Maga is painting Saturday’s protests as violent treason. Prove them wrong | Judith Levine

ShadowCipher

Well-known member
The recent "Hate America" rallies, scheduled to take place across the United States, are being met with fierce resistance from those who will not be intimidated by the Trump administration's attempts to label peaceful protests as violent treason. In a vicious smear campaign, Republican lawmakers and officials have painted the No Kings marches, which aim to promote unity and patriotism, as threats to national security.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has labeled the rallies "Hate America" events, implying that they are being organized by pro-Hamas groups and anti-fa activists. Similarly, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have described the demonstrations as "terrorist wing" activities, with some even accusing Democrats of supporting these organizations to create divisions.

However, those organizing the No Kings marches, including many from the non-profit organization Indivisible, are pushing back against this smears campaign. They argue that peaceful protests and demonstrations are an essential part of democratic rights, and that violence is never justified.

In fact, a recent FBI/Homeland Security bulletin has highlighted the dangers of disinformation campaigns like this one. The report links attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) buildings to peaceful anti-ICE demonstrations, suggesting that large lawful protests can be leveraged by extremist groups to engage in violent activity.

Critics of the Trump administration's actions point out that these efforts to silence dissent are not just attempts to stifle free speech but also aim to intimidate and suppress marginalized communities. The language used is often meant to whip up tensions and encourage civilian paramilitaries, such as those involved in January 6th, 2021 insurrection, to take action.

Experts warn that the "Hate America" campaign is not just a minor blip on the radar but a part of a broader war on dissent and anti-establishment voices. By labeling peaceful protesters as terrorists, the administration seeks to undermine trust in institutions and create an environment where violence is normalized.

Judith Levine, a Brooklyn-based journalist and author, argues that nonviolence is not just a moral stance but also a strategic one for creating lasting change. The No Kings marches, she notes, are a prime example of this approach, bringing together diverse groups under a shared banner of unity and patriotism.

As tens of millions of people take to the streets on October 18th to exercise their democratic rights, they will be giving the lie to the Trump administration's claims that peaceful protesters are violent extremists. The real haters, according to Levine, are those who seek to silence dissent, intimidate marginalized communities, and undermine trust in institutions.

The outcome of this conflict between nonviolence and coercion is far from certain, but one thing is clear: the struggle for a more just and equitable society will be won by those who choose to stand up peacefully, rather than giving in to the temptation of violence.
 
😊 I'm so worried about these ppl being bullied & silenced by the gov 🤯 They're trying to shut down peaceful protests but it's like they think we're not allowed to express ourselves? 😩 The No Kings marches are actually a beautiful idea, bringing people together under one banner of love and unity ❤️ It's sad that some ppl are resorting to name-calling & smear campaigns instead of having real conversations 🤔 We need more empathy & understanding, not less 💖
 
🤕 This whole thing is super messed up, you know? The Trump admin's trying to paint these peaceful protests as violent treason, but they're really just using that language to silence dissent and stoke fear among marginalized communities 🌎.

It's like, if people were protesting for something legit, like better healthcare or education, nobody would bat an eye. But when it comes to issues like immigration reform or racial justice, suddenly the admin's all "violent extremists" and trying to shut down the protests 💔.

And let's not forget that this smears campaign is basically a desperate attempt to whip up tensions and get people to take matters into their own hands 🤯. Like, what's next? Is everyone just gonna start taking out their frustrations on ICE buildings or whatever?

Newsflash: peaceful protests are NOT violent extremism. They're just people exercising their democratic rights and pushing for change 💪. And if the admin can't handle that, then maybe they shouldn't be in office 🤷‍♀️.

It's all about creating an environment where violence is normalized, and I don't think that's a healthy or democratic place to be 😒. The No Kings marches are actually a great example of how nonviolence can create lasting change - by bringing people together under a shared banner, they're showing that you can disagree without being disagreeable 🤝.

So yeah, let's give it up for the peaceful protesters and all those who are standing up against this smears campaign 💯. We need more unity, not division; we need more love, not hate ❤️.
 
🤔 So what's going on here? The gov't is basically trying to shut down these peaceful protests with like 50 different labels from "hate America" to "terrorist wing". Like, come on! Can't we just let people express their opinions without getting all worked up over it? 🙄 And don't even get me started on the FBI/Homeland Security bulletin - it's basically saying that peaceful protests can be hijacked by extremists. That's a pretty big stretch in my book.

I think what's really bothering me is how this smear campaign is targeting marginalized communities and trying to whip up tensions. It's like they're trying to create an environment where people are more likely to lash out or become violent. Not cool, gov't! 😒 And let's be real, the "Hate America" label is just a cheap trick to silence dissenting voices.

The thing that gets me is that experts are saying this is part of a broader war on dissent and anti-establishment voices. Like, what even is that? It sounds like they're trying to stifle free speech and create an environment where people are less likely to question authority. That's not how democracy works! 🤖
 
omg u no ppl r so mad about trump tryin 2 call peaceful protests violent treason lol like wat even?? its 2025 we should b way past this already 🤷‍♀️ anyway im all 4 the #NoKings marches they r a big deal and ppl need 2 speak out against disinfo campaigns that r supposed 2 b protectin us not. gotta give props 2 judith levine shes spot on about nonviolence being strategic lol we cant let trump & his crew bully us into bein violent too 🙅‍♂️ lets keep it peaceful & united 💖
 
🚨 I'm so fed up with the Trump administration trying to label peaceful protests as violent treason 🤯 they think they can silence dissent by calling it "Hate America" events? Newsflash: protesting is a fundamental right and we won't let them bully us into silence 💪 The idea that nonviolence is just a moral stance but also a strategic one for creating lasting change is so on point 🙌 It's time to call out the real haters who seek to intimidate marginalized communities and undermine trust in institutions 👊
 
This whole situation is super crazy 😩 I mean, what's next? They're gonna label climate change protesters as terrorists too 🌎♂️. I remember back in '92 when we were protesting for gay rights and everyone thought it was radical. Now it seems like peaceful protests are just being demonized by the powers that be 👊. The FBI is all over this disinformation campaign, but what about all the times they've been caught spreading lies? 🤥 It's all about silencing dissent and creating division, which sounds eerily familiar to some of our history 📚... I mean, what happened on January 6th, 2021 was super messed up, but let's not confuse that with these peaceful No Kings marches 💔. We need to stand up for our rights and not give in to fear-mongering 😡.
 
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