The Art of Protest

This is our country—not theirs.

And yet, it feels like we’ve been robbed. Over the past several weeks, millions of Americans have taken to the streets, protesting a system that’s been hijacked by billionaires and fronted by a conman. On April 5, we saw one of the largest coordinated demonstrations in modern history. Across all 50 states, people gathered—not just to vent but to declare: We will not be ruled by oligarchs.

But the message on the ground can seem somewhat scattered. Hand-painted signs speak to a thousand grievances—LGBTQ rights, abortion access, veterans’ care, racial justice, student debt. All valid. All worth fighting for. But we must recognize a hard truth: These are the issues the billionaire class exploits to divide us. They do not fear our causes; they use them to keep us divided. And when we’re divided, we’re powerless.

That’s why this moment demands clarity. Protest isn't just about catharsis. It isn’t just a way to blow off steam. It’s about strategy. It’s about reclaiming the power that has always belonged to us. And if we want to win, we need to understand the bigger picture: This is a battle between the people and the powerful. Between democracy and oligarchy.

And make no mistake—this oligarchy has a playbook.

The primary strategy revealed in the authoritarian playbook is to keep the people fighting among themselves, to stoke the flames of otherism, to use military force if necessary, to intimidate, shame, humiliate, deport, and financially wreck anyone who dares to stand in the way of the emerging power structure. They rule not by winning hearts but by sowing fear and division until we’re too distracted by our differences to notice we’re all losing together.

Many politicians know it. Why else do so many refuse to hold town halls? Why else do they ghost their constituents and hide behind PR statements and gated fundraisers? Because they’re afraid. They’ve already chosen a side, and they’re too cowardly to say it out loud. That should tell you everything you need to know.

So, let’s stop being polite. Let’s call them out.

Ask every elected official you encounter: Whose side are you on? Are you fighting for working families, or are you serving the billionaires who bankroll your campaign? If they won’t answer, if they won’t show up, then they’ve already answered. And it’s not in your favor.

This isn’t just about Trump. He’s the carnival barker. He’s the sideshow meant to distract us while a deeper, darker machine remakes America into a playground for the ultra-rich. Their message is simple: Comply. Conform. Cooperate. Do that, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll get a crumb. Maybe you’ll be allowed slightly more comfort than your neighbor. But at what cost? Will you betray your community for a scrap of security? That’s the twisted bargain this new power structure offers. And they’re watching with amusement as some actually go for it.

Let me be blunt: Anyone who sides with this emerging power structure for the promise of that extra crumb is betraying their country. But let me be just as clear: When those people finally wake up, when they realize the ground beneath them has shifted and their livelihoods are threatened, we must be ready to welcome them back with open arms, no questions asked. Because this movement isn’t about vengeance; it’s about restoration. It’s about community. We’re not a nation of isolated individuals scrambling for scraps. We are a people. And when we fight, we fight for unity, not exclusion. For justice, not privilege. For freedom. For liberty. We fight for each other.

So, if you’re heading to a protest, know this: You’re not just holding a sign. You are taking part in a strategic operation to reclaim what’s ours. You are helping to remind this nation who holds the real power. You are a warrior for freedom.

The future of this nation isn’t written by those in ivory towers; it’s written by those in the streets.

So be loud. Be focused. Be relentless. Never give up because that’s precisely what the oligarchs want.

And never forget: this is our country. And we’re taking it back.

History is watching. This is our time. This is our fight.