Protesters are being paid, in a way
The Anti-Trump Movement has been nothing but swift, unrelenting, loud and ever-growing. It’s something that’s gained a lot of criticism from conservatives, but it can’t be denied that it’s a movement more massive and diverse than the Tea Party movement, but also more organized and goal-oriented than the Occupy Wall Street movement.
-By Ted Eytan
The day after Trump’s inauguration speech, the Million Women’s March had an estimated 2.6 million on Washington D.C., eclipsing the weekend’s coverage of Trump’s special day. A fact the president still resents to this day. The march was in direct opposition to Trump and what he stood for, that coupled with with alt-right figure Richard Spencer getting slugged in the jaw solidified it as a historic Anti-Trump event.
Since then, more protests have erupted across the nation almost every other week, reacting to the recklessness of the Trump administration and the dangerous rhetoric his supporters or advisors publicly claim. In addition to the protests in the streets, countless constituents in districts across the nation are demanding their congressmen attend town hall meetings. There, they will be subjected to the rantings from a mass of angry citizens asking them what they plan to do about where their children can get healthcare coverage without benefits from the Affordable Care Act or why their transgender child can no longer feel safe going to the bathroom for the gender they identify with.
Since then, the resistance has been criticized by the far-right as being a bunch of sore losers. But a new rhetoric from the right, with many lawmakers claiming that a considerable amount of protesters are being paid to be there and rabble-rouse.
Their explanation, much like many things these kinds of politicians care about, is money.
Now are there such things as paid protesters? Yes, I’ve even interviewed protesters with signs on the side of a road who said they were being paid to stand there, unaware of the very thing they were protesting. But the claims from politicians claim these people are not just holding signs but causing property damage, victimizing innocent people and at a size that would be enough to be noticed.
The stigma began circulating for more than a month or so ago about the outrageous claim that the massive size of protesters spending their time traveling to the city streets to speak out against their government couldn’t be this genuine unless they were being paid.
U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas made a statement Feb. 21 where he refused to hold a town hall meeting for fear of his safety, mentioning the assault of former Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords as one of the victims of a mass shooter in 2011.
“Unfortunately, at this time there are groups from the more violent strains of the leftist ideology, some even being paid, who are preying on public town halls to wreak havoc and threaten public safety.”
- Rep. Louie Gohmert
This claim has been debunked by Politifact, but the claim is still out there.
Ohio’s very own congressman Bill Johnson spoke at a “Spirit of America” Trump Rally in the Youngstown area March 4, spoke to Trump supporters. In his speech, he mentioned the trouble caused by protesters, some paid by billionaire financier George Soros, antagonizing a preacher in Louisiana.
So this is their new chant: paid protesters. And they’re right. Every single one of these protesters are being paid. But not the way you think.
These protesters are paid by the very politicians they protest. These politicians sign checks of resentment and hatred their constituents cash immediately. They are paid in the grief of the loss of their peace of mind. They are rewarded with their own tears and questions of how they will go on another month with what they’ve had to deal with. When lawmakers want to stop protesters from speaking out and causing civil unrest with new laws preventing them to do so, it’s just another direct deposit into their bank of dissatisfaction.
Any lawmaker who accuses these protesters of working for any other ulterior motive than social change is not only ignorant but a coward. Protesters have talking points, they have reasons to fight when we see the executive actions or baseless lies from the Trump administration. If this cycle continues, then there is only one way to show how real these protesters are serious and a silent majority: vote them out of office.
Remember the way you were tossed aside like garbage for the very real and concerning issues you showed up to talk about. If you have organized for a protest against these decisions and met by your own congressmen with claims of being paid, make sure you come to collect.
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