"Say what you will about Donald Trump's effect on American civic life as a whole, but he's done wonders for public participation. Voter turnout in the past few elections has reached record highs, for example. And after Saturday's "No Kings" marches, three of the largest one-day demonstrations in American history have taken place during Trump's two presidencies-not to mention the enormous, extended Black Lives Matter protests of 2020."
"Protests like these won't immediately change much of anything in the country, but they matter nonetheless. Trump's authoritarian takeover is unpopular-his approval is deep underwater, rivaled only by his first term for the worst since at least the 1950s-which means that its progress depends on despair and surrender from the majority of Americans who oppose it. The huge and energetic crowds that came out this weekend are an antidote to that."
"The protests provide an outlet for citizens who are following the news with apprehension but don't know what they can do on a daily basis to resist Trump's policies, and they're also a way for wavering Trump supporters to jump ship, a warning to allies and would-be allies that they might not be joining the winning team. Mass movements are slow work: It took nearly a decade to get from the Montgomery bus boycott to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act."
Donald Trump's presidency has increased public participation, producing record voter turnout and multiple massive demonstrations. The 'No Kings' marches added one-day demonstrations that rank among the largest in American history, alongside the sustained Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. Those demonstrations do not instantly change policy, yet they impede an authoritarian takeover by countering public despair and surrender. Trump's approval ratings are very low, making his progress dependent on opponents' passivity. Large crowds offer an outlet for concerned citizens and signal to wavering supporters that joining Trump may not be advantageous. Maintaining momentum through upcoming election cycles is crucial for sustained impact.
Read at The Atlantic
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