Trump Wants Us to Remain Silent. North Carolinians Are Saying No.

What we’re witnessing isn’t normal. 

Over the past week, we saw the president deploy thousands of troops against Californians. He intentionally escalated what had been contained, largely peaceful protests, into a violent showdown between citizens and the military that’s meant to protect them. 

In North Carolina, we saw the president hold a rally at Fort Bragg, a hostile, norm-shattering display of political partisanship. Surrounded by troops, Trump attacked Democrats, the press, and any other American who disagrees with him. He called Los Angeles a “trash heap,” and even went as far as to call protesters “animals” and “foreign enemies.”

And at the White House, the very man who led an insurrection just a few years ago, called peaceful protesters “insurrectionists.” He’s celebrating his birthday tomorrow with an expensive military parade, and he’s threatened to greet any protesters with “very heavy force” if they speak out against his egregious waste of taxpayer dollars and blatant display of authoritarian power. 

Trump’s attempting to frighten us into silence. He understands the power of everyday people to effect change, so he’s trying to restrict it. He recognizes the growing strength of our collective voices, so he’s seeking to stifle them. He sees communities mobilizing against him, so he’s trying to divide us against one another. 

This has been a week filled with threats against the American people, but it hasn’t deterred North Carolinians from pushing back, from peacefully taking to the streets to make their voices heard. Hundreds marched in Raleigh to protest Trump’s immigration enforcement policies, as well as the NC GOP’s attempt to force local governments to comply with those unconstitutional policies moving forward. Many more protests are planned for this weekend. 

If you’re feeling worried at this moment, queasy, frustrated, depressed, dejected– you’re not alone. But on the other side of that anxiety is the strength to do something exceptional. In the face of unprecedented authoritarianism, we can stand up for our families, for our neighbors, for our communities, for ourselves. 

It’s the resilient spirit that has guided us through the toughest moments in our nation’s history. And showing that spirit can be as simple as calling your representatives, writing your lawmakers, or marching with your neighbors at a No Kings protest this weekend. 

Looking to join a protest tomorrow? Here are a few taking place across the state:  

• Raleigh: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at 6101 Capital Blvd, between intersecting streets of Old Wake Forest Rd. and Oak Forrest Dr., 27616. 
• Hillsborough:  11 a.m.-12 p.m. at Old Courthouse, 104 E King St., 27278.
• Morrisville: 9-11 a.m. at Harris Teeter Parking Lot, 4093 Davis Dr., 27560. 
• Cary: 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at intersection of Maynard and Kildaire Farm Roads, 27511. 
• Chapel Hill: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at East Franklin St. and North Columbia St., 27514.
• Durham: 12-1:30 p.m. at CCB Plaza in Downtown, 27701
• Sanford: 2-3:30 p.m. at Old Courthouse, 1400 S Horner Blvd, 27330.
• Pittsboro: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Chatham County Courthouse, 27312.
• Clayton: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at Clayton Town Square, 27520.
• Fayetteville: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Cross Creek Linear Park, 28301
• Southern Pines: 3-5 p.m. at Downtown Park, 145 SE Broad St., 28387.
• Oxford: 10-11 a.m. at Orange St. Community Center, 27565.

Stay safe this weekend, and thank you for continuing to hold fast to your principles, for standing up for your neighbors and our democracy during this difficult moment.