Op-Ed: Why We’re in the Streets
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Photo courtesy of Bruce Cowan. [/caption]
Opinion by Bruce Cowan
Have you seen us standing in peaceful protest along Sims Way? Have you joined us yet?
In April, thousands of local people turned out for two peaceful demonstrations. Nationally, the turnout was several million. There is more to come: Indivisible Port Townsend is planning similar events for Saturday, May 3 at 1pm and Saturday, June 14. Other folks are organizing additional local events here and in Clallam County.
Our national coalition continues to grow because the 47th president is a growing threat to democracy itself. With the courts slow to respond and the congressional majority in the president’s thrall, it is up to us, the People, to hold him accountable to the Constitution and the rule of law. We will not stand by while he ruins the government and grabs all the power unto himself.
This is not “just more politics.” We have passed several mileposts on the road to autocracy in a short time. This president does not respect the separation of powers. He deprives people of their civil rights and right to due process. He is using the power of his office to attack the press and his political opponents. He is working to disenfranchise voters. He is bullying universities and defunding their research. With misinformation about immigrants, he has created an “other” to fear. With his culture wars he creates distractions and divides Americans. This will not stand.
Of course, we have plenty of “political” reasons to protest, too. His cabinet of loyalists and DOGE are destroying the civil service and its culture of non-partisan competence. He and his friends are corruptly benefiting from his actions. He pardoned even the worst of the January 6 seditious conspirators. His ineptitude with tariffs seems likely to crash the world economy and reduce our part in it. He shows no concern for relationships with our allies or the people of Ukraine and Gaza. These are just some of the maddening highlights.
Do demonstrations make a difference? You bet they do! Why else would 47’s sidekicks pretend that demonstrators are paid or that our numbers are weak? Research by political scientists (Chenoweth, 2021) shows that non-violent movements that mobilize at least 3.5% of the population lead to regime change. It’s not a hard and fast rule, but it worked in the Philippines and in Georgia. Just last December, in South Korea, a popular uprising contributed to the removal of a president who had declared martial law.
In reliably-blue Jefferson County about 5% of the local population turned out in April. Imagine what we will accomplish as demonstrations continue to grow here and in communities large and small across the country. These demonstrations may have started with progressive activists, but this coalition is broadening as the real life consequences of 47’s policies and actions kick in.
More and more people are feeling fear and anger and helplessness. Retirees are shocked to see their savings dwindle. Consumers are seeing inflation rise. Seniors and veterans are not receiving the services they need from the Veterans Administration, Social Security, and Medicare. Business owners, including farmers, are unable to access global markets and credit. Local governments are uncertain of funding for services from Meals on Wheels to disaster relief. Traditional Republican voters no longer see their conservative and democratic values represented by their party.
It seems that the only way 47 can “unify” Americans is in opposition and resistance. Those in our movement may have different ideas about how the political order of recent decades needs to change, but we are tolerant and civil and we know that the first thing we need to do is stop this autocrat. Our movement gives them all a sense of community and a chance to be heard.
We are all “tired of politics,” exhausted by the chaos and the media and the conflict. It would be so much easier to cast our ballots and be done with it. But democracy demands more of us from time to time and we must rise to the occasion, as our ancestors did. Like them, we must forcefully oppose tyranny and fascism and corruption and robber barons. Like them, we must make common cause and stand up for basic American values like civility and tolerance and fairness and opportunity.
This is our time to stand together. We are making ourselves heard and we will be successful. We invite you to join us.
We'll see you on Sims Way, or you can come to a meeting of Indivisible Port Townsend on Tuesday, May 13, at 5:30 pm at the Oscar Erickson Building at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Learn more and sign up for our newsletter at ptindivisiblehuddle.org.
Bruce Cowan is a retired teacher and musician. He is active with Indivisible Port Townsend and serves as Chair of the 24th Legislative District Democrats.
