By John Q. Hosedrinker 
In the wake of the shooting death of Renée Good by an ICE agent, Rep. Roger Williams called for an end to protests and civil behavior, reflecting a broader MAGA-world view on dissent. The administration has been attacking the First Amendment by targeting critics, including those involved in pro-Palestinian activism, and threatening them with arrest and deportation. This is exemplified by the rhetoric of Williams and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who both suggest that protesting should be curtailed. Rep. Wesley Hunt’s statement that people should obey federal officers’ instructions highlights the administration’s willingness to exert control.
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They want you to “quit demonstrating.” The very air crackles with the message. It’s a sentiment echoing from the halls of power, repeated by those who, for whatever reason, find the act of collective protest a threat. It’s a call to silence, a plea for compliance, masked in the language of civility and order. But what’s really being asked?
They want you to “quit demonstrating,” because your presence in the streets, your voices raised in unison, are a challenge to their narrative. They want the quiet of a controlled populace, the comfort of unchallenged authority. They want you to retreat, to cower, to accept the status quo without question. The implication is clear: submit, and perhaps you’ll be spared. Resist, and risk the consequences.
They want you to “quit demonstrating,” because they fear the power of collective action. They understand the potential of that 3.5% rule, that tipping point where enough people standing together can force change. They know that large demonstrations can dismantle the facade of their popularity and expose their vulnerabilities. So, the strategy is to discourage, to dissuade, to make the act of protesting seem futile or even dangerous.
They want you to “quit demonstrating,” because they’re afraid of being exposed. They fear the light of public scrutiny and the accountability that comes with it. They understand that a critical populace is a difficult populace to control, a constant reminder of their failures and transgressions. They would rather hide in the shadows, where their actions can be obscured and their power unchallenged.
They want you to “quit demonstrating,” because they’ve set the stage for escalating violence, if necessary. They may try to paint protesters as unruly, even violent, to justify heavier-handed tactics. They may even provoke confrontations, seeking to create a climate of fear and intimidation. The ultimate goal? To silence dissent through the threat, or even the reality, of force.
They want you to “quit demonstrating,” because they’re invested in a system that benefits them and their allies, often at the expense of others. They are the “Robber Barons,” the “asshole Country Club Class of Americans,” determined to maintain and expand their wealth and control. They view protesters as a threat to their economic interests, and they’ll use all means necessary to protect those interests.
They want you to “quit demonstrating,” because they believe they can manipulate you through fear and division. They’ll try to pit you against each other, suggesting that some protesters are paid agitators or foreign agents. They’ll try to sow doubt, to undermine your resolve, to convince you that your efforts are pointless or even harmful. But their fear is palpable, because, for them, your silence is golden.
They want you to “quit demonstrating,” yet they seem to forget history. Remind those MAGA supporters that the deaths in the streets are at the hands of law enforcement. They will attempt to discredit you and your motives. They will attack you personally, and attempt to diminish your concerns. They will portray you as unreasonable and out of touch. Don’t be fooled, this is a tactic and has worked for too long.
They want you to “quit demonstrating,” but the Constitution is on your side. The right to assemble and petition the government is not a privilege, it is a right. Law enforcement, elected officials, they are sworn to uphold the Constitution. They are the same Jan 6th “protesters” that Senator Tuberville, and others, want sent to jail. It’s your Patriotic Duty.
They want you to “quit demonstrating,” but they forget the lessons of the past. From the Civil Rights movement, to the anti-war protests, to the Black Lives Matter movement, change has always come through collective action. Progress is not made by those who stay silent, but by those who speak truth to power.
They want you to “quit demonstrating,” but that is exactly why you must not. Because in their desperation to silence you, they reveal their weakness. And in your refusal to be silenced, you show them the power of a people united. They want you to give up, to disappear, to stop making them uncomfortable. But you must not. Because your voice, your presence, your willingness to stand up for what you believe in, is the only way to safeguard the very freedoms they are trying to strip away. Because if the protests weren’t working, they wouldn’t be trying so hard to stop them.