What does it take before we pay attention to the cries of our citizens?

What raises that question was an “incident” in Davis on Thursday, April 4, where members of the UC Davis chapter of Turning Point USA were attacked by people who oppose their views.

Turning Point is a national nonprofit advocating for conservative politics on high school, college and university campuses. Members of the group had set up a “‘Prove Me Wrong’ tabling” on the campus quad, where conservative commentator Brandon Tatum was set to give a talk.

In response, a group of about 30 demonstrators confronted the Turning Point members, pulling down their tent and getting into a shoving match. The action drew a strong rebuke from both UCD President Gary May and District Attorney Jeff Reisig.

May said his “office is steadfastly dedicated to protecting freedom of speech and the right of peaceful assembly for everyone. Efforts to attack or undermine these fundamental rights have no place in our free society.”

Reisig said video footage shows “a coordinated effort, which makes it a felony under California law.”

Both May and Reisig said they were working to identify the people who attacked the Turning Point members. As of last weekend, there had been no reported arrests.

Although I disagree with the philosophy of Turning Point, I also agree with May and Reisig that violence is unacceptable. The right of free speech must be protected, although I draw the line at advocating a group like the “Nazi Party” or endorsing racism.

Then, on Saturday, thousands of demonstrators from New York to Alaska protested against President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk about government downsizing, the economy, human rights and other issues. It was reported there were more than 1,200 “Hands Off!” demonstrations by more than 150 groups across the entire United States, including Woodland.

There were no immediate reports of violence or arrests at any of the “Hands Off” protests.

In Florida, people rallied near Mar-a-Lago, the golf course where Trump spent the morning at LIV Golf — a venture intended to lift the Saudi profile worldwide. Every room at the 643-room Trump Doral, including the $13,000-a-night presidential suite, was sold out through the weekend.

Even the Associated Press, which strives to be neutral on things political wrote: “Two days after sending the economy reeling by announcing widespread tariffs, President Donald Trump insisted his trade policies will never change as he remained ensconced in a bubble of wealth and power in Florida.”

I liked the phrase “ensconced in a bubble of wealth and power.”

Here’s the issue. If Trump and the “ultra-wealthy” or “privileged” can isolate themselves from the public at large, what good are protests of any sort? Is anyone of consequence listening?

I don’t like Trump, and view he and his administration as inept and incompetent. But that doesn’t mean we should be violent in our opposition to his policies or practices — as reprehensible as some might be.

My concern is that people attacked the Turning Point representatives to get their point across, just as the protesters used violence during the Jan. 6, 2020 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol to oppose the peaceful transfer of power.

Yet, violence isn’t the only way. There are examples of non-violent protests in addition to the “Hands Off” events, which are returning later this month. Both the “Me Too” Movement and the “Black Lives Matter” protests were peaceful and brought about some change. Martin Luther King showed us the value of non-violent protests.

I would hope that continued “Hands Off” protests will have the same effect.

Jim Smith is the former editor of The Daily Democrat, retiring in 2021 after a 27-year career at the paper.