Show up on April 5 by Barry Rosenbaum

Now seeming a lifetime ago, instead of a mere eight weeks, I wrote Where Are We?, my first musing for this blog. I’m afraid that the answer has become all too clear — democracy and the rule of law are in dire straits as Trump’s vengeance rains down on us. This should not come as a surprise. Trump has always made clear how he would rule. As he said in an interview with Bob Woodward and Robert Costa during the 2016 presidential campaign: “Real power is — I don’t even want to use the word — fear.”

The genesis of this doctrine was instilled in Trump by Roy Cohn, chief counsel to Joseph McCarthy during the Army-McCarthy hearings in the 1950s. Decades later, he became Trump’s counsel and taught Trump the same lessons he had cultivated during the horror of the McCarthy era — to exploit power and instill fear. Deny everything, fight back and go on the offensive to declare victory. Ignore the facts. Never admit wrongdoing. Deflect all accusations and misdeeds onto the other. Sound familiar? As today’s headlines inform us — the ghost of Roy Cohn continues to haunt us through his mentee, in ways that until recently were beyond imagination for this country:

What is the solution? How do we not give in to fear and return the power where it should reside – with the people? We must find those answers together and gain courage from each other, knowing that strength in numbers is crucial to restoring our power.

When I was at last month’s rally at the Federal Building in Los Angeles, a fellow marcher told me about the 3.5% rule, which I had not heard about before. This rule — developed by Professor Erica Chenoweth based on a large sample of historical movements — holds that no government has withstood a challenge of 3.5% of their population mobilized against it during a peak event, usually mass demonstrations. Other factors of success include leadership, strategic imagination, organization capacity and sustainability.

In numbers that cannot be ignored, we must organize for the long haul, find our leaders with vision, march, gather, withhold purchase power, refuse to cooperate with Trump’s illegal dictates, and provide mutual aid to each other.

That is why the Hands-Off mass mobilization day on Saturday, April 5^th is so important. As described by the organizers of this event:

On April 5, national and local organizations are coming together across the country to organize for Hands Off, a national mass activation in defiance of the Trump-Musk billionaire takeover and the Republican assault on our freedoms and our communities. Hands Off! is an all-in moment for the pro-democracy, pro-worker movement — a demand, a warning, and a rallying cry that responds to the primary reasons for our mobilization.

Whether you are mobilized by the attacks on our democracy, the slashing of jobs, the invasion of privacy, or the assault on our services — this moment is for you. We are setting out to build a massive, visible, national rejection of this crisis. On April 5, we will host events across the country, in major cities and small towns in every state. Our goal is to show that the people — the majority — are taking action to stop the corruption and power grab.

Now is the time. Senator Cory Booker, in his inspirational 25-hour speech on the Senate floor, calls us all to meet the challenge of this moral moment. We must show up in numbers that cannot be ignored to bring this country back from the brink.  Find a protest near you at:

https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/
https://www.seeyouinthestreets.com/

Let’s show that the opposition to Trump/Musk is formidable, is unafraid, and is ready stop the unconstitutional, abhorrent, and vicious actions of this authoritarian regime. Be part of the 3.5% and join protestors all over the country and around the world.