There’s widespread speculation regarding a mass protest on November 4th against U.S. President Donald Trump and his entire administration. Right-wing online conspiracy theories point to an all out civil war between Trump supporters and Anti-Trump protesters (particularly the group Antifa). But the organizers of the protest on November 4th are hoping for a nonviolent demonstration reminiscent of the Women’s March earlier this year.
News of the November 4th protest first broke out on September 26 when a group of protesters blocked rush-hour traffic on Highway 101 in Los Angeles, holding up signs advertising the date of the protest.
Here’s a video of the activist group Fight Fascism blocking rush-hour traffic to raise awareness and send out a warning to the opposition:
The Facebook page that posted the video described the scene:
In Los Angeles — Protesters Block Highway 101. Carrying signs that say November 4th it Begins… This nightmare must end. The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go! November 4 It Begins.”
According to article in LA Weekly, USC film professor Peter Hoberman was among the protesters blocking traffic to draw attention to their “Nov. 4th” warning against the U.S. president and his administration. Hoberman is a member of the national steering community for the group Refuse Fascism. The protest lasted for 20 minutes, before Hoberman and seven others were arrested on misdemeanor charges and kept in custody for 12 hours.
Hoberman said that the November 4th demonstration will be modeled after January’s Women’s March protest.
What Does Refuse Fascism Hope To Achieve?
Refuse Fascism
They hope that the event lasts for several days or as up until Donald Trump and Mike Pence are out of the White House.
A donation site for the November 4 planned mass-protest says:
November 4th needs to be the start of sustained, prolonged protest in the streets. Day after day, night after night, people need to continue to come out and demand the ouster of this fascist regime.
They plan to end “the nightmare” of the “Trump/Pence Regmine. If you go to their website, you’ll find out more about November 4:
We will gather in the streets and public squares of cities and towns across this country, at first many thousands declaring that this whole regime is illegitimate and that we will not stop until our single demand is met: This Nightmare Must End: the Trump/Pence Regime Must Go!”
When you click on the call to action page, you’ll see:
ON NOVEMBER 4, 2017 Take To The Streets And Public Squares in cities and towns across the country continuing day after day and night after night—not stopping—until our DEMAND is met.”
On the class to action page, Refuse Fascism shares their aspiration to grow this movement into a true threat to the regime, with thousand and then millions of participants:
Our protest must grow day after day and night after night—thousands becoming hundreds of thousands, and then millions—determined to act to put a stop to the grave danger that the Trump/Pence Regime poses to the world by demanding that this whole regime be removed from power.
The Refuse Fascism’s Los Angeles Facebook page seems to also be going after certain sects of Christianity. A post from September 28 saya:
On November 4th-WE WILL FLOOD INTO THE PUBLIC SQUARE. In our millions we will force the entire world to take note of our uncompromising actions. This is the only reasonable way to end this nightmare. Waiting till 2018 or 2020 represents a misunderstanding that this is fascism and that the Trump/Pence regime are fighting furiously to consolidate their rule (eliminate opposition and resistance) and impose a white supremacist, misogynistic, bible-taken-literally America-first vision on all of humanity. Are you ready to fight furiously for the future of humanity and the planet? Join with others from a diversity of perspectives. Take up this call to action.
Will The Protest Become Violent or Nonviolent?
RefuseFascism/Facebook
Refuse Fascism is not calling for violence, though they don’t condemn those who fight a fascist regime by any means. In early September, the group denounced those who attack Antifa; an anarchistic-communist group who has been known to take part violent clashes with their opponents, sometimes initating the violence themselves. Refuse Fascism praised Antifa for fighting against those who seek to impose fascism and for their actions in protecting counter-protesters during the Charlottesville incident in August. The group said any attempt at attacking Antifa is “designed to intimidate, suppress, and divide all opposition to fascism.”
The group wrote:
Given the horrific assault on Muslims, women, immigrants, LGBTQ, Black people, science, the environment, civil liberties, and people around the world by this regime, it is more important than ever that people have the right to stand up to fascism, to protest and to resist. Differences over tactics, where they exist, must not divide the people’s resistance.”
Refuse Fascism has refuted all headlines asserting that “Antifa is calling for violent riots on November 4” or “Antifa planning terror attacks on November 4”. The group had said in an earlier statement that they only organize non-violent protests.
In a statement on September 9, the “anti-fascist group” Refuse Fascism wrote on its website:
Refuse Fascism does not initiate violence. We oppose violence against the people and among the people, but we uphold people’s fundamental and legal right to self-defense. We welcome and actively seek to involve people who come from a great diversity of views on many big questions, including when and whether any form of violence is ever legitimate. This is a great strength as it will take millions of people working and struggling together to stop a fascist America by driving out the Trump/Pence Fascist Regime. The efforts we undertake together consist of nonviolent political protest.
Reddit Response
One Trump supporter on Reddit is fearing the worst for November 4th. In The_Donald subreddit, one Redditor started up a thread titled “So what is the plan for November 4?” and wrote: “In my opinion I say we should all be arming ourselves and taking to the rooftops and streets to defend our cities. If they want a war I say let’s give it to them. Let them fire the first shot and then let those pathetic commie bastards know we mean business. What is the consensus of the rest of you? I love my country, and even though I am not a military serviceman I would still gladly lay down my life for my country. Should we be preparing ourselves for war? Or do we stand by? Because again in my opinion if these commies follow through with this plan it will only cement a Trump victory in 2020.”
Other Twitter users suggested that fear surrounding November 4th is propaganda. “Don’t go looking for a throw down,” one user wrote. “You’d be doing exactly what they want, just go about your normal lives and refuse to even acknowledge their special little occasion.”
In one Conspiracy subreddit, one Reddit told his readers to stock up on food, water, gold, silver, and medicine, along with guns and ammo, before November 4. While most people feel that the protest won’t last through Sunday night.
Refuse Fascism has denouced political violence, and say that they plan a peaceful demonstration against the Donald Trump and Mike Pence on Novemeber 4.
