- They help individuals channel their frustration, isolation and desperation
- They are a show of strength
- They typically lead to more political involvement
- They have already produced wins
- They must remain nonviolent to be effective
- They must be in small towns in the heartland, not just big coastal cities
Find one near you at nokings.org
This post uses a gift link, but some people do seem to be prompted to register. I can’t change SF Chronicle policy about that. They also have a history of sending lawyers after people who post archive.today links to their articles, so whatever you do, don’t plug the URL into that site.
Symbolic actions lead to practical ones — My friend group has been canvassing for Yes on California Prop. 50. Making popular support visible gets more people on your side, so we are all taking a couple hours to attend the rallly.
Symbolic actions actively take up time and energy that could be devoted to material actions, particularly if they are as disorganized as this. That connection exists in your mind. There’s nothing stopping you from skipping the rally and going in directly canvassing more. Also, referendums fall squarely within the democratic system which elevated the guy you’re calling a dictator. It’s time to remember Hitler got elected. Gerrymandering laws won’t stop them throwing people into camps. This whole thought process is disjointed. These people are breaking the laws what you’re voting on state constitutional referendums to change! Did you forget this is a federal system and they are breaking federal laws too?
It’s truly comical that people talk about the No Kings Rally like it’s going to decolonize the U.S. and then you look at their actual messaging and its Hillary Clinton-tier wine mom sloganeering from the DNC. You guys have gotten me reading Baudrillard again. That’s how bad this is. I’m reading fucking Baudrillard. I don’t even like Baudrillard dude.
I have to disagree here: symbolic actions are how you get people hooked on action. Big ones like this have a significant bandwagon effect. Its very much a good use of a couple hours
Well, I wish you luck during the next election when you all go around hoping marginalized communities forgot you did nothing but cheer yourselves on. Nobody in the hood forgot the things Kamala “Do Not Come” Harris said, here that is where the Haitians are.
This is a shocker to you I know, but the “I’m just a widdle guy who doesn’t wanna hurt anybody 😭🥺” rally is not going to inspire anyone who had their family members kidnapped. Why do you love being a joke to the right wing and coddling them?
LoL
I’m doing something and getting others to join me, taking advantage of a public low-risk event to get others started down the same path. You’re sitting around complaining.
Yes, very lulzy, isn’t this whole situation funny? I already understand being asked to act against the fascists is a joke to you. You’re doing something for the democrats. You won’t lift a finger against ICE. What’s going to change other than your self-image during multiple fronts of ethnic cleansing? You won’t guilt trip me into coming to your liberal complaint parade. Its purpose is to reassure fascists you pose zero threat to them. Go and dance for them, go on!
I know what you say to the marginalized when you campaign. “We’re all you’ve got. 😁” The democrats are much like someone who got all their bones broken in a huge avoidable car accident and still thinks everything is fine due to shock. Things will never be the same. These strategies failed under Bush too. That’s why you imitate them. They’re safe. You have zero expectations for yourself other than telling people how right you are, scolding them. This is why the party has failed voters.
Symbolic actions keep us passive, it keeps us from demanding better. Did the material conditions of black neighborhood get better with the symbolic action of adding an MLK Blvd 20+ years ago?
Malcolm X.