When I was on active duty in the army, every weekend before we were released on the unsuspecting German public, we received a safety briefing from the first sergeant, and he would go through a litany of things we should keep in mind and not do over the weekend. Places that were off limits, not to drink and fight, drink and drive, etc. After giving a several minuted lecture to all 100+ of us in formation, he would then look directly at me and my roommate/battle buddy and fellow crewman on the CO’s tank and would say: “COLE, BEASLEY! Don’t be fucking stupid.” I had no rank in the army. I was not Private Cole of PFC Cole or even Sergeant Cole. I was always just “fucking Cole.”
I would like you to head out today to the protests with these sage words of advice. Don’t be fucking stupid.
Baud
You still are, big fella.
raven
And keep your head on a swivel looking for agents provocateurs.
raven
‘We will kill you’: Florida sheriff issues stern warning to protesters
As protests over the Trump administration’s immigration raids continue in Los Angeles and other cities, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and law enforcement officials warned that demonstrators could face a forceful response in the state, CNN affiliate WESH reports.
different-church-lady
My ability to even aspire to being fucking stupid is a thing of the past.
Comrade Scrutinizer
@raven: How soon they forgot about COINTELPRO…
Old Dan and Little Ann
I just drove through my local Village and it was packed on every corner with people with signs. I spent about five straight minutes honking in support at the red light. Then I get home and hear about the shooting in Minnesota. Sigh.
raven
@Comrade Scrutinizer: They is us. . .
NotMax
Shown the infamous Army films about the perils of VD?
Jean Shepherd gives the skinny.
;)
raven
@NotMax: The black sift!
Betty Cracker
Just got home from the No Kings protest in my town. (Held early because it’s HOT!) Biggest demonstration I’ve ever seen here — approximately 500 in a town with a population of around 7500 and 75% Trump voters.
Just learned two Democratic lawmakers in MN were targeted for assassination. A rep and her husband were killed. A state senator and his wife were wounded. In their respective homes.
The gunman was either a cop or cop impersonator with a cop car. He escaped on foot, and a manhunt is ongoing in the Minneapolis suburbs.
Stay safe out there.
Baud
@Betty Cracker:
that’s amazing.
raven
@Betty Cracker: The Athens gig is @ 5 but I just don’t think I should go because I can’t hardly walk. My wife is going and I’m urging her to stay alert and get the fuck out if shit starts. Same advise I gave my first wife at the Champaign-Urbana 4th of July parade that turned into a melee. Of course I didn’t follow my own advice and ended up in a brawl with counter-protestors.
Dorothy A. Winsor
US Army secretary Driscoll says he talked to a man the US has on the moon right now.
These people are not well
trollhattan
@Betty Cracker:
Damn it. Hope they catch the guy(s) pronto. On the loose, armed, nothing left to lose and that’s not just the opening of a country song.
I expect the president* to make a statement of concern to a troubled nation any moment now.
NotMax
@Dorothy A. Winsor
Who needs NASA when we’ve got AI?
//
Dorothy A. Winsor
@trollhattan: Oh you funny jackal!
Professor Bigfoot
@trollhattan: I expect the president to eventually explain that the very bad, very nasty Democrats deserved what happened to them and to announce his intent to pardon the gunman.
(I wish TF I could say this is satire, but)
Jackie
Moved this update from the earlier thread:
Apparently the fake cop even had a vehicle decked out to resemble a police car. Police found a list of potential victims (all MN state lawmakers) – including the two who were shot – inside the abandoned “police” car. Apparently police engaged fire with the now on foot fake officer near the assassinated lawmaker’s home.
What a tragedy. I hope the assassin is apprehended SOON for everyone’s safety.
Dorothy A. Winsor
Ceci n est pas mon nym
I am in Media PA for a satellite rally west of Philly. There were about 100 people on the eastbound platform heading to the main Philly event. That’s one stop on one train line. Looks like maybe 1000 people here but I’m bad at crowd estimation
Juju
@Betty Cracker: I read about that too. The word on the networks is that it was a politically motivated shooting. Both the targeted state Senator and Representative were Democrats.
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/2-minnesota-lawmakers-shot-targeted-incident-officials/story?id=122840751
NotMax
@Dorothy A. Winsor
There’s always St. Paul.
Jackie
@Dorothy A. Winsor: I suppose they must, until the assassin is neutralized, for everyone’s safety.
Baud
NotMax
@Ceci n est pas mon nym
Used to call the SEPTA train line the Mediocre Local back in the day.
;)
Sister Golden Bear
No kings except drag kings!
Steve LaBonne
@raven: They might want to refresh their memories on how the American Revolution started.
JMG
Much to my surprise, I drove past a No Kings rally in my little Cape Cod town. Maybe 150 people on the grounds of the Unitarian Church, which is located at what passes for the major intersection here (there’s a traffic light). Not bad for a town with 7500 permanent residents.
Ruckus
@different-church-lady:
That is a sentence that very likely should be engraved in stone.
I have no idea where it should be displayed but it is a perfect sentence of experience and learning.
BRAVO!
trnc
@raven: How American!
/s
Ruckus
@Professor Bigfoot:
You may have summarized the situation 10000% correctly. It is extremely unfortunate that it is even possible that you, or anyone, needed to say this – but this is where we are.
NotMax
@raven
Hey, bud. Missed seeing you ’round these parts.
Percysowner
I’m about to leave for the noon protest here. I’ll see if I can find parking, the protest is scheduled for after the Saturday Farmer’s Market, so parking is sparse. If I can’t find parking I’ll do a drive by, honk and show support that way.
RaflW
I’m fucking bereft. I live in Minnesota. Heck, I live 15 minutes by car from Melissa Hortman’s neighborhood. These assassinations are horrific for our democracy, but they’re also a shattering thing to have happen to a metro area still feeling the ripples of George Floyd and many other upheavals. Then there are the people I know who are 1 or 2º separation between me and Melissa. I didn’t know her, but she’s energetically in my network and the grief is starting over on FB.
And — I have a fever and made the last minute call to not go to a protest. Which makes me extra, deeply sad. Being with a mass of other people mourning and demanding change is what I need, but just going to the kitchen for a yoghurt felt taxing, so I just freakin’ can’t. I’m near tears.
Go get loud for me, BJ peeps! I look forward to pics. I’ll be liking and reposting coverage on Bsky. That’s at least somethin’.
Matt McIrvin
@Dorothy A. Winsor: They erected a ladder from the flat Earth right up to the celestial firmament, and he climbed up onto its mirrored surface which reflects the continents.
Albatrossity
@different-church-lady: I want to nominate this for a rotating tag.
Jacel
@trollhattan: Is his concern that there are still a number of elected Democrats still alive?
RaflW
@trollhattan: He will fuck it up royally, and then the press will give him a total pass and then my head will explode — but how is that much different than yesterday or tomorrow.
Elizabelle
@RaflW: My condolences, RalfW. Terrible loss to you and your community, and losing all the good that Speaker Hortman would have done.
I will devise a black armband for today’s protest.
I hope you feel better. Can you put a sign in a window?
Matt McIrvin
I just got back. Turnout was about the same as last time and similar in character–maybe slightly lighter because of the predictions of rain, but the rain had stopped. Maybe 800-900 people? I was overdressed and ended up feeling a bit hot.
I was going to do the same thing I did before and walk up the street to see how far the crowd extended, but I was stopped by a new development: a knot of counterprotesters! About 10-15 people waving the gigantic Trump flags, on the corner by City Hall, completely surrounded by the anti-Trump protesters. I saw no shit started but I endeavored to avoid that corner thenceforth.
There was a bit more pushback. One woman screaming hatefully at us, one pickup at a stoplight revving its engine and blowing exhaust on us though he didn’t seem to have the full coal-rolling rig. A few people driving by with even more gigantic Trump flags billowing from the pickup bed. But it was a handful of people trying to look as big as possible. Overwhelmingly, the drive-by honkers were in support. Hundreds and hundreds of them.
JML
I’m just gutted today. Apparently, this sicko even shot the Hortman’s dog. (Melissa and Mark had a doofy golden)
At least it sounds like the Hoffman’s are going to make it.
It’s just horrifying.
Betty Cracker
@RaflW: It’s a terrible tragedy. Hope you feel better soon.
NotMax
@Matt McIrvin
“For the wor5d is hollow and I have touched the sky.”
//
Ishiyama
@JML: My brother lives in St. Paul; I spoke to him. He and his wife are taking a bus to a protest, regardless.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
@Professor Bigfoot:
“The Only Good Democratic Politician Is A Dead Democratic Politician”*
*Secret-but-not-really-secret policy statement of this administration
And nobody should ever question when we make references to the historical echoes of Nazi Germany in the 1930s here after this. They never should have before this.
Jeffro
@Betty Cracker: sounds like your town exceeded the “3.5% rule” by, oh…carry the one…invert the numerator…hang on…an ADDITIONAL 3.2%!
all kidding aside, this is an important day
this maladministration is NOT popular and they’re getting less so by the day
I think next we need a “DON’T COME HERE!” protest across the country, warning foreign tourists and soccer players and basically everyone to not travel to the U.S.
but regardless, I’m highly encouraged!
Froette and I are headed out in an hour, wish us luck!
Elizabelle
@Betty Cracker: Your first paragraph is wonderful. Yay for all those swamp area neighbors turning out. It takes extra courage in severely red areas.
Re Minnesota: I hope they catch that gunman soonest, well before any scheduled protests. And I hope he is taken alive; we need this to be more than a three-day tragic story, since it involves Democrats, who are lesser beings. Want people to get a good look at this lunatic.
greenergood
A few of us in Glasgow, Scotland today – and more in Edinburgh too, at the official US Consulate (which Mr Trump want so to close…) – google TeslaTakedown Scotland for a little news – got good thumbs up and applause – but it was raining buckets – and no photos due to people not wanting their photos posted :-( – we expats are bit nervous – but just a chance to connect with y’all over there – hope all goes well today
Elizabelle
Appreciating our beautiful emotional support cheetah in the respite photo.
Always up for seeing that cheetah.
Jackie
@RaflW:
You’re in lockdown, I assume! Terrifying and so tragic for you and her constituents. For everyone’s sake, I hope he’s caught ASAP!
You take care!
Melancholy Jaques
@Elizabelle:
Back in high school, in the Vietnam War days, we wore black arm bands. Did that form of protest just go out of style?
NotMax
@greenergood
Good to hear a report from Brogue One.
raven
@NotMax: I read a lot but don’t post much. I guess I’m occupied with a different fight these days.
Elizabelle
@Melancholy Jaques: I remember having a POW bracelet.
Ceci n est pas mon nym
@Ceci n est pas mon nym: Many many flags here. This is what patriotism looks like.
Mike in Pasadena
@Betty Cracker: Over 6 percent! That’s great. Remember, it only takes 3 percent or so to topple a regime.
raven
” Thousands are rallying across metro Atlanta on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump’s administration and its immigration enforcement policies, as part of a broader wave of demonstrations taking place across the country.”
Baud
@Betty Cracker:
Baud
Wapiti
@Professor Bigfoot: … and to announce his intent to pardon the gunman…
I’m already wondering if the assassin is a January 6th insurrectionist, pardoned once already.
Steve LaBonne
@Baud: I hope people give that recommendation the (lack of) consideration it deserves.
Elizabelle
Does anybody else notice the missing word in DJT’s “statement” put out by Spokestwatliar Karoline Leavitt?
Also, “Our” Attorney General just grates.
Elizabelle
@Baud: I wondered if that was the twofer intent of this assassin? If he is still out there, preventing the No Kings rallies from taking place due to the chance of a sniper or mass casualty event. Especially if he looks like law enforcement?
Matt McIrvin
@Baud: Well, that’s one way to stop ’em.
YY_Sima Qian
Political assassinations coming back to America, ughhh!!!
We are going to relive the late 60s & early 70s, aren’t we, except now being egged on by the Executive branch & just over half of the Legislature.
Baud
@Steve LaBonne:
Me too. It seems like a CYA statement in case anything else happens.
Professor Bigfoot
@RaflW: “They also serve who keep their germs to themselves.” ;)
Take care of yourself, mate; this won’t be the last one, not by a long chalk.
PsiFighter37
There is probably some asshole out there braying that the Dems would be alive if only they loosened gun laws, or something like that.
Professor Bigfoot
@comrade scotts agenda of rage: Shoulda been fuckin’ obvious when they waved those “MASS DEPORTATION NOW” signs at their convention.
Comrade Colette
I’m about to head out to the San Francisco march. My sign says:
STILL THINK “BOTH SIDES ARE THE SAME”?
Stay safe, jackals.
HinTN
@raven: True, but we’re always glad when you make your presence known.
eclare
Wow. Memphis turnout is going to be huge. I had to park so far away that I didn’t feel like walking all the way to the protest. I handed the cookies off to a couple who were putting the finishing touches on their Mexican Day of the Dead costumes and asked them to take them.
Also, it’s mainly overcast, but the rain is gone, and there are even some blue patches.
Elizabelle
@eclare: 3 cheers, eclare. You showed up! With cookies! (The respite cheetah approves.)
Glad to hear Memphis will make some noise.
Elizabelle
@Comrade Colette: Great sign, CC.
trollhattan
@Elizabelle:
Consider the MN leg margins: house has 67 R, 67 D; Senate 33 R, 34 D.
Thankfully Walz D as governor but IDK what the process is to fill tragically vacant seats.
Westyny
Nice crowd in Hudson, NY. Maybe 500 now and growing. The largest of the last three. Disorganized, no PA system, but congenial and a lot of supportive honking.
raven
@HinTN: Thanks!
just another boomer
I’m headed out to the NO KINGS in Torrance, CA.
I am certain it will be large and peaceful, but–just in case–it’s the first time I’m carrying a trauma dressing since Vietnam.
RaflW
@Jackie: We’re far enough that we aren’t. 15 mins includes some freeway time as it happens. It’s ‘near’ but not dangerously so.
We have seen that Walz skeeted MN DPS’s recommendation that people not protest while the perp is loose, and I think he’s making the right call as a governor, and folks going anyway are I think making reasonable choices to say “This is still my community, my freedom at stake.”
RaflW
@trollhattan: Session is over, and the special to pass the hotly contested budget done as well. Won’t go back till next January unless Walz is fored by rare circumstances to call another special.
So there’s time to refill the House seat, and fingers crossed that the senator will be back to decent health in reasonable time. Whatever he decides, there’s time for by-elections for the 1 or 2 seats before the next scheduled gaveling in.
ARoomWithAMoose
@trollhattan: Several posts from Minnesotans say the state legislature normal session as well as the special session to produce the next year’s budget already happened (budget bill is waiting for the Gov to sign it), and the state legislature isn’t scheduled to reconvene till January. Both empty seats will have special elections completed before then.
Edit: RaflW in before me. The Edit comment box really needs a “make this comment invisible/delete comment” button.
Drunkenhausfrau
@Betty Cracker: I am sick about this. just learned about it after returning from our local protest. Feels like an existential dread is flooding our world…
Nancy
I was not fucking stupid at the No Kings protest in Rochester, NY. 5050. . . .planned well.
I am devasted that political assasination has begun. I hoped it was a horrible part of the US past.
Bionic Space Jellyfish
Wife and I just left the Lee’s Summit MO rally. Absolutely huge turnout and good vibes all around. One cowardly dude drove around in his truck with a gun but flag but otherwise there were no issues. I brought a US flag and I got a lot of compliments about it. It’s our flag damnit. Not theirs.
Jackie
@trollhattan:
More than likely a special election.
Redshift
Arrived for my shifts at the overpass rally on the Beltway! It’s overflowing, they’re having to limit people coming in at times. Constant honking in support, especially trucks.
On the ten minute drive from my house, I passed two roadside rallies that weren’t in the official list, and my friend who drove in from WV this morning said there were at least ten on overpasses on I66!
sab
Good sign at the Akron protest: “I am not a paid protester. I hate Donald Trump for free.”
Elizabelle
@Redshift: That is excellent.
I was afraid Governor Fleecevest might be planning to crack down on protests on overpasses. He made specific mention of interfering with traffic in his declaration yesterday that he is pre-positioning the National Guard
Did you see any sign of National Guard troops?
Richmond’s No Kings is not until 5 (just when T storms are predicted to roll in), but I think I will head down earlier.
Dog Mom
About 470 people at the crossroads in Lima, NY. I expected couple dozen, but cried when I saw the crowd! Met some folks on their 3rd rally of the day, ready to go to their fourth after. I’m getting ready for Geneseo , NY – lots of people already there!
Ramalama
@sab: That’s really good.
Dog Mom
Also, met a young women, a vet , just “doged” earlier this year from her federal job – now planning on running against the awful Claudia Tenney. This is what democracy looks like, right?!!!?
zhena gogolia
We had at least 1000 in a town of 48,000. My husband thought it was more like 2000. We stood in one place for half an hour and saw at least 20 people we knew. Nice atmosphere. Lots of cars honked in a friendly way, and only one MAGA pickup truck with flags flying, roundly booed by the crowd.
I couldn’t hear any of the speeches, and my knee was not happy, so we left.
zhena gogolia
One sign:
Maniacs
Are
Governing
America
zhena gogolia
@sab: I saw that one at my protest too! (not the identical sign, of course, but same message)
Elizabelle
@zhena gogolia: Yay you!
Ohio Mom
Ohio Dad and I are stuck in a bottleneck in a parking garage. I’m reminded of why I stopped going to fireworks, the trip home ends up being longer than the event itself.
Anyway, Cincinnati’s protest was HUGE — thousands and thousands of people— and peaceful and joyous and had many clever signs and flags. Enjoyed many brief conversations with other marchers. Lots of happy memories made.
Next time I will strategize parking more intelligently. Maybe the secret is to park far away and take the bus to the protest.
After reading about Minneapolis, very thankful our march was peaceful. But if I had it to do again, I would be going up to every police officer (there were a lot of them) and tell them to stop watching us marchers and start scanning the perimeter for shooters, the real danger.
Soprano2
I went to one of the No Kings protests here this morning – evidently there was also one on the south side of town in conjunction with the Pride events being held today. There were a lot of people there, it’s hard to estimate how many because we were strung out lining both sides of the road near City Hall, but I’d guess 1,000 people. I didn’t see any National Guard or police, and it was peaceful. Lots of cars honked for us. Late in the protest a truck with FFOTUS flags showed up. They just drove around, there was no trouble or no counter protest. It was nice to see I’m not as alone here as it sometimes seems. It’s a nice day here, which is good after all the rain we’ve had lately.
Jackie
@sab:
LOVE IT!!!
mvr
Ours started at 9:30 and went to 11:30. At least a couple of thousand in Lincoln NE by my nonprofessional estimate. (Last time a couple of months back, I underestimated and the semi-official estimate turned out to be 3K.) Police were scarce (only in cars that I saw), which was a good crowd control tactic (Good D mayor here) as we took care of ourselves. The mood was cheerful and spirited for the length of about 6 city blocks downtown where people lined the streets. In the street itself people were constantly honkng and there was a steady stream of cars with signs and flags. Simultaneously there was a pride event at the capital 5 or so blocks away. I think some of those folks might have joined the No Kings event after a while but I don’t know that. There were plenty of rainbow flags throughout the event. I don’t usually love demonstrating, though often I feel like I have to. But this was rather pleasant.
Our governor apparently activated the National Guard last night, but we didn’t see any evidence of them.
West of the Rockies
Just returned home from the Chico, CA protest. We had a couple thousand loud, orderly people and lots of approving horn honks.
WereBear
I went with NO KINGS NO DIC-TATORS to fit it on the sign.
That liberal love of punctuation.
Good turnout! Enthused honking and waving. We are a blue dot in red here. Like the “Austin” of the area.
Matt McIrvin
@Ohio Mom: In my town, they’re building a new parking structure right next to the protest venue, which shut off a block or so of the street from use. The deck that used to be near there is shut down, so right now, the nearest big parking structure is half a mile away. Not many people involved in the protest seemed to be using it, so I had no trouble getting in and out, though it was a hike to get there.
I’d been planning to walk the whole way, but the rain in the morning made that less attractive. Fortunately it was over by midmorning.
suzanne
Successfully protested in downtown PGH. No drama, reached my limit for sun exposure.
Matt McIrvin
Reading my account above I realize I’m playing up all the incidents of conflict and negativity because they fascinate me, but, honestly, this was mostly a peaceful celebration of solidarity with a lot of supportive honkers.
As before, it was a pretty white crowd, but I noticed a lot of the people driving by and expressing support were not, which suggests to me that the protest size was limited by who among our town’s Democratic base felt safe to turn out.
Soprano2
@sab: I saw a couple of those signs here, too.
Chip Daniels
https://bsky.app/profile/newseye.bsky.social/post/3lrln5pgjjs2o
Huge crowd, about 100,000 here in downtown LA.
Ruckus
@sab:
“I am not a paid protester. I hate Donald Trump for free.”
That’s not a good sign. That is a GREAT sign.
Geoduck
Large turnout here in WA state’s capitol Olympia. Lots of fun signs. There was a dinosaur among the group holding signs by the side of the street. I didn’t stick around for the speeches, which are probably still going on as I write this. Saw one idiot jacked-up Shiatgibbon truck, but no formal counter-protestors.
And I guess there was a cross-town march ending at the capitol campus, but I didn’t see any of it.
Glidwrith
Roughly 1,000 at the Mira Mesa protest in San Diego. Lots of supportive honking, only one counter protester present with an ass of a sign.
chbnna
The crowd in Chicago was massive, stretched out for 15 blocks, every 8 blocks is 1 mile, so that’s a big crowd. Estimated by Block Club Chicago to be 20,000….https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/14/chicagos-no-kings-march-draws-thousands-to-protest-president-donald-trump-live-blog/
YY_Sima Qian
Great to see these huge turn outs!
Kayla Rudbek
@JMG: Mr. Rudbek and I biked by a protest on our usual cycling route. I waved and thumbs up although I think I should have rung my bell as well (although we were at the corner stopped for the traffic lights so it might have confused the drivers or Mr. Rudbek)
Kayla Rudbek
@Matt McIrvin: yeah, the small protest we biked by today was fairly white (I would say whiter than the local neighborhoods overall)