Two times 3.5% of a population changed the world. Here's what it actually looked like. Background is a faded photo of a protesting crowd. On the top is an illustration of a crown with an X through it.
United States Civil Rights Movement: The Civil Rights Movement grew one action at a time. In 1955, more than 50,000 Black residents in Montgomery walked instead of riding the buses for 381 days. In 1960, four students in Greensboro sparked sit ins that spread to more than 70,000 people across the South. By 1963, a quarter million people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington. Two years later, the marches from Selma to Montgomery drew national attention as millions watched at home. Over the decade, an estimated 10 to 12 million Americans participated in protests, boycotts, sit ins, or marches. That sustained engagement pushed past the 3.5 percent mark and made federal action unavoidable. The movement helped bring the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, transforming American democracy. Two black and white photos from the 1950's and 60's Civil Rights Movement.
East Germany (1989): Fall of the Berlin Wall. In East Germany, the revolution grew over time. Every Monday starting September 1989, people in Leipzig gathered for freedom. A few hundred became hundreds of thousands. By October, more than 3 percent of the region was turning out in peaceful marches across multiple cities. That kind of consistent pressure made the system start to crumble. On November 9, during a confused press briefing, Günter Schabowski said new travel rules took effect “immediately.” The announcement wasn’t planned, but the public momentum was ready. Crowds rushed the checkpoints and overwhelmed guards opened the gates. The Berlin Wall fell that night because sustained, peaceful turnout pushed past the 3.5 percent threshold and made it impossible to hold the country closed any longer. Centered on the right is a photo from the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 with protestors standing on the wall.
3.5 percent isn’t ALWAYS about millions showing up every time. It means millions show up over time. In different cities. In different waves. With pressure that never fully disappears. Movements win when enough people participate in visible, sustained, nonviolent action. If you haven't already, save the date: March 28th, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Memorial Drive Greenway, 301 M.L.K. Junior Drive Southwest, Atlanta, Georgia 30312. Nationwide No Kings. Share this post to help spread awareness.
3.5% can change the world. Movements win when enough people participate in visible, sustained, nonviolent action. Join us for the nationwide No Kings this Saturday, March 28th. ❌👑
Saturday, March 28, 2026,
10 A.M. to 1 P.M.
Memorial Drive Greenway,
301 M.L.K. Jr Dr SW,
Atlanta, GA 30312
![A letter style graphic stamped example in red. A letter template that reads. To Home Depot Leadership,
My name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a [customer / worker / contractor / community member] who regularly interacts with Home Depot stores in [CITY/STATE]. I am writing because I am deeply concerned about what is happening in and around Home Depot locations and the harm being caused by silence. Home Depot must take a clear and public stand.First, end all data-sharing with law enforcement. Second, strengthen security in ways that protect rights, not violate them. Third, train all employees company-wide on their rights and responsibilities. Finally, Home Depot must publicly show support for the communities it serves. This means affirming opposition to unconstitutional ICE enforcement practices that are harmful to families and communities.I am asking Home Depot to do the right thing. People’s safety depends on it.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:v4zgvbswsdtw26oyrnar5dyk/bafkreidlm7ux76jwrrjdtpzjozulorwd4m6wmcmrwfl77kjso636bquwam)
