How QR Codes and Demonstrations Can Expand the Circle of Opposition 

Powerful that our anti-Trump demonstrations become, we can do more to hire new participants. The marches and rallies of the No Kings day showed strength and mind, strengthened the courage of the participants, gave us the voice through our figures and the extent of our presence. Trump Iran strikes should still feed the resistance. But whatever the aspects of the actions of the regime that we highlight, we must also see demonstrations such as organizational opportunities, to link new people to the growing movement contesting the Trump regime.

What happens if future demonstrations, large and small, included QR codes on signs, so that the new participants can connect to the growing movement? What if large organizations have created joint sites for anti-top t-shirts, bumper stickers and buttons with QR codes that connect in the same way?

Many people who attended the demonstrations were already linked to various organizational groups. But most were not. They arrived by media coverage in advance, which may not occur as next time, because there will be no simultaneous Trump parade. They came because they saw panels in the streets. Friends told them at the last minute. We will never know the precise mixture, but it is essential to engage people who join movements at their times of greater participation. We do it better by connecting them to organizations that can offer continuous resources to express and act, and to help new participants to hire others.

With enough volunteers, the sponsorship groups can do so by directly approaching participants to register people to obtain alerts from websites and organizational social sites, to record them to vote or to enlist them in follow -up canvases and telephone banks. But it’s difficult when you have a massive crowd. Thus, for the next major national event, but also for major local actions, the organizers could put QR codes on banners and panels that would be linked to a site where people could register with key sponsorship groups. Volunteers could circulate the panels through the crowd, with messages like “Stay involved. Register here ”, followed by the QR code. QR codes can also be used to help people register to vote.

The same approach could work with movement equipment. It’s great that people are starting not to wear kings and t-shirts and anti-top buttons. They send a critical message that Trump can have power, but we too, and that more of us act together, the more we have power. The Maga hats helped make Trump supporters a movement. Our own shared symbols can also strengthen us.

Well, although this equipment is fairly easy to find online, it does not offer the means to participate. The addition of QR codes leading people to online engagement centers could do so. The same QR codes could even be used by support musicians, displaying them on stage to help hire their spectators.

The organization of coalitions using QR codes on steps and other events should decide which groups present: 200 organizations sponsored without kings. But the organizers can give people a choice with links, so it’s not just a single group. The organizations that develop quickly are also faced with the challenges of new participants, including those with different programs. As we have seen in the movements of the era of the Vietnam War, the Arab Spring and the Brazilian events of 2013 which began to oppose hikes of bus price but paved the way in Bolsonaro (while Vincent Bevins told in If we burn). But if we have to engage people in the figures necessary to return the Trump regime’s attacks on democracy and many other things, we must engage new people and help to engage others. QR codes can be an important tool to help do so.