There’s a saying that presidents don’t really set policy, but rather it’s the crowds of angry protesters who do. Maybe that was true at one point in our democracy, but I’m starting to think it doesn’t hold anymore.
This current wave of protests feels more futile than ever. In fact, it might just give the Trump administration the reason it needs to label “blue” cities as war zones and send in the National Guard. Just like I saw happen in places like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland—who knows, maybe your city is next.
There’s another protest coming up—it’s called the “no king” rally—set for tomorrow. I’ve already received messages encouraging me to go. Some friends have even mentioned making a pizza gathering out of it. A couple of close friends told me, “I usually don’t do this, but I feel I need to speak out,” and another said, “I have to go there.”
Even though I respect those who are actively pushing against Trump, I’ve decided to skip the No Kings protest. It feels a bit impractical to me, standing by the road waving signs.
Honestly, I don’t think mass protests change many minds. It often ends up being more of a nuisance for people just trying to enjoy their weekend. That’s just how it is. Social media turns it into a source of irritation, and before long, the protesters end up being the focus of the frustration, which only gives more fuel to President Trump.
It all began when ABC gave in to the Trump administration by suspending Jimmy Kimmel. I even canceled my Hulu and Disney+ subscriptions over it. Disney, or ABC’s parent company, seems to care more about profits than principles.
Right after the events of January 6 at the Capitol, many companies, like Walmart and Home Depot, stated they wouldn’t support Trump or his allies anymore for moral reasons. But sooner rather than later, they were back to funding him. Morality just doesn’t seem to pay off.
Howard Stern even mentioned on his radio show that he had canceled Disney+ in protest. By the very next day, Kimmel was back on the air.
If in the future, Trump pushes news organizations to compromise their ethics and they comply, I urge all decent Americans to boycott such outlets. If universities buckle under presidential pressure, then perhaps they should stop receiving donations.
Let’s stop eating at Cracker Barrel, avoid shopping at Target or Walmart, and call out Home Depot for its hypocrisy. I’m planning to cancel my Amazon Prime, sign out of Meta, and pull my money from JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs.
Are boycotts easy? Not really. But what other choices do we have? America—where so many have fought and sacrificed—is lagging behind.
Using our wallets to resist should become our strategy for making a difference. We have to accept that it might mean some inconvenience. If we believe what’s happening is wrong, we may have to function without Instagram and other comforts.
The good news? These sacrifices might only need to last a little while. Once companies feel a pinch in their profits, I believe that pressure will build within the Republican Congress to rein Trump in. At that point, it will be easier to reestablish ties with retailers and media.
If you see Trump as a dictator or aspiring dictator, you need to be ready to cut off his resources. Any dictator is weakened without resources, and for President Trump, it all comes down to one thing: money. That’s where he derives his power and influence.
When it comes down to it, protests are often just about the money.
