By Dr. Alon Ben-Meir*
NEW YORK | 19 January 2026 (IDN) — When a government violates democratic principles, large-scale peaceful demonstrations can send a strong message. It’s a way for people to collectively demonstrate their commitment to democratic values and advocate for change without resorting to violence. The massive protests that followed the killing of Renee Good by ICE in Minneapolis were not spontaneous; it was an outburst of anger and the cumulative result of long-standing tensions with the government.
The demonstrations arose from the struggle to reconcile enforcement power with public trust, which has dramatically eroded. The public reaction echoes profound concerns about how immigration enforcement is conducted, how federal authority is exercised, and how accountability was absent when lethal force was used by federal agents.
Relentless, nationwide mobilization
The people in American cities protesting ICE are doing what must be done, albeit at great risk. But there is no substitute for people actually pouring into the streets and peacefully protesting. Public protest is not symbolic or abstract; it is a concrete action that matters greatly, as it makes it much more difficult for the government to commit crimes with no accountability.
The protests that followed the killing of Good were driven as much by fear and insecurity as by grief, as demonstrations spread across the country. A consistent pattern emerged across cities with very different political and social spectrums. Protesters voiced similar concerns—the breakdown of law and order, and the vile behavior of the Trump administration.
Continued, relentless, and frequent peaceful demonstrations by the millions from coast to coast are sine qua non for protecting our democracy and bringing an end to the nightmare that has engulfed the country. Millions of Americans, irrespective of their political orientation, race, ethnicity, or religion, who care about the country’s future, must pour into the streets, with one message:
We will never be deterred, succumb or be intimidated, and we will remain resilient and steadfast and resort to any other peaceful means, including civil disobedience and strikes, until Trump halts his violations of our democratic principles and fully adheres to his oath of office to defend and protect the Constitution.
Beyond the streets
Expressing dissent, however, is not limited to peaceful protests; fostering open dialogue is another way for people to express dissent, and it can involve different groups. Community leaders, educators, civil society organizations, and even everyday citizens can all play a role in town halls or community forums. It’s about creating a space where people share their views and listen to one another. Saving our democracy is a shared duty and responsibility across society.
Without meaningful avenues for accountability, public trust erodes, and protest becomes the only remaining tool available to citizens. From a policy perspective, the scale of these protests points to an institutional imbalance: enforcement systems depend not only on legal authority but on public consent.
The public, which would bear the brunt of dictatorial rule, must be the first line of defense, prepared to face any threat, intimidation, or force, and remain resilient and unwavering in their commitment to protecting our precious democratic way of life.
It cannot be reiterated enough that relentless and massive public protest from coast to coast is the only way to stop this lawless Trump administration from destroying our democracy before it’s too late.
*Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations, most recently at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He taught courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies. [IDN-InDepthNew]
Image source: The Kansas City Star