It Only Takes 3.5% to Turn the Tide
Did you know that nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change?
Being a personal stylist is an unusual job. I often joke that the consultation is just an opportunity for a potential client to see whether or not she’s comfortable changing her clothes in front of me. After all, the services and pricing are on full display on the website.
Because of this unusually intimate job, I also have a really delightful opportunity to have very real conversations with a wide variety of women.
And they are pretty freaked out.
Which is a reasonable response as our country takes very real steps into Authoritarianism and Autocracy.
If you haven’t seen this already, popularized by bad ass Stacy Abrams, it’s pretty profound.
The 10 Steps to Autocracy and Authoritarianism
“These steps don’t happen in order—they occur simultaneously to overwhelm and confuse opposition. Recognize them. Resist them. Reverse them.”
Because of my conversations with so many women, I can tell you that I’m hearing lots of talk about leaving the country. Which I absolutely understand.
You know what’s easier than leaving the country?
Attending a protest. Especially one that is slated to be the largest protest in American history.
One of our crew from the April, 2025 protest.
I’ve been attending protests since I was in high school. Between you and me, I’ve never really enjoyed them very much. But, I do it, because it’s the right thing to do.
Early in the current administration, I wanted to protest and I started reaching out to friends to see who would join. In the end, only two friends could go- both of whom had never protested before. It was protest, rather than a march. In the spirit of full transparency, I’m more of a march person. With a march, you move with purpose and gather momentum. You show off your signs.
With protests, we gather hundreds or even thousands of people together, often to stand around struggling to hear the speakers or find a public restroom. But I do it, because it’s the right thing to do.
On this second go-round, we had a crowd of twelve including one spunky toddler, which felt great.
Then, the last No Kings protest came along. My now loyal protesting buddies couldn’t make it. And, despite reaching out via text or phone to over 25 people, I couldn’t find anyone that was planning to go. A handful of folks were heading to their local protest, which was comforting, but overall, I was profoundly disappointed. In the end, I reached out to some neighbors that I hadn’t seen in years, hoping they’d go. So, the three of us went together.
Of course, people have obligations and plans and all the things. After all, my family couldn’t make it to the last No Kings protest. But, as things become more dire, I struggle with the general lack of willingness to make our voices heard with organized peaceful protest. I know, it won’t change the world, but I promise you, it will do something that matters.
5 Reasons to Attend the No Kings Protest ( and March!) on Saturday, October 18th, 2025.
Because 3.5% of us is TOTALLY do-able.
Seriously. When in your life has 3.5% been an A? I’m just going to repeat this quote from the BBC again for you. Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change.
Because Spider Man’s Uncle Ben was right when he said, “With great power there must also come great responsibility.”
One of the reasons that it was so difficult to find friends to join me at various protests was because I had never really considered how many of our friends were not born in the U.S. It is very clear to me why someone who does not have the protections of citizenship would be weary of marching. And friends who are naturalized citizens are frightened, too. I get that.
Based on my own experience, I’m guessing there is a high percentage of Americans, citizens or not, who are frightened. Those of us who have more protections, like birthright citizenship have a responsibility to stand up for our country, our values and for those who are at greater risk.
And let’s face it, one of the benefits of living here is the contribution of immigrants over generations. People come here for a long list of reasons. Our country is not perfect. But this list of reasons is worth fighting for. Exercising our rights (like peaceful protest) helps us protect those rights and show gratitude for them. After all, not everyone is so lucky.
Yes, we’re seeing reproductive rights, for example, being decimated, but to put it into context, there are women who have no access to birth control or the right to drive or who to choose to marry. The difference between any of them and any of us, is pure luck. We were fortunate to be born here. So let’s fight to protect our rights and our country.
Because without large protests, the rest of the world believes that we support this administration’s actions.
I have a close friend who lives in France and we check in every week or so. Listening to someone living in Europe talk about what this debacle looks like from another country is heartbreaking. Sure, protesting is unlikely to make the current administration make big changes. But, if nothing else, it communicates very clearly to the world that we are not all in agreement. That sends important signals to people around the world, many of whom think that the majority of Americans agree with the actions of this administration.
Because it is imperative that you stand up to a bully.
The most effective way to stop a bully from terrorizing more and more people is to take away his power. You cannot give in. You MUST stand up. And time is running out. The more our rights are degraded, the less likely we will continue to have those rights in the future, even with a different administration (should that happen).
Because the next generation is counting on us.
You know how angry you are at the generation before you that refused to fix the roads, secure a safe retirement or healthcare for you? Imagine the level of disappointment the next generation will feel when we leave them climate change and oh yeah, autocracy.
Because coming together to march will change the way you see the world and yourself.
As I mentioned, I’m not a fan of protests or really marches. I do them because it’s important, but I don’t typically love spending the day this way.
That all changed at the first march of this administration. If you recall, I was there with my two friends. Neither had met the other and it was the first protest for each. Things started out pretty typically with speeches in Capitol Hill, as the Jimmy Hendrix statue looked on, keeping things interesting.
But the real magic happened during the march. I found myself on the verge of tears as the momentum built.
This weird, slow then fast experience of the second Trump administration means that we all feel like frogs in water heating to a boil. Everyone seems to know we are in the water and yet, the common sentiment is that we are not capable of escaping, so we just commiserate about how hot the water is. Alternatively, we stand around feeling like we’re the only person seeing what’s going on, effectively being gaslit by the lack of action around us. I mean, if it’s really that bad, wouldn’t people be in the streets?
It’s excruciating.
How many of us, myself included, have taken a news break to just make it through the day? What is privilege if not the ability to unplug from the news with seemingly no personal consequence? In contrast, that news break likely offered benefits like improved short term mental health. So, there’s that.
Or do you fight, only to turn around and realize that you are fighting alone? Nobody wants to attend a march with no turnout. After all, who doesn’t already have plans for a Saturday? We’re all beaten down, some more than others. We’re exhausted, demoralized, frightened, enraged. And yet, we don’t take to the streets.
Until we do.
That march brought tears to my eyes because for the first time, with two inaugural protesters by my side, it was clear that I wasn’t alone. It was clear that we COULD actually do this. All we needed was more folks to get on board. It was possible….
And then a few months went by…. and still, no giant crowds taking to the streets.
Until now.
That is until October 18th.
Whether or not you have protested before. Regardless of whether or not you are comfortable in protests or afraid or have a full day planned on the 18th- whatever that obstacle. THIS is the chance and we may not get many more of them.
RSVP for the No Kings Protest on Saturday, October 18th, 2025
Make a plan to go. Host a sign making party. Strongly encourage your friends, your acquaintances, your neighbors, anyone who is looking to stop what feels like a forgone conclusion. We have power. We just need to use it. And, if you need a silver lining, we only need 3.5% of us to go beyond feelings of connection and validation. We only need 3.5% of us to actually make an impact.
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