Why Protest Against the Trump Administration and It's Disastrous Policies and Pronouncements?

GEEZER GOGGLES

Since January of 2025 there have been many organized protests against the policies, intentions, pronouncements and Executive Orders of the Trump Administration across the country, and even in other nations as well. I have personally participated in at least three such protests in my own community and I have encouraged and supported others in such participation. I, like so many of my readers, have been amazed at the size of such demonstrations of distaste and disapproval of nearly every action taken by this administration in the early stages of its current four-year term. I have also been struck by the creative and effective efforts of many of these protest participants in the design of placards, banners, and other signage at such events, and the chanting of catchy phrases and slogans have contributed to the overall intensity of these demonstrations, and have brought forth a sustained amount of horn blowing and thumbs-up waves from passing cars and trucks (those truckers with loud horns have made a sizeable impact).

Even in the civil rights campaigns of decades ago there were not such widespread and inclusive involvements of such a broad cross-section of most communities where the current anti-Trump/GOP protests are occurring on a weekly or monthly basis.

In these events, there do not appear to be real "leaders" or "spokespersons" taking such a prominent role. The mixture of ages, genders, racial and other ethnic identities, and physical abilities to either march or stand with others is impressive, and seemingly rare.

People all across this country are angry, disappointed, threatened and frightened by what is happening in this country now and there is widespread astonishment that the person elected to hold the highest office in the land seems totally disengaged with the mood and message of these protests. He even offers his assessment that these protests are displaying only a whimper of dissatisfaction with what is happening and how he and his administration have justified actions the government is now taking. He seems unable to grasp that the American public is scared and apprehensive about virtually every major policy action he and his appointed agency heads have launched in these first few months since January of 2025. And the public is incensed that he is taking extraordinary steps to silence and condemn the media who dare to describe what is happening on his watch. The corporate media have largely failed in their normal role of informing the public about threats to their government and what they have come to understand as the guarantors of their rights and services on which they depend for their security, safety and, in fact, their way of life in this country.

So, Why Participate in The National Protest Movement?

There are many answers to such a question, some having to do with the necessity of showing large numbers of participants to make the point of widespread disapproval. Some have offered these protests as a peaceful way of expressing what might be strong feelings of anger or frustration with the way government is performing at the moment, rather than seeing such expressions evolving into less peaceful or even violent and destructive outbursts.

I have written in another issue of this Substack about the life and career of Woody Allen. One of the things I recall he has been often quoted as saying is: "Eighty percent of success in life is just showing up!" With that in mind, it seems that we possibly can expect to have quite a bit of success in our effort to bring attention to the pitfalls and mistakes of the current administration by "just showing up" to make the point in as many communities as we can.

Besides, it has been my experience that standing there, or marching with others who share one's perspective that what is happening now IS JUST NOT NORMAL" is reassuring that there may be hope for a brighter day when the madness of the current period is behind us. And, when you look around and see so many people joyous in their companionship with so many people they may never have met before, but engaged in a singular national expression of distain for what is happening now, with a hope for changes that will take us in a positive and peaceful future, it is uplifting in a way that few other experiences of a typical week can offer.

It is important to keep the momentum going and to join in one or more of these events in our own communities when they occur.

The date of next national day of protest is Thursday, July 17th, 2025.

This is the anniversary of the death of former Congressman and civil rights leader, John Lewis, who famously urged us to "Get In Good Trouble, Necessary Trouble, and help redeem the soul of America!" Hence, the protests planned for July 17th are being named "The Good Trouble Lives On" movement.

To find out when and where such gatherings will happen in one's own community use your preferred search engine on your phone or computer and ask the question "Where is the anti-Trump protest in (your community) on Thursday, July 17, 2025?" Or, you can contact your local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, or the 50501 organization.

For Raleigh, NC the protest will happen between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm at 1 East Edenton Street in Raleigh, at the NC State Capitol.

Hope to see some of you there! Or read about your participation in other locations on the same day.

In closing, I think another quote from Woody Allen would be appropriate for the situation we face these days:

His lack of education is more than compensated for by his keenly developed moral bankruptcy.

Amen.

OUR PERSPECTIVES MATTER

This is the 55th issue of Geezer Goggles. I hope that readers of these perspectives will contribute their own viewpoints and join the conversation over time. Clicking to Subscribe to these pages (and providing your email address) will assure that an email notice will arrive when a new issue has been published. These are troubling and worrisome times to be writing on any subject affecting the lives of anyone of any age living in America, but even more challenging for some other parts of the world. Thank you for sharing the time it takes to read these paragraphs with me, and for sharing your own perspectives when the spirit moves you.

All best wishes. Gordon