Twice as many protests in 2025 compared to 2017
When covering the resistance against Trump 2.0, journalists keep claiming: the resistance is here, but protests aren’t as big as they were in 2017. And it’s true — protest and resistance in 2025 looks different from that seen at the beginning of Trump’s first term in 2017.
So much so that you may find yourself wondering where it is occurring. And the answer is everywhere. If you’re looking for the resistance, look no further than your town halls, the voicemail boxes of your Congressional representative, your community’s schools, and the Tesla dealership nearest to you. Resistance is more strategic, more widespread, and more effective.
During Trump’s first 50 days in office there were twice as many protests compared to his first 50 days in 2017. In February alone this year there were over 2085 protests in support of federal workers, LGBTQ rights, immigrants rights, Palestinian self-determination, Ukraine and against Tesla and the Trump agenda.
In addition to protests, people have been fighting back against authoritarianism through noncooperation and boycotts. Withholding labor and purchasing power are two strategies which are notoriously difficult to police and historically effective at splitting wealthy elites. People are cancelling their subscriptions to services that don’t align with their values and forgoing buying from corporations that are bowing to the Trump regime. Stay at home strikes, churches offering sanctuary, cities refusing to cooperate with ICE, schools and governors upholding DEI initiatives are all ways we are striking back. The stay and defy strategy of federal workers choosing not to quit but to resist from within is further blocking power grabs.
The widespread dissemination of resistance to the Trump administration’s oppressive agenda as well as the multi-faceted approaches we’ve seen since inauguration day are a sign the resistance is here to stay and finding its teeth. The US has a long history of resisting authoritarianism through noncooperation (from the Boston Tea Party to the Civil Rights Movement) and we’re beginning to flex those muscles once more. Resistance, especially noncooperation, sends a clear message to Trump: just because you want to do something does not mean the people will allow it.
To continue building the resistance, check out the upcoming national Tesla Takedown this March 29th and the Hands Off protests taking place April 5th.