After thousands of protesters filled streets nationwide to challenge the Trump administration香蕉视频直播檚 agenda on Saturday, one big question remains:
What comes next?

The 香蕉视频直播淗ands Off香蕉视频直播� demonstrations swept across more than 1,000 cities, including dozens across Oregon. From Portland to Baker City, protesters voiced frustration over a broad range of issues 香蕉视频直播� federal layoffs, rising inflation, newly imposed tariffs and the growing influence of billionaire Elon Musk.

If their goal was to reverse federal policy, they may be disappointed. But political scientists say that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 mean the protests were pointless.

香蕉视频直播淚f we always think in terms of instant gratification, we miss a lot of the magic and importance of protests,香蕉视频直播� said Jules Boykoff, a professor at Pacific University in Oregon, who studies social movements. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a human connection that happens when people protest.香蕉视频直播�

Protests, Boykoff said, don香蕉视频直播檛 just send messages to Washington, D.C. 香蕉视频直播� they build momentum. They bring like-minded people together.

香蕉视频直播淲hen you have thousands of people feeling the same way,香蕉视频直播� Boykoff said, 香蕉视频直播渋t can be a galvanizing force 香蕉视频直播� you know you are not alone and that you are willing to fight.香蕉视频直播�

Exact numbers are impossible to come by, but more than half a million people registered for the Hands Off protests online, according to organizers, putting the total number of protesters likely at more than 1 million on Saturday.

A show of strength in unexpected places

Even deep-red communities joined in. In places like Prineville, Madras and Grants Pass 香蕉视频直播� where President Trump is well liked 香蕉视频直播� small but vocal groups took to the streets. That doesn香蕉视频直播檛 surprise Chandler James, a political science professor at the University of Oregon.

香蕉视频直播淭he government does a bunch of things,香蕉视频直播� James said. 香蕉视频直播淚t sends people Social Security cheques, it provides funds for education, for research grants, it regulates certain activities. But Trump香蕉视频直播檚 changes on the government have been profound 香蕉视频直播� If you make a bunch of changes to society and there are people negatively impacted by that, they香蕉视频直播檙e going to be upset.香蕉视频直播�

James sees echoes of past movements 香蕉视频直播� particularly the Tea Party movement from the late 2000s 香蕉视频直播� in the decentralized energy of the Hands Off protests. That movement had a profound impact on elections in 2010, helping Republicans win the U.S. House of Representatives.

香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檙e seeing a lot of pent-up energy being expressed whenever the opportunity arises,香蕉视频直播� James said. 香蕉视频直播淲hat that suggests to me is that this isn香蕉视频直播檛 something that is going to go away. This might be revealing underlying discontent that is looking for ways to express itself and be known on a larger scale.香蕉视频直播�

'Take a bold stance'

The size of Saturday香蕉视频直播檚 protest may also give elected officials permission to take stronger stands, Boykoff said.

香蕉视频直播淲hat the protesters have done is give structured permission for elected officials to be even more bold,香蕉视频直播� Boykoff said. 香蕉视频直播淚f politicians realize people are angry and will have their back if they take a stance 香蕉视频直播� They are more likely to say, 香蕉视频直播楳y constituents are demanding we take a bold stance.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

It takes time for the impacts to the federal government to trickle down to individual communities, but when they do, that may propel others to join in similar protests in the future.

香蕉视频直播淲hat happens if Social Security cheques go fully underwater, or the Trump administration uses the problems with the tariffs to make cuts to Medicare?香蕉视频直播� Boykoff said. 香蕉视频直播淚f that happens, people who have never considered protesting may consider the prospect.香蕉视频直播�

That, in turn, may lead other lawmakers to act, James said.

香蕉视频直播淧eople are looking for opportunities to make their dissatisfaction heard 香蕉视频直播� If that dissatisfaction is persistent enough, some ambitious politicians can leverage that energy and turn it into a political movement.香蕉视频直播�

That could be bad news for elected officials banking on silence.

香蕉视频直播淧rotests like this can make a difference if elected officials sense that their own re-election is threatened,香蕉视频直播� said Chris Shortell, a political science professor at Portland State University.

But that change, Shortell noted, won香蕉视频直播檛 come easily. Many Republicans remain reluctant to challenge Trump, even privately.

香蕉视频直播淭he unknown here is when and whether public opposition to the administration香蕉视频直播檚 actions creates enough pressure for elected officials to overcome that hesitation,香蕉视频直播� Shortell said.