Editor’s Note: This article was submitted to Amerikaner.org by James. If you would like to submit your own content to the website, please email editor@amerikaner.org
The recent protest in Sioux Falls against Donald Trump and Project 2025 was a revealing look at the state of modern activism. While there were a few genuine conversations and (from their perspective at least) well-intentioned participants, the majority of the event felt like a disorganized display of misplaced energy, driven more by parroted narratives than by deep understanding of the issues at hand.
A Protest Lacking Depth
One of the most striking aspects of this gathering was how many attendees struggled to articulate the causes they were supposedly fighting for. When questioned, many could only offer surface-level explanations, suggesting that they had been handed talking points rather than arriving at their positions through critical thought.
Consider some of the main themes at the protest:
- “Save USAID” – A woman holding this sign could only offer a basic defense of the program, emphasizing its small budget impact. When asked about its historical role in undermining democratically elected governments and economic coercion through these programs, she was unable to respond.
- “Pro-Working Class” – A protester advocating for the working class pointed to DEI initiatives and open immigration as solutions. When asked how these policies directly benefit workers, she couldn’t provide a meaningful answer.
- “The Rich Rule Our Country” – One participant cited tax breaks as evidence of elite control but dismissed concerns about politicians like Warren and Sanders receiving substantial donations from industries they claim to regulate.
- LSS and Government Funding – When asked about Lutheran Social Services (LSS), an organization involved in refugee resettlement, a protester was unable to clarify its mission or whether it even receives government funding—despite the fact that it heavily does.
Many of the attendees admitted they had been handed signs that they did not make themselves, which further highlighted the lack of deep engagement with the issues. In contrast, our movement tends to be driven by individuals who are well-versed in the causes they champion.
Misguided Opposition
While the protest was framed as a challenge to power, much of what was advocated actually aligns with establishment interests. This isn’t to say that these individuals were acting in bad faith per se, but rather that they have absorbed narratives that ultimately reinforce the status quo rather than disrupt it.
- Selective Criticism – The protesters were vocal against Trump and Project 2025, but silent on the fact that their own preferred politicians, like Warren and Sanders, are just as compromised by corporate interests.
- Faith in Government Bureaucracy – Programs like USAID and large-scale international aid were defended without a critical look at their track records, the impacts they have on the sovereignty of foreign nations and their political stability, or how these outcomes reflect negatively on our nation’s reputation abroad.
- Questionable Economic Policies – Calls for open borders and corporate-led DEI initiatives were presented as pro-worker, despite evidence suggesting these policies often harm the very people they aim to help, namely working class Americans of all backgrounds. Many participants were openly pro-illegal immigration, often citing the same tired talking points of America being a nation of immigrants and that our nation is founded on stolen land.
That said, there were a few attendees open to real discussion. A woman named Shelly, for example, expressed skepticism about politicians who accept pharmaceutical money and was receptive to discussing media bias in her preferred news source, NPR, due to Big Pharma influence. Another participant, Tim, admitted he didn’t know much about transgender issues or frankly care much about the issue, however he was open to exploring different viewpoints and we also found common ground on discussion related to Kamala Harris’ failed presidential bid. Lastly Cyndi, one of the event organizers, was willing to discuss a wide variety of economic and political issues where we found common ground and offered to meet again in the near future to discuss our viewpoints further. However, these individuals were often the exception rather than the rule.
The Protest’s Composition and Atmosphere
The crowd skewed younger, and heavily female, with a notable presence of LGBT activists and a handful of individuals who may be associated with Antifa. There were also symbolic elements such as Lakota land acknowledgments and drum ceremonies, which seemed more performative than impactful.
Hostility was present, including several anti-“Nazi” and anti-Fascist chants. Some attendees were aggressive toward those who questioned them, particularly a few younger women and a self-described nonbinary female who antagonized Gordon and an older MAGA supporter. However, the older MAGA supporter proved to be equally as antagonistic at times with many of the younger attendees, particularly once he felt that Gordon and I were potential allies to his cause (despite both of us making it clear that we are not MAGA or Trump supporters, or even what might be deemed “conservative” in mainstream channels).
Lessons From Their Mistakes
This event illustrated some key takeaways about modern activism and the challenges of fostering meaningful discourse:
- The Need for Deeper Understanding – Several of the participants seemed well-intentioned but lacked the depth necessary to defend their positions. Education and critical analysis are essential for any meaningful movement. We need to learn from their failings and ensure we maintain a thorough understanding of our positions, potential arguments against our positions, and a willingness to explain our viewpoints in a way that is receptive to a wider audience.
- Avoiding Manufactured Narratives – Many causes championed at the protest align with establishment goals, suggesting a need for activists to reassess whether their energy is being directed effectively. This is generally not an issue our movement faces, as we rarely align with the establishment unless by rare fluke. But we do at times fall into narrative traps that do benefit the establishment against our cause, so we would be wise to be aware of this potential.
- Finding Common Ground Where Possible – While most discussions were unproductive, if not openly combative, a few attendees demonstrated a willingness to engage. Building on these opportunities is crucial for breaking through ideological barriers. We may not win over the masses to our cause, but remember that many individuals in our movement were once misguided souls such as these.
- The Importance of Grassroots Engagement – The protest’s reliance on waving signs made by other individuals and brandishing generalized slogans contrasted sharply with the more informed and self-directed nature of movements that challenge both corporate and government control such as ours. We must be simple and direct in our messaging, and most importantly, be willing to defend our ideals with the intellectual rigor they deserve.
Conclusion: A Movement in Need of Direction
The 50501 protest in Sioux Falls was less a demonstration of true dissent and more a reflection of the broader crisis in modern political engagement—misguided energy, surface-level understanding, and a lack of internal scrutiny. Even Cyndi admitted that there is a lack of coordination and communication among their diverse and disparate movement here locally. While some participants were open to dialogue, most were locked into rigid narratives that prevented meaningful discussion. And in fact, it appeared that many participants were still gathered into various cliques, with little interaction between them from what I witnessed.
For real change to occur, movements must be driven by knowledge, critical thinking, and genuine grassroots involvement by individuals deeply versed in the principles and values of their cause rather than surface level talking points. Without these elements, protests like this will continue to be little more than symbolic gestures, easily co-opted by the very system they claim to challenge.
This is not to suggest ways to help their movement improve, rather, that we can (and must) learn from their mistakes and build a stronger more cohesive movement with better coordination and communication between our various elements. In unity, there is strength.