This Is What Democracy Sings Like

Image of Rapid Response Choir. Courtesy photo (Credit: Laura Mitterman)

Despite what you may have heard about a “muted” response to President Donald Trump’s second term, the size and scope of protests in 2025 have far surpassed what we saw in 2017.

According to data compiled by Harvard political scientist Erica Chenoweth and researchers at the Crowd Counting Consortium, the vast majority of these protests have been nonviolent; in April and May — which included large nationwide protests like Hands Off!, No Kings, and May Day — 99.5% of the protests featured “no injuries, arrests or property damage.”

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An image of the November 2026 issue of Sojourners, titled "Face to Face." It features George Lakey on the cover
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