people will see before the big event) or in your little town (so you don’t have to drive). Just carry a sign for an hour. You don’t even have to talk to anyone. I was surprised by how many cars honked or people gave me a thumbs up. Other benefits of protesting-alone is you don’t have to Google anything to find or get there on time or find parking a long way off (because everyone else parked closer) or smile at everyone til your face hurts. Protesting-alone is great for introverts. If you see anyone doing this, please be encouraging. It may be their first time.

   • Embed this notice
     KellyAnn Romanych (she/her) (kellyromanych@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 09:45:40 JST KellyAnn Romanych (she/her)

     in reply to

     @inthehands I agree Paul. In my area, there are three chances to be in the community. One is a volunteer day with artists and murals. A second is a Tesla dealership. And third is a protest near a city hall. The more solidarity in every direction is powerful

   • Embed this notice
     Mary Austin VOTED 4 HARRIS! (maryaustinbooks@mstdn.social)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 09:46:15 JST Mary Austin VOTED 4 HARRIS!

     in reply to

     @inthehands
     Yes, on https://www.fiftyfifty.one, anybody can start an event! There are small groups protesting regularly even in deep red counties. Those people are damn heroes.

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 10:11:46 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     • Darrin West

     @obviousdwest
     On one of the larger days for the local Tesla Takedown, as the crowd sized pushed up to 500, it started getting a litle large for the space we were in and a group peeled off and picketed the major highway intersection nearby. They got a •lot• of honks of support. Small is beautiful!

   • Embed this notice
     LeighG (bluegrassroots@mstdn.social)'s status on Saturday, 19-Apr-2025 11:01:14 JST LeighG

     in reply to

     @inthehands As one who's not in shape any more for attendance at protests, I want to also plug that calling w/ 5 Calls, sending letters via Resist Bot, etc. also help officials to understand the depth & breadth of resistance.