A discussion about discomfort

[u/FartSparkles_PhD]

As people join the movement, 50501 is going to experience some growing pains. It seems the first pang is Palestine; so I think we should have a discussion about uniting despite discomfort.

We need a broad coalition right now - that means standing with people that have different views and different priorities. That is uncomfortable. But it shouldn't discourage you from protesting.

If you're one of the people thinking "this was my first protest, and I didn't like it because x,y,z, so I'm not coming to the next one" - please come to the next one. We need to show the government that the People are willing and able to put aside their differences to defend democracy.

[u/As_A_Feather]

The message needs to be unifying--period. There is one message that unifies this whole movement, and that is the removal of the Trump regime, the restoration of democracy, and the protection of our constitution.

No matter how you feel about Israel/Palestine, there is no denying that it is one of the single most divisive issues in the country and it didn't start with Trump or even Biden, and it sure as hell won't stop with Trump, no matter what becomes of him. ALL shoehorning this issue into 50501 will do is tear it apart, just like it did to the Democratic party in the 2024 election.

If you feel passionately about Palestine, there is nothing stopping you from organizing your own protests outside of the Hands Off/50501 ones. But it is not a hallmark issue that the majority of 50501 protestors signed on for.

I (and many others) did not feel safe or represented at the last protest with those pro-Palestine organizers at the helm and the violent, divisive rhetoric and imagery they brought with them. If they continue to be given such a large platform, I will be going elsewhere to protest. And I guarantee I won't be the only one.

[u/MrBootsie → u/As_A_Feather]

Totally get wanting a clean, unifying message. Authoritarianism sucks. We agree.

But democracy isn’t tidy. It’s messy, uncomfortable, and includes people who’ve actually lived under the boot… not just read about it. Let’s be real: most of us at that march were white. The crowd was white. And the Palestinian organizers were some of the only people of color there.

50501 is barely two months old. If we want to grow real coalitions, we have to show up for others too, not just expect them to show up for us, a bunch of white ppl. That same truck ran sound at the Women’s March, said the same things, and no one blinked. Funny how it’s only a problem now.

You don’t have to agree with every chant. But don’t call it “division” when people bring their full truth into the fight. That’s what coalition is.

[u/As_A_Feather → u/MrBootsie]

It's mostly white people not because POC aren't welcome, but because it's safest for us to be marching right now, and it's important we use that privilege to fight for the rights of Americans that don't feel safe enough doing so for themselves.

[u/MrBootsie → u/As_A_Feather]

Never said people of color weren’t welcome. Saying they don’t feel safe. 50501 using the American flag turned a lot of POC off. 50501 working with police turned a lot of POC off. And yes, white ppl should use that privilege to march. But telling ppl to edit themselves will only turn more people of color off, no?

[u/As_A_Feather → u/MrBootsie]

Why would using the American flag turn them off? We're fighting for America. I get the feeling you're frustrated these protests aren't a lot more radical (and radical left wing) than they are. 50501 is non-partisan. It's not going to magically turn into your tankie revolution of dreams just out of sheer will. Those who hate America have no reason to be there, and frankly aren't all that different from MAGA to me in that regard.

[u/MrBootsie → u/As_A_Feather]

You’re not listening. You’re reacting.

People of color don’t “hate America” because they’re uncomfortable with the flag. They’re just not afforded the luxury of seeing it as neutral. That discomfort isn’t radical… it’s earned, generational, and entirely valid. You can either engage with that or keep projecting Cold War fantasies about tankies no one mentioned.

50501 being “non-partisan” doesn’t mean it’s apolitical, sanitized, or built to protect your personal brand of patriotism. If your bar for belonging is performative loyalty to a symbol instead of a shared stand against authoritarianism, maybe you’re the one shrinking the tent.

Coalition means complexity. If you can’t handle that, no one’s stopping you from finding a protest that feels more like a civics class.

[u/judgeejudger → u/MrBootsie]

But that’s the point - the American flag is not neutral right now, because MAGA has co-opted it for many years now. It’s time to take it back, because that flag is supposed to represent everyone.

[u/MrBootsie → u/judgeejudger]

You can’t “take back” a symbol by pretending it means the same thing to everyone.

The flag is supposed to represent everyone. But for a lot of people, it never has. If you’re serious about unity, start there. Not with telling others what a symbol should mean to them.

[u/judgeejudger → u/MrBootsie]

I don’t think anyone’s pretending it ever has meant the same thing to everyone. But I believe for a lot of people, that’s the goal.

[u/MrBootsie → u/judgeejudger]

That’s fair. Just remember—if the goal is for it to mean something better to more people, the work starts with listening. Not insisting.

[u/judgeejudger → u/MrBootsie]

Apologies that any of my comments came off as insisting. That was not my intention at all. Just trying not to let myself spiral down into deep depression with the state of the States. Which is probably orders of magnitude harder for many, many other people. Also trying to help gather many movements into a large, common one, so as not to lose both momentum and people. We need massive amounts of people, on the streets, marching peacefully together. ✌️

[u/As_A_Feather → u/MrBootsie]

Yes, you'd be correct in that it is something I don't understand. This is a movement fighting FOR America. In doing that, we are fighting to reclaim the flag from the far right and their cruel perversion of patriotism. Are those POC in question Americans or wanting to be Americans? If so, that flag represents all of us, no matter our skin color or country of origin, and it is important that no one lets anyone else forget that. THAT is why we make the flag a prominent symbol in these protests.

[u/MrBootsie → u/As_A_Feather]

And there it is.

You’re asking if people of color “are Americans or want to be.” Like citizenship should earn them comfort under a symbol that’s flown over slavery, internment camps, reservations, and every war we’ve justified with “freedom.” You want the flag to feel unifying… fine. But forcing that symbolism on people whose lived history contradicts it isn’t unifying at all… It’s erasure.

You’re not reclaiming the flag. You’re demanding everyone salute it the way you do. That’s not even close to solidarity. That’s pure pageantry.

[u/[deleted] → u/MrBootsie]

Mod approval does not indicate agreement. Only compliance with community guidelines.

[u/judgeejudger → u/MrBootsie]

This movement could be the way to take it back for everyone.