Protests and Indictments: A Current Overview
A slogan, “86 47,” has recently gained attention thanks to James Comey, the former FBI Director. This phrase was prominently displayed on billboards during various May Day protests in cities like New York and Los Angeles. Some protesters held signs echoing this message, with one sign declaring, “86 for the entire regime.”
This week, Comey faced his second indictment from the Justice Department. The accusations stem from a May 2025 Instagram post featuring him creatively arranging shells on a beach while showing the numbers “86 47.” In industry slang, to “86” means to eliminate something, and notably, Donald Trump holds the title of the 47th president.
Charges Against Comey
The indictment outlines that Comey allegedly made threats against the President, accusing him of “knowingly threatening to take the life or inflicting bodily harm on the President of the United States.” Such communications reportedly included threats sent across state and national lines. These serious charges could lead to penalties of up to 10 years in prison—consequential, especially considering the backlash from Republicans and Trump officials who interpreted Comey’s actions as veiled threats.
May Day Protests
The May Day demonstrations were organized by a group called Mayday Strong. They described the event as a gathering of “workers, students, and families” mobilizing for a cause. The aim, they say, is to advocate for a society that prioritizes workers over billionaires, a sentiment echoed by many participants who expressed a desire for significant change, stating they were rejecting the norms of everyday life like school and shopping.
Historically, May Day traces back to the 19th-century calls for workers’ rights, initially supported by Marxists and trade unions. It later evolved into a national holiday in the Soviet Union following the Bolshevik Revolution. Nowadays, however, some critics argue that the partisan tone of today’s protests tends to overshadow the original focus on labor rights. Reports suggest around 6,000 events were planned nationwide this year for pro-socialist May Day demonstrations—an encompassing effort indeed.
Comey’s controversial Instagram post, which featured the numbers “86 47” sculpted among seashells, has since been taken down. The caption he provided was innocuous, claiming he was sharing “cool seashells from a walk on the beach.” This playful context stands in sharp contrast to the serious legal challenges he currently faces.
