Heat and light in Hyannis, April 5
Tangible impacts? Hard to show, but consider this: Building a political movement is like building a fire
Four roadways raying from the Airport Rotary in Hyannis were lined for hundreds of feet, people shoulder to shoulder sometimes three or four deep, human tendrils extending off the core circumference which was even more packed. Many hoisted funky homemade signs expressing all kinds of thoughts and emotions, united in protest and disdain for Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and United States policies. A few examples from April 5, 2025:
“ICE WILL MELT”
“Nothing says DUPED like a Trump flag”
“Make America Think Again”
“Save the Penguins, Stop the Tariffs”
“No one elected Elon Musk”
“Hate Won’t Make Us Great”
“The Orange Jesus is a False Prophet”
“Germany:1933 America:2025 (this time, the footage is in color)”
“This is not OK”
The theme of the day was HANDS OFF! (gloves at the far right of this picture offer elaborating palms), followed by a long list of what should be left alone: Free speech, social security, immigrants, veterans, LGBTQ rights, the environment, the postal service, education.
To me the overarching message tilted negative. Movements are built by clearing new paths and proposing creative alternatives; HANDS ON! would have been my more positive preference.
But the energy of those attending was anything but passive. A choir of the converted, the congregation was huge, boisterous, and uplifting. To say, as the White House and others have, that these people were “paid to show up” is another disgusting Big Lie.
A little thing like a knee replacement didn’t stop County Commissioner Ron Bergstrom from employing his cane to circumambulate, talking with friends and constituents. To the question of whether a demonstration like this accomplishes anything, he mused more than waxed, as did many:
“It’s understandable to say, ‘Hey, we’re in Massachusetts, what’s the difference?’” Bergstrom said. “But people all over this country are hurting. People who supported him are going to take a beating, so we’re here not just for ourselves.”
Katie from Harwich had another take, standing at the rotary’s curve onto Route 28 toward Falmouth:
“What’s the alternative?” she wondered. “What’s silence going to do?”
Then she joined a group chanting, “Say it loud, say it clear/Immigrants are welcome here,” and “Hey hey, ho ho/Trump and Musk have got to go.”
Speaking of immigrants, the crowd was white, even though Hyannis has strong Brazilian, Haitian, and Jamaican communities. For sure ICE fears about a public profile kept people away.
Spontaneous interactions could be overheard as people stood shoulder to shoulder, many passing cars honking in support, a few extending middle digits.
“My question is, Where are all the Elon Musk hospital wings, museums, and other philanthropies?” one man demanded of a temporary neighbor. “At least the old robber barons gave something back.”
When another group walking through the adjacent parking lot was accosted by obscenities from a passing truck, a protestor responded, “How’s your 401-k doing?”
The event was peaceful, creative, heartfelt, invigorating, emotionally supportive to those who participated, intended to combat a sense of overpowered futility. But even combined with comparable expressions around the Cape, country, and world, did it accomplish anything?
I’ll circle back, like the rotary itself, to an idea I’ve long espoused:
Political movements are like fires. They start small, easily extinguished. They build stick by stick, gaining heat and vitality. Then they reach a point of spontaneous combustion, throwing off energy to expand and overwhelm.
Political movements need hot cores. The hotter the core, the farther heat and combustion radiate.
If this metaphor is true, then a passionate protest in blue Massachusetts is not an indulgent exercise. It makes the core hotter.
This event did not change minds, more heat than light, but remains important. It also contributed to a helpful visual message to share around the globe:
Trump-Musk does not equal the American people.
Then there’s one more argument, as framed by Katie from Harwich. Question impact as you will, but this is far better than the alternative — silence.
Not a paid subscriber yet? If ever there was a time, it’s now.
Support real local journalism and you’ll receive enterprising reporting, nuanced writing, strong perspectives, unique takes every week from Cape Cod and beyond.
So please, subscribe, keep me going, sharing a Voice:
https://sethrolbein.substack.com/welcome
And if you are into Instagram, want to see some additional material, maybe share the work, here you go:
When people ask me “Why are you doing this - here in MA? What do you think you’ll accomplish?” My answer comes from the feedback I get from attendees sometimes days after the event. Many people simply feel helpless and isolated and are thankful that they can join in community with others who are feeling the same way. It shows our neighbors that we are willing to put ourselves in a public space and be loud to support the HUMAN BEINGS who are under attack by OUR government. An immigrant friend of mine pulled me aside in the grocery store and said when he drives through the corner where the protests and rallies are held and reads the signs, it makes him feel loved and safe. That’s enough for me.
It is as important as anything else, that people who have not yetbeen motivated to act, people who have not yet been hurt personally, that all of those people will know there is a place to go when the proverbial sh*t actually does hit the fan, their fan. Using your metaphor, they’ll know there’s a fire burning that they can add fuel to. They’ll have seen it, and won’t feel so all alone, so hopeless.