By Heidi Ganahl | Rocky Mountain Voice
Editor’s note: Please be advised some unavoidable graphic language appears in this piece.
Cities across the United States are preparing for a wave of protests and potential unrest, as various anti-establishment groups signal their intent to take to the streets regardless of the election outcome.
From Seattle to Portland, Philadelphia and Tampa, a coalition of groups —- ranging from Antifa to pro-Palestine activists, socialist organizations, and anarchist factions —- are mobilizing to express discontent with the country’s political landscape, decrying both major candidates and the systems they represent.
Flyers circulating in several cities, including the ones shared through channels associated with Antifa and other protest networks, convey a message of defiance and dissatisfaction. The tone is blunt and incendiary, with one flyer declaring, “Everything is F_ _ _ed,” and another stating, “USA is Cancelled.” The messaging appears to make it clear that these groups are rallying not just against the candidates on the ballot, but against the entire American political and social order.
A nationwide movement for unrest
In Seattle, a flyer for a Nov. 5 protest at Cal Anderson Park calls for participants to “express our displeasure in the streets” and features language accusing the United States of maintaining a “militarized police state” and perpetuating injustice at home and abroad.
Meanwhile, in Portland, another flyer from a group called “Occupy City Hall” calls for an uprising on the same date, with phrases like “F_ _ _ This S(word)” and “USA is Cancelled.” The message is explicit, these protesters are not merely dissatisfied with the current administration or the political establishment, they want to dismantle it entirely.
The demonstrations are also set to take place in Philadelphia and Tampa, under the banner of the “Million Mask March,” an event historically associated with the Anonymous movement and characterized by its participants donning Guy Fawkes masks. Flyers for these events encourage people to “reclaim the streets” and join the “fight against tyranny and injustice.” In Philadelphia, the rally will convene at the Clothespin Sculpture, a central landmark, with the promise to “take back the streets.”
A convergence of Ideologies
What is especially notable about this wave of planned protests is the convergence of ideologies from various factions. Pro-Palestine groups, socialist organizations, and anarcho-communist factions are finding common ground in their opposition to American institutions. Sources involved in monitoring these groups have noted that the “pro-Palestine element” is working alongside socialist and anarchist networks, each faction bringing its own grievances but aligning on a shared objective: to challenge the U.S. government and dismantle its influence.
In the wake of the Israel-Gaza conflict, anti-Zionist sentiment has intensified, and some factions have rebranded their opposition to the U.S. as part of a larger struggle against what they describe as a “Zionist entity.” The rhetoric on these flyers, coupled with statements from protest organizers, suggests a united front against what they view as intertwined systems of oppression —- both foreign and domestic.
Law enforcement’s response: A cause for concern
Recent protests and occupations have shown that these groups are increasingly emboldened.
In Aurora, Colo., protesters recently took over the City Council chamber, while police reportedly stood down, a move that some protest leaders attribute to a broader strategy of overwhelming law enforcement. Leadership from groups like the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have been caught on film suggesting that their legal tactics following the 2020 protests have “sued the cops into submission,” reducing the likelihood of police intervention in future demonstrations.
This “stand down” approach by law enforcement has raised concerns among residents and officials alike, especially as these groups organize with clear anti-police sentiments. Some flyers, like the one circulating in Portland, include messages such as “No Peace Police,” signaling an intent to resist any attempts at crowd control or law enforcement presence.
What’s at stake?
For communities across the nation, the planned demonstrations on Nov. 5 represent a potential flashpoint. With calls to “come with a crew” and “wear bloc” (a term often associated with black bloc tactics where participants dress in black to obscure their identities), these protests appear to be prepared for escalation.
The unifying message —- that the entire system must be dismantled —- poses a unique challenge to law enforcement, as traditional methods of crowd control may be insufficient in the face of coordinated, ideologically driven unrest.
The underlying message from these groups is clear: they reject the political status quo and are prepared to disrupt society as we know it. For now, these protests are confined to flyers and online messages, but it remains to be seen how far this coalition of anti-establishment activists is willing to go —- and how the nation’s cities will respond.
A call to awareness
While public officials and law enforcement agencies are aware of these planned protests, much of the public remains in the dark about the scale and scope of these operations. With evidence from undercover investigations suggesting direct coordination between pro-Palestine leaders, socialists, and anarchist groups, the threat of widespread unrest is not merely hypothetical —- it is a carefully orchestrated effort aimed at upending the social and political landscape.
As tonight plays out, Americans would be wise to stay informed and prepared in the coming days. The events planned for post-election are not typical demonstrations; they are, as the flyers suggest, a rallying cry for those who seek to remake America in their own image, by any means necessary.