Hands Off rally in St. Paul - Good turnout, cold AF.

[Ocelot II]

Not the big one at the Capitol; I decided at the last minute to go to one of the smaller rallies that were held around the Twin Cities, figuring one more body would be more useful at the neighborhood rally. It was fun, though cold, about 38 and windy. Not sure how many people, but more than 100. Lots of good signs, lots of support, horns and thumbs-up from most drivers passing by on the very busy street. Saw only one middle finger, which I was happy to return. I am thinking that these smaller rallies can be more effective than the big ones because there's much more exposure - people actually see them right in their neighborhoods rather than seeing them on TV. The big demonstrations will get media coverage (maybe) for a day, but if there are demonstrations by groups of people every week in every town, even by only a few dozen people, the organic nature of the objection to Trump's fascist government will really take root. Today more than 100 people froze their butts while gathered on both sides of a busy street by a public library and holding up mostly homemade signs and waving at cars and chanting "This is what democracy looks like!" Made me feel pretty good.

Photo taken from across the street, not great but I can't post the video.

[Sky Jewels]

1. I agree about smaller, more frequent rallies being very helpful.

We need the combo of occasional huge rallies and then also a persistent presence on the streets. This morning a friend and I held signs on a busy street corner. We got lots and lots of honks, waves, thumbs up, and one thumbs down, and one "Fuck You!" yelled out a car window. Nearby, people were getting on buses to go to the larger rally downtown.

I think a lot of people who don't live in big cities are starting to see protests in their suburbs and small towns, and that is huge, because a lot of these places are in media deserts and only get one side of the story -- the wrong side. When they see "regular" people protesting, they won't automatically believe the Fox News propaganda, that all protesters are crazy radical hippies and commies paid by Soros.

[Nanuke]

2. I was there too! Right on the boulevard near the library exit lane. Didn't stay the whole time. My sign: Tiny Hands OFF!

I was shouting that slogan with you!

[Ocelot II]

3. I was right across the street with my Great Wave sign!

Good crowd, lots of energy.

[MN2theMax]

4. Went to smaller protest in Anoka

When I checked out how many had signed up with “Hands Off” there 75 people signed up.
Slow at the start, but crowd kept growing. I saw estimates of crowd size was between 1000-2000! Boisterous, lively crowd (mostly seniors). Lots of laughing, chanting, joyful warriors. So glad I went!

[OldBaldy1701E]

5. Awesome!

I wish I could have been at any of them.

[chowmama]

6. I went to the big one

I'm waiting to see how big it was. And yes, it was cold.

Big and small demonstrations will both have their place. I want the politicians who are too scared to challenge and vote against the fascists to realize that if they don't, they're going to be voted out anyway. There's no such thing as Nazi-adjacent; only Nazi and not Nazi.

We're Americans. We don't do fascism, we fight fascists. And we win.

[Qanisqineq]

7. Rally in Jamestown, ND

My mom went to one there. 126 people, she said. I didn't get to a rally in the El Paso area. My daughter had school activities today, and with my husband deployed, I'm the only one here for her.

[mn9driver]

8. Lots of people down by the Cub on York

Both sides of the street. Guessing several hundred. Edina police were a presence, but nothing untoward happened. Lots of encouraging honks tho.