Tag Archives: Musk

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.

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.