Roger Stone, advisor and avid supporter of President Trump, has made various claims regarding possible public reaction to impeachment. His predictions include, “violence like you’ve never seen”, saying that “[t]he people will not stand for impeachment.”
According to a study published by the Washington Post, the truth seems to be somewhat less dramatic. Of the 1,200 participants, 47 percent were for impeachment and 53 percent were against. Within those percentages, respondents were asked about their commitment to various actions to back up their views, including changing voting patterns, donating to the cause, and attending protests. The study found that those who supported impeachment were far more likely to participate in these tasks than those who supported the President. Each method of activism saw almost double the commitment from impeachment supporters than its dissenters. Observers of the study noted that the findings show motivation more than anything else, and, without further movement within Congress towards impeachment proceedings, concrete answers as to actual participation are not available. Both sides of the issue could be motivated to act by progress in Congress, but the exact actions and their consequences are yet to be determined.
Though the results of the study provide mostly hypothetical results, it can be seen that that individuals opposed to the President are more willing to act. That percentage is still smaller than those who support Donald Trump, but its passion cannot be ignored. Although the decision and implementation of impeachment proceedings rest solely with Congress, public support or dissent, especially within specific districts, can, and very well may, sway that decision.