Anti-Trump Chants, Rated
Some suggestions for your next protest event.
In New York on Monday, I attended a rally for women and allies outside of Donald Trump’s Columbus Circle hotel. The idea was to gather female-identified people and their supporters in one place to protest the president-elect on his own turf, and to that end it was a success. But when you get as broad as “women” and “allies” with your attendees, there are going to be differences in approach. At one point, while a circle of communists nearby banged on a drum and chanted “America was NEVER great!” a clutch of women behind me (not dissimilar-sounding from Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein’s “Portlandia” bookstore characters), aired their grievances.
“We need to talk about specific issues. What’s a chant we can do about Russian intelligence?” one asked.
“What rhymes with cyber hacks?” her friend replied.
They eventually workshopped a chant they were happy with and tried to shout it over the communists’ singing, but it never caught on. The result was a bunch of people shouting different messages over one another loudly. In other words: an un-unified look.
I’m by no means a seasoned protester, but I’ve marched in a few Black Lives Matter demonstrations over the years and didn’t appreciate how organized and singularly voiced they were until observing yesterday’s event. Where previously I’d felt like I was folding myself into a well-oiled machine and picking up on more experienced people’s cues, the women’s march felt scattered and directionless.
The sounds from the organizers’ bullhorn speakers didn’t reach the majority of the crowd, so people were making up chants as they went, testing the waters to see how many people nearby agreed strongly enough to join in. Sometimes something would resonate and the whole group would pick it up, other times the creator would feebly shout alone for a few repetitions until getting lost in the noise. The vibe was “polite writers’ room”—everyone ready for an idea but unwilling to throw one out there.
So in the interest of clarity, here are the chants I heard at my rally, rated by how much I’d recommend them for your own:
Racist, sexist, anti-gay
Donald Trump go away
8/10. This one is easy enough to pick up after you’ve heard it a time or two, and it’s a good one to use when you’re marching past people with cell phones who seem skeptical.
Women’s rights are under attack
What do we do? Stand up, fight back
6/10. It’s a mouthful, but people really got on board once they figured out what was being said.
No hate, no fear
Immigrants are welcome here
8/10. It’s a little clunky, but it’s also inclusive and goal-oriented.
Show me what democracy looks like
This is what democracy looks like
10/10. This is a standard call-and-response that you can repeat over and over without getting tired, and it’s also a great reminder that protesting is a necessary part of our governmental process. Eventually the back-to-back Ls for “looks like” starts to wear on you, but that’s a really delayed eventually.
We [beat] are [beat] the popular vote
10/10. Cuts to the chase and people pick it up no problem.
This is the season
To say no to treason
3/10. A little weak all around imo.
We hate Donald Trump!
0/10. Don’t do this at an event where you’re protesting someone else for being hateful, it’s bad.
Pay your taxes!
10/10. Easy to understand, easy to repeat, and something a president should for sure do.
You’re fired
3/10. This didn’t get much attention at my rally, but in the right environment I think people could get a kick out of it.
My body, my choice
10/10. Another one that’s easy to understand and repeat.
The people united will never be defeated
10/10.
Not my president!
4/10. Kind of redundant given the nature of the event, no? People enjoy it, but you could def be saying more.
Hey-hey, ho-ho
Donald Trump has got to go
6/10. You feel like you’re at a high school football game, and after yelling it four times you’ll want to stop, but it’s catchy and fun enough while it lasts.
