Yesterday, the largest nationwide peaceful protest in United States history took place. It is estimated over eight million people showed up in villages, towns, cities, large and small across the country. We showed up in red and blue states. We showed up in rural, suburbs, and metropolitan areas. We showed up whether young or old, rich or poor, in good weather and bad, walking on our own or using canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. We showed up.
It is a reason to celebrate that the number of people who are becoming more aware of what is happening to our country under this Republican regime is increasing. It a reason to celebrate that at least locally, there were more young folks at this protest than the last. It is a reason to celebrate that there were more than 3,300 protest locations within the United States, and even protests worldwide in solidarity.
Does this mean we can rest on our laurels or that a one time show-up will be enough? The answer as you are well aware is a resounding no! There is so much more that needs to be done to get us out of the authoritarian push by Project 2025 that has already had more than 50% of its goals accomplished. Yes, in less than a year, more than 50% has already been implemented.
I applaud and celebrate with the eight million of us who showed up, and the many millions more who are showing up to protest any many ways across the country. We see you at the Tesla dealerships, the concentration camps that are trying to be set up in your town, in front of the current concentration camps, at hotels where ICE stays, and against airlines who are aiding and abetting the kidnapping and transporting people to international spots unknown.
I applaud us everyday people who are calling our elected officials. Who are sending letters, e-mails, and postcards to our elected officials. Who are writing letters to the editor, op-eds, and blogs to and about our elected officials and local communities. Who have had enough and are standing on bridges with signs to call attention to what is happening. Kudos to us all.
Sadly, there are still people of power who are not showing up, not supporting, and are remaining silent in the wake of the rise of fascism and authoritarian rule. It is many of our national and local leaders who are being complicit in their silence, who seem to think not speaking out will keep them in neutral territory and more electable, or just have their head in the sand. This tactic, in not reading the room, seems to be going the way of a losing decision.
Recently a group of us got together to personally invite all of our elected representatives, from local to national, to join us in a show of solidarity in our work to save democracy—attend the March 28 No Kings III peaceful protest. All but one was a no show (one has been supportive of the No Kings protests, but appears to have failed at attending).
There is the only one person to whom we wrote who showed up and spoke. Thank you Attorney General Raúl Torrez for seeing the gravity of our current situation. Hopefully you will inspire other, whom I would call cowardly, elected officials to begin to stand with the rest of us. He was the only elected official, that I have found, who showed up for democracy.
I’d like to know why the following elected officials representing me, and thousands to millions of people in my state, felt they had more important things to do than stand up in support of democracy. Why they didn’t feel it worth their time to take even 15-minutes of their time to speak at a local protest? Why are they sitting in silence? Why do they appear to believe an authoritarian government is fine?
Where were you…
All of you missed a chance to show you believe in democracy. All of you missed a chance to speak to the people you represent. All of you missed the opportunity to be on the right side of history. All of you, hopefully will not miss the next opportunity which is May 1, the It’s Workers Over Billionaires protest, sponsored by May Day Strong, a national day of no shopping, no working, and no school.
“On May 1, 2026, workers, students, and families rally, march, and take action across the country to demand a nation that puts workers over billionaires, with many refusing business as usual through No School. No Work. No Shopping.”—MayDayStrong.org
I hope all of you will also stand up and be heard on May 1, 2026. This is a peaceful protest in which you can take a stand in the comfort of your home. The people of Minneapolis held a general strike day that was successful. Let’s act in solidarity with them on May 1, 2026.
As I always say, it’s up to us. Let’s turn the tide together to save our democracy, our republic, our way of life.
Personal Reflections of a Middle-Aged Man 