February 17, (previously called, Presidents Day) was a holiday in the United States. It has now been changed to, "Not My Presidents Day"...(Hopefully this is temporary - at the most for the next four years), if we make it....But, as the Buddha said, everything is temporary.
All fifty of the United States have come out in a big way by protesting what is happening in the fascist takeover of the American government today. It looks as if we are moving from a democracy to a dictatorship in much the same way the world witnessed in WWII - nearly a century ago! On February 17, which was Presidents Day, people protested in all fifty states.
Rallies all over the country came out to oppose the orange fascist's threat to democracy and his South African billionaire sidekick. People came out in droves in blues states and in the reddest of the red states as well. Resistance was a beautiful and encouraging thing to see.
Today marks one month since the 34x felon, conman convicted of sexual assault,** grifter, lying narcissist took up residency in the White House. We all know by now that the richest man in the world, Elon Musk bought the election. And if you are not sure about that, you should watch the video of Musks' four year old son, "X" in the Oval Office with his dad and tRump. There were reports that the boy said to tRump, "You're not the real president, shut your fucking mouth" as 'normal' 4 year olds do! (Sarcasm font used there). However when I saw the video of this boy standing next to tRump I only saw the boy say "ssssshhhhhhhhhut your mouth". Whatever the boy said, tRump couldn't say a word to the child because X Musks' dad, Elon (and Putin), owns that fat orange ass! And tRump knows it.
**The only reason it couldn't technically be called rape in the books is because under oath, E. Jean Carroll didn't know for sure if he used his penis or his finger.
When I began writing this article to accompany my photos of the protest I wrote many paragraphs about how scary these times are and how much I detest what I see going on in this country. But I chose to delete them all and simply suggest a film I saw recently called LEE. A friend suggested I watch it. She suggested it not due to the fact that it is set in times similar to what we are living in now, she suggested it to me as a photographer.
The film tells the story about Elizabeth 'Lee' Miller, a photographer and fashion model for Vogue magazine during World War II. Lee Miller was an acclaimed war photographer who traveled to the front lines in Nazi Germany. She photographed her experiences during the resistance in France to the frontlines in Germany with her German-made Rolleiflex camera. This camera (for the tech minded people), was a twin lens reflex camera that used 120 gauge roll film and made 12 negatives 60 m/m (2 ¼ inches) square. It was very reliable and had excellent lenses. Through Lees' Rolleiflex, she documented the resistance in France up to the immediate aftermath of atrocities committed by the Nazis in Germany. Thousands of her photos were discovered by her son Antony in the attic after her death at age 70 in 1977.
Whilst the film is a stunning work of art, in my opinion, as the film invites the viewers into that time beginning with protests, where we witness people taking part in a resistance of sorts (similar to "Not My Presidents Day") and ends with what happened right under everyones noses - mass extermination, concentration camps and ultimately what their focus in purpose of 'ethnic cleansing'. The film displays her photos of piles of dead bodies in train cars and in the camps. Although for me, as a photographer, seeing her art, was extremely memorable and Kate Winslets' performance was absolutely epic... A shocking take away for me was also quite alarming as a human being seeing a dictatorship being born in the very country I am living in, the United States of America!
LEE (film) - https://amzn.to/4k5rDVH
Over the last decade the cult has been growing. Instead of the name Nazi, it's called MAGA. It's not Republican nor is it Democrat but it's the very same thing as Nazism just under a different name, making it no less scary. The new American administration has even shown us their playbook, it's called,'Project 2025'. The other name for it, may be appropriately titled, as 'Ethnic Cleansing'.....And please do not underestimate this, because it HAS begun. And it's begun right in front of our eyes. Right here, right now. The world has seen this before. and it started 92 years ago. WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN!
The Music Soup would like to make clear that we would prefer things were different in the world today. But sadly it is not. Sadly, there are bullies and deeply mentally ill people in high places governing the populations in several countries today. I have a friend from Venezula that moved to the USA with his mother many years ago because they were escaping a dictatorsip. He and his mother see it happening now in America. The same thing they ran from to create a life in the United States. They are deeply distressed. This is not an unusual story. In fact it's rather common here. Many people came from other places to build a safer life for them and their families. Even the guy that sits in the Oval Office. His own mother and two of his three wives were not born here. Immigrants are one of the things that has made this nation great, not hatred, not racism or exclusion.
Just look at the protests that took place in all 50 states this week. Not one of them had any of the ingredients that January 6th had. Not one person was violent or arrested. The signs may have been a tad 'colorful', and they may contain certain words you may not agree with, but no one was violent. We simply want our America back. We want racism and hatred not to be fashionable. It's only fashionable these days due to the orange racist, criminal, bully and POTUS making it that way. Project 2025 even states the racism and sexism and it's all in writing. It's all perfectly transparent and in the open. And yet he still got votes. That makes me and many people I know and love, very sad.
The Music Soup stands with Ukraine, love, peace, unity and inclusion. And we stand with the musicians of the world (apart from Kid Rock and Ted Nugent). Springsteen, Baez, Elton, Swift, Vedder, Grohl, Beyonce, DeNiro, Depp, Streep, Clooney and countless others in the music and entertainment industry stood up for equality, inclusion, peace and love in 2024 and against everything that the tRump administration is all about. And we are still here standing up for what is right, and I hope we always will.
More than forty five years ago John Lennon wrote the most eloquent words ever composed. The lyrics say, "imagine all the people living life in peace"...he was right! We all should IMAGINE that! Recently a friend pointed out to me that the words are "Imagine" not "reality" it's Imagine, he's speaking about. Let us try to do that...Imagine all of us living life in peace. You may call me a dreamer....but I love that thought and the song so much, I've actually written in the cement in my backyard! Perhaps in hope that someday it'll happen.
Which brings me to more of the Lennon lyrics...."You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will be as one." I'm hoping for this now more than ever!
I'll leave you with what The Music Soup ends all of the 'Letters from the Editor' with: "Remember...Life is short...break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, meditate often, be kind to each other, and never regret anything that made you smile. And of course...see live music!"
Hoping this movement of hate ends soon.
With peace, love, art and music,
Cheryl ☮ ❤️🎵
The following photos were shot at only one of the many hundreds of rallies all over the country!
© Cheryl Alterman Photography 2025
© Cheryl Alterman Photography 2025
Great article and photos. Not sure we're there just yet, but awareness, truth, facts, and vigilance are more important than ever, in our lifetime. These protests are a start and encouraging. The way people and societies fight back, and ultimately win against injustice, is through non-violent civil disobedience. As we navigate these times, I hope we all remember that. Gandhi said this about tyrants: “Remember that all through history, there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they seem invincible. But in the end, they always fall. Always"
That's impressive! We had a nice demonstration in Eugene, Oregon!