Habits to resist fascism - protesting regularly in 2025 and 2026

The 3 Oct. 2026, "Signs of Fascism" on parade 49503 ZIP

It seems to be just 1 or 2% of the voters who show up to protest the endless stream of unlawful, offensive, inhumane, corrupt, wasteful, and abusive words and deeds that have funneled through the POTUS mouth since January 20, 2025. Mostly it is retiree and college-age fellow citizens who make the signs to hold at weekly streetside displays and rallies like this one a few weeks before the "No Kings" (number 4) protest of October 17. 

This photo comes from the Signs of Fascism silent parade by two dozen or more people, mostly dressed in black to signal the seriousness and formality of the occasion of undermined and assaulted democratic structures and processes under the terms spelled out in the U.S. Constitution and in its subsequent amendments. By contrast to the people forming the parade, most fellow residents of the city as well as visitors are spectators or even nay-sayers; in denial about the ongoing damage or criticizing those who exercise their right to expressing their free speech (the 1st Amendment). On this afternoon of the final day of the annual ArtPrize competition that draws many people curious to see artworks on display in shops and open spaces there were several adjacent people to the marchers quietly offering "thank-you's" to the people marching with the solemn drumbeat. On the other hand, at least one passer-by spoke loud enough to hear the comment to their partner, "Lord, save us." That remark could be interpreted in a couple of different ways, since the speaker's idea of Salvation might not fit the Lord's vision of "love they neighbor as thyself." Probably, the person meant that protesting in public is undignified and offends their own orderly bubble for living.

As participant and observer in the line of protestors, what does all this persistent allergic reaction to #TrumpConvictedFelon and con man mean? It comes with a mixture of duty, trepidation, thrill and group effort. Joining in common cause with others, motivated by Public Good, Common Weal, and communal/mutual aid is a source of meaning, value, achievement, and honor. While solo protesting may do something, when undertaken together with others, it gains a social dimension; not just serving fellow residents but also supporting each other on the street and holding signs of one's own design. It is hard to know the tide of risk washing in or ebbing out, but on this occasion and others there were designated 'safety monitors' clearly marked and wearing high visibility vests. A trained medical response guy with backpack of supplies was there, too. But no matter how carefully planned and prepared for, there is some element of thrill and trepidation that counterbalances the drive to 'do good' and 'make good trouble' (black Civil Rights famous assertion).

Asking a fellow protestor what will happen when the misdeeds are adjudicated, the damage assessed and accountability at last is meted out by the long arc of justice, the answer came: there will still be reason to protest, to scrutinize government local and state and national because now that the floodgates of greed and self-dealing are played out in the public eye without any consequence, others will copy the way of the gangster.