100k, What's Next
What you accomplished on April 5
100,000 people came together in Boston to stand in solidarity against the current administration's tyrannical attacks on our communities and values, despite cold and rainy weather. This included busloads of Western Mass residents who traveled as much as two hours or more each way to attend. The massive turnout despite adverse conditions is a testament to our ability to organize.
The large turnout also shows our elected officials and our courts that the people of Massachusetts are against the current administration’s policies. The protest demonstrated that we expect our officials to fight tooth and nail against these policies, and that we are capable of holding them accountable should they not adequately represent our interests.
Folks might have the perception that they’re the only ones concerned about what’s happening because of the mainstream media’s systematic inability to report unbiased facts and social media algorithms’ suppression and censorship of speech critical of the current administration, combined with the post-COVID trend of high reliance on digital versus interpersonal communication. Thanks to last Saturday’s rally, all of the people who came, as well as all of those who couldn’t, now know that they are not alone.
Many of those attending have never protested before. The rally and march on April 5 provided them with experience and set an example of how nonviolent actions should flow. We hope that this was a positive formative experience for first-time protesters, and that they will feel confident protesting at future actions.
The rally brought people together and gave them hope, motivation, and a sense of solidarity. Many are now eager to partake in the next resistance action. The momentum generated by the rally will be extremely important for future protests and actions.
Mass50501 isn’t planning another massive protest for 4/19
Large-scale demonstrations and smaller, local organizing efforts are both important—we can’t only hew to one or the other.
We’ve shown the force of our community on the national scale; now it’s time to bring the fight back to our local communities and shore up our local organizing. In a local community action, we have the opportunity for even more significant mobilization across the state among those who aren’t able to travel to a centralized protest.
There are also significant Massachusetts-specific challenges to another large centralized event on this date. Marathon weekend always presents logistical challenges in Greater Boston. This year, the addition of the 250th anniversary of the start of the revolution at Lexington and Concord dramatically increases those challenges. The resulting transportation struggles, elevated security concerns, and lack of available locations led us to decide not to hold a dedicated central event on the 19th.
Local actions are just as important
We must build community with our neighbors in our neighborhoods and towns. In the hard times we know are ahead, we will need these communities to sustain us.
There are groups in our community who have been doing good work for a long time and are dying for more volunteers—we have the ability to help them in their community-driven missions.
It’s possible that the current administration will enact martial law and restrict our free movement and communication. If this comes to pass, it will be absolutely essential that we be in touch with sympathetic folks locally.
Local actions make it accessible for more people to join the movement, give them the experience they need to perform in leadership roles, and provide a greater opportunity to make impactful contributions. We need to build up our bench of organizers, and organizing locally is a great way to do it.
Enjoyed this article? Get updates on the movement, volunteer opportunities, and more by clicking below.