Friday, October 10, 2025

Peaceful Protest and Free Speech

 Peaceful protests and free speech are enshrined in the Constitution

The leaders of Indivisible, one of the leading organizations that organize protests and help promote democracy, had a statement this recently.   Our local event in Logan Utah will include a food drive and voter registration information.  We continue to exercise our rights to peaceful, lawful protest, and to exercise our rights to free speech.   We have communicated with local law enforcement to make sure our actions will be lawful, and we encourage participates to take the de-escalation and safety trainings. 


The statement: We are a movement of courageous activists organizing in every state and nearly every congressional district -- red, blue, and purple. We’re in the cities Trump is invading and the rural areas he promised to fight for, but has turned his back on.

There is nothing an authoritarian fears more than peaceful, organized people power. That’s why the White House is now turning its sights on us.

You may have seen reporting from Reuters or heard new rumors circulating in the press that Trump’s administration is preparing to target Indivisible alongside other organizations. We don’t have all the details, but it appears they’re gearing up to smear us with ludicrous accusations that we’re somehow tied to violence at protests -- a claim that’s as false as it is predictable. These stories, and the rumors around them, are all part of the same authoritarian playbook: discredit, divide, and intimidate people into silence just nine days before the October 18 No Kings protests.

Let’s call this what it is: a baseless attempt to chill free speech and scare people away from exercising their constitutional right to protest an authoritarian regime.

Here’s the truth:

  • Indivisible has been committed to nonviolence from the very beginning. It’s a core principle, not just a talking point. Our events prohibit weapons, we’ve trained thousands of people in de-escalation, and we expect every Indivisible event host and participant to uphold our commitment to peaceful protest.
  • Peaceful protest is our strength. Movements that last, movements that win, are disciplined, courageous, and grounded in values. That’s how we’ve beaten authoritarian movements before in this country, and that’s how we’ll beat Trump’s MAGA agenda.
  • And none of that matters to Trump, because this is simply meant to chill free speech. The timing is not accidental. By floating false allegations of violence, Trump’s White House is trying to scare people away from exercising their constitutional rights. We won’t let them succeed.
  • Here’s what we need from you:

    • Keep organizing. Don’t let this smear distract you. The best response to attacks on our rights is to exercise our rights. And that means showing up on October 18 in huge numbers. If you haven’t yet made plans to attend an event happening near you, start planning now.
    • Reaffirm our principles. Share Indivisible’s nonviolence commitment with your friends, family, and fellow Indivisible group members. Make sure everyone knows: We show up firmly, strategically, and peacefully.
    • Stay safe and disciplined. In the lead up to No Kings, we’re working with our partners on a number of Safety, Security, and De-escalation trainings. Sign up for an upcoming training here, or catch up with the ones you’ve missed.

    Trump and unelected advisor-in-charge Stephen Miller want us afraid. They want us divided. But we are building this movement together, across race, class, and geography, and we know that’s the only way to win.

    We’re not backing down. We’ll see you on October 18.

    In solidarity,
    Ezra & Leah
    Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors, Indivisible

    Some perspective and analysis from Logan Utah:

    Since this statement, the Maga republicans in Congress got together and fabricated lies and propaganda about Indivisible.  Mike Johnson and others were involved.

    The federal maga regime is SO unpopular for almost everything they are doing.  Voters blame them for shutting down the federal government, for protecting pedophiles, for wrecking the economy, for going on vacation while insurance premiums triple and quadruple due to their big budget betrayal bill, for kidnapping and assaulting our pastors, senators, neighbors, immigrantscitizens and even children, for illegally attacking everyone who disagrees with them, for illegally diverting money from programs to help ordinary Americans to propaganda and lies about their efforts, for massive corruption, for making us sick and die with a raft of dangerous unqualified cabinet secretaries.

     These terrible polls motivate the latest lies and fabrications about their opponents and your neighbors.  Many of our protestors engage in song, humor, and provocative-sign-making.  

    Portland’s Dancing Protesters Are Showing Us How to Stand Up to Trump

    The president wants us to be afraid. These activists are clowning him instead.

    Jeet Heer



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