Hundreds protest Trump and Musk in Tampa’s 50501 event

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On the 17th of February, the “50501” protests rocked the US from coast to coast. Up to 5,000 may have participated in DC, maybe 1,000 in Tampa, and hundreds more in a boisterous protest on Kenndedy Street in front of Tampa City Hall.

Tampa protesters adopted a new tactic: closing up and holding the banner across the street when traffic was stopped for a red light, then using the walk sign countdown to clear the street before the light turned green. This allowed the entire flow of afternoon rush hour traffic to see the protest instead of just the same dozen or so. A great many drivers cheered and honked in solidarity, even here in Florida.

A few stray Trumpers were chased away, the later ones warned “Nazis aren’t safe here!” Throughout the protest, Trump and Elon Musk were explicitly called not just Fascists but Nazis. This is what they are and Naziism must be stopped NOW.

Reportback from DC and Arlington TeslaTakedown protests

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The 15th of February was a national day of protests against Elon Musk and DOGE at Tesla showrooms. Two of these protests were in the DC area: one in Arlington, VA and one in DC’s Georgetown.

Someone had a “Boycott Tesla” sign. On the Geortetown sidewalks someone chalked “Fascist in the mirror are closer than they appear, and someone chalked up “You want a Swasticar?”

What Musk needs to be asking is “you want fries with that?”

DC Media Group posted the reportback below:

Protesters Target Elon Musk Tesla Car Dealerships Over His Federal Agency Cuts

Protesters march on Kennedy Center after takeover by Trump, drag ban.

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On Feb 13, protesters marched on DC’s Kennedy Center for a fiesty queer dance party including drag performances out front. The cold weather didn’t slow it down in the least. The protesters were there in response to Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center and almost immediate announcement of a drag ban there. Protesters declared that “DC Says this is our house, we’ll do it anyway!”

On Feb 12, Donald Trump was installed as chairman of the Kennedy Center’s Board of trustees after a vote by directors all appointed by Trump to do so. Trump has vowed to ban drag shows there. Other performers of a wide variety of styles are now cancelling appearances at what may as well be the Trump Center. Trump is reviled in DC after all, and the “Trump Center” could face a de facto boycott.

Protest against Trump and Musk exceeds all expectations in Orlando

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On the 8th of February, far more protesters than expected turned out for a protest against Trump, Musk, and Fascism than organizers had planned. Well over 100 people, possibly twice that or more over the course of the afternoon showed up for the rally on Alafya Trail near a busy shopping mall and equally busy highway. Orlando cops threatened arrest for more than 100 people without a permit, but backed down after a stern lecture from FL State rep Anna Eskamini about constitutional rights.

Some of the organizers retreated before this threat was rebuffed, warning some vulnerable folks to get out in case OPD launched their 3ed attack in less than a year. Mass arrests would have been impossible without hundreds or even thousands of cops due to the open terrain and number of people. More people kept coming though, so those who left were quickly replaced. Eventually the crowd split into two units to ensure cops didn’t decide they had an excuse for a repeat.

Experienced organizers often scoff at threats related to permits, but nobody knows what the law is or if there IS any law with Trump in office. Thus the organizers acted with caution in dangerous times.

Once again though, protesters have opposed Trump in the open and gotten away with it. Trump’s threats of martial law and ordering National Guard troops to fire on protesters have not been delivered on. Activists in Chicago and Aurora served up stinging defeats to ICE, and the big LA ICE protests seem to be going down mostly unopposed.

Protesters and organizers have seized the initiative from Trump, and anyone familiar with warfare knows what that means. We have the ball, now is the time to PUSH with everything we’ve got, doing more of what is working.

My guess is that those behind Trump cannot afford to lose their fortunes to the economic devastation a hot civil war would bring. Presumably they also know shooting at protesters in the now very tense and heavily armed United States would almost guarantee such a civil war and wreck their economic position. So far, Trump has been forced to eat his words and blustering threats about martial law.

Heads up: ICE protests in Arizona have been subject to tear gas attacks twice now in a matter of days

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One was in Phoenix and the other in Glendale.

It is possible this will spread to the Musk protests but just as likely Trump’s people will try to ignore the Musk protests but suppress the ICE protests by force. Classic “good protester, bad protester” crap we must never be fooled into eating.

By all means KEEP THE PRESSURE ON! Keep hammering Trump and Musk, just don’t make a separate peace with these monsters. We need to hit them from every possible direction and overwhelm their defenses.

Note that we do NOT see Musk shutting down ICE. This would be good riddence, but his data theft would then expose migrants to doxxing and assault by the kind of Nazis who don’t bother with getting a badge.

We need a way to shut down CBP and ICE that doesn’t risk posting all known migrant personal data on Twitter.

I could see adding chant like “shut down ICE not the EPA” for tomorrow’s EPA action for instance.

Video from Tallahassee’s #50501 protest

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On the 5th of February, protests were held in state capitals, aimed at being in ALL state capitals against the Trump/Musk financial and data coup. One of these was held in Tallahassee, FL

Note that the Musk protests at least in DC and probably everywhere have been turning out people you do NOT normally see at protests! When the general public starts turning out in the street, this can mean real trouble for a policy-or for a ruler.

Protesters oppose Netanyahu’s meetup with Trump, resulting call for US occupation of Gaza

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On the 4th of February, Israeli dictator Netanyahu visited US dictator Trump in Washington DC. Outside protesters deployed to oppose the genocidal intentions of both dictators.

Trump’s call for the US to “take over” Gaza and possibly commit US troops was met with outrage by protesters and no doubt the entire Palestinian disapora.

The protest featured three mock IOF soldiers dragging a chained Lady Liberty this way and that as she tried to escape. Behind her was a giant shackled Netanyahu.

Protesters vowed there would be no peace with genocide, and that Intifada would continue until total victory.

For the moment open protest against Trump remains possible. Although Trump is blustering about deporting IN STATUS students from other nations for pro-Palestine protests, the cops did not assault this protest. There were some menacing maneuvers on their part but nothing came of that. Iin one case the cops left a bunch of cop bikes unattended, I’m thinking these were bait. Nobody took the bait. There was no attempt at a kettle and I did not see or hear any snatch-and-grab arrests

Huge Treasury Dept (DC) protest against Trump raises “lock him up!” chant

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On the 4th of February, a big crowd gathered outside the US Treasury Department to oppose Elon Musk’s “DOGE” takeover and penetration of large parts of the Federal government

The takeover of many Federal agences by Elon Musk and his “DOGE” thugs is getting some serious pushback in DC. For Musk’s goons to gain access to the personal data of everyone who ever filed taxes online is raising hackles. So is handing over disbursement of Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security payments to the man who destroyed Twitter.

The civil servants whom Trump dismisses as “Deep State” are among the few people who can get a leash on Trump from the inside before he forces serious fighting for everyone else. Between that and the Social Security/Medicaid/Medicare situation this is not just an “inside the Beltway” issue. In fact, the threat to Social Security makes it a “bread and butter” issue.

Abortion rights activists get into, take over lead of Tampa’s “March 4 Life” forced birth parade

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On the 1st of February, Tampa forced-birth marchers assembled outside a downtown Catholic Church and marched to a nearby park.This was Tampa’s local version of the national annual January march against abortion rights. This was also 12 days after the installation of “King” Trump.

Abortion rights activists managed to enter the march, then take over the lead. The offical lead banner crew kept slowing down or stopping to open a gap, but abortion rights supporters were wise to this old countermove. At one point they reversed the roles, stopping and forcing the entire march to file past them.

At the park rally, abortion rights supporters actually HAD THEIR OWN TABLE, and advanced towards the rally from that position. This diverted some of the rally participants to forming a front line at the back of their rally.

While some verbal sparks flew, punches never did. Things stayed entirely peaceful. At no point did the police threaten either side either.