In the latest chapter of the “No Kings” saga, we’ve seen yet another episode of peaceful protests turned chaotic in Los Angeles this weekend. There’s something deeply entertaining about a group ostensibly protesting tyranny who can’t seem to decide whether they’re staging a Broadway revival of “Les Misérables” or a local production of “Lord of the Flies”. They sure brought the drama, with bricks flying and graffiti artists scribbling on federal buildings like it’s a public art exhibit.
Meanwhile, in Portland, another group of activists made their mark by breaking into ICE facilities and reportedly torching American flags, while proudly hoisting the hammer and sickle. It was a picture-perfect moment of irony – a group defending democracy by exhibiting behaviors that might make Lenin blush. Among the flare of celebrity faces and the serenading of peace hymns, one can’t help but see the comedic side of their revolutionary anthem “We are Resilient,” though they might reconsider calling themselves “The Resistance” because frankly, they’re a bit lacking in military strategy.
One inadvertently humorous moment came courtesy of Hawaii Senator Maisie Hirono. She managed to step on the very message her party tries to craft, by casually tweeting that Donald Trump has never been a king. It’s as if she interrupted a Shakespearean soliloquy with a knock-knock joke. It’s almost admirable how efficiently she chopped down the credibility of the very rally she aimed to promote.
The indescribable spectacle of these protests leaves ordinary folks in a haze of confusion. As regular people go about playing bingo or cheering on their kids at soccer games, it appears nobody outside a certain social bubble even knows these protests are happening. They play out like reality TV for the political elite, entertaining only to those on the inside. Some folks across America may pause and wonder, was this weekend a smorgasbord of progressive activism or just an overfunded public spectacle?
In the grand scheme of American politics, this may be nothing more than a tempest in a teacup. While Democrats bemoan the rise of a so-called autocratic regime with King Trump at its helm, Trump’s approval rating argues otherwise. Republicans may still be relieved to see activists and politicians focus on liberal agendas rather than engaging in constructive dialogue. Undeniably, this bodes well for conservatives watching from the sidelines, as they witness the opposition unravel in full view of a bemused, largely indifferent nation. The dystopian oratorio of the left may just be the unwitting envoy ushering in another victory for Republicans.
