Do something!!! There are so many ways to get involved as this regime takes away your rights and strips down our institutions.
Published with permission.
Every day, some new assault on our democracy takes place. Our first amendment rights are being threatened repeatedly; masked goons are grabbing brown people and others off the streets and, with no due process, subjecting them to wretched conditions before deportation; the 44-year-long Peace Vigil in front of the White House has now been dismantled, having suddenly been deemed an eyesore; the Pentagon is killing people in international waters with no evidence that they posed a direct threat to the U.S.; television networks, universities and law firms are being bullied by Trump, and too many have caved; our healthcare is crumbling like a house of cards; lies are tossed around like so much confetti; and there is little to no fact-checking or honest reporting taking place in the mainstream media. Things are looking dire for our democracy.
If you are concerned about the future of our country and you find solace in venting to friends or engaging in vigorous hand-wringing, know this: all the venting and hand-wringing in the world will not save our democracy.
The injuries our democracy has sustained in the past eight months are severe and they will continue. Our rights and freedoms will increasingly be challenged. We are no longer the leader of the free world, and we have lost our allies, who can no longer trust us. The threats to our health, climate, environment, security, education, diversity, culture, and infrastructure are growing more serious by the day.
If, like me, you find the prospect of being ruled by a dictator who has no regard for your welfare to be frightening, then this is the moment to get involved. Take that first step: make a poster or make one phone call to your representative; attend a rally or attend an organizing call with a grassroots organization; wear a button or place a sticker in a public location. Whatever you choose, commit to an action and see how it feels.
When more people take that first step and commit to doing something that conveys “This is not okay, and we do not consent,” we will begin to make inroads. Inaction is complacency, and if too many are complacent, we will be surrendering to a horrific future. Join the movement to resist tyranny and save our democracy.
Erica Chenoweth, political scientist and public policy professor at Harvard University, has shown through extensive research that sustained non-violent resistance by just 3.5% of the population has always succeeded in change. That means we need about 11 million Americans to be actively resistant, in a sustained manner, to this fascist regime. Having 11 million people protest on one day is not going to be enough. We need to mobilize that many people to resist the cruelty and desecration of our civil rights for a prolonged period. We face a serious threat, and we need to get very serious in response.
For many, the step from taking no action to engaging in non-violent resistance is a step too far. If that describes you, here is a list of many different ways to safely engage, starting with safe and easy actions for anyone who is new to activism and isn’t sure where or how to start. There are also a few actions which are more resistant-adjacent.
Postcarding:
Join a local group that meets to write postcards encouraging voters to show up for democratic candidates in upcoming elections. They provide the materials, you meet in someone’s home to write postcards, and it’s a great way to meet neighbors with who share your values. Or, link to an organization that supplies the names, addresses and messaging for you to write postcards on your own. Either way, you will be helping to shift the tide in an upcoming election. Some of the groups that organize postcard writing are: Third Act, Postcards to Voters, Activate America, Mobilize.US and Trouble Nation.
Vote:
It goes without saying, but make sure to vote in every election, and encourage those you know to do the same. Down ballot voting is very important!! Volunteer at your local polling location. Get involved in any way you can, and support candidates by canvassing, etc.
Join a local grassroots organization:
Search for a group in your area. Indivisible is probably the best known organization and there are thousands of Indivisible chapters around the country. You can find other organizations near you through this Grassroots Directory. It’s a lot more fun to join actions with a group than by yourself.
Spread some joy:
Today, at our Tesla Takedown protest, a mother and daughter walked through the crowd and offered all the protesters beautiful bracelets which they made together. What a powerful act – mother and daughter working together to spread hope, joy and encouragement in the fight to save democracy. My favorite was one that said “Prevent Truth Decay”, but there were literally dozens to choose from.
Contact your legislators:
Make phone calls to your legislators using the Five Calls app to tell them how you expect them to vote. This easy-to-use app lets you know who your legislators are, how to reach them, and it also provides a list of current issues and scripts you can follow if you aren’t sure what to say. If you prefer to write letters, that is another way to reach your representatives. Call or write often – their offices track calls and letters, and the more they hear from us, the more seriously they will take our demands.
Buttons:
Make a simple, decorative statement by wearing buttons to give voice to your thoughts. I have a collection of them, some of which I purchased on Etsy, others made by friends, and I wear them often. I also give buttons away, especially when someone comments that they like what one of my buttons says. Yes, I carry extras with me. Everyone loves a button!! Wearing them is an easy way to let others know where you stand and to remind them that these are not normal times.
Boycott:
Since January, I have completely boycotted Amazon, Whole Foods, Home Depot. Starbucks, Target, Walmart (with a few minor lapses for protest materials), and other stores/companies that are kowtowing to Trump or have eliminated DEI policies. Instead, I shop locally and support small businesses while saving a lot of money on things I don’t really need anyway. Costco, Trader Joe’s and Mom’s Organic Market get my regular business, as do small local shops.
Target has suffered a notable slowdown from continuing boycotts after it scaled back DEI initiatives. Tesla has also seen a huge drop in market share as a result of protests against Musk’s outrageous behavior with DOGE. Following the recent decision of ABC (owned by Walt Disney Company) to yank the Jimmy Kimmel show, angry viewers canceled their Disney Plus memberships in droves, causing the Disney website to crash. Your dollars speak, and you can choose to use boycotts to send a clear message to retailers and companies more concerned with their bottom line than with democracy. Imagine how powerful this could be if millions did it, over a prolonged time.
Rocks and more rocks:
An activist friend who goes by SB paints the most gorgeous protest rocks and leaves them in public spaces wherever she goes to give people hope and inspiration. A photo of her amazing handiwork is below. Another artist paints rocks with reminders to vote and left one at our Tesla Takedown site a few weeks ago. I am happy to report that no one has moved it, so all the pedestrians get to see it each day, as do we.
Ribbons:
Remember the song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn from 1973? Yellow ribbons are a symbol of hope for the safe return of those who are missing. They played a role in the Iran hostage crisis and are also a symbol of support for POWs and MIAs. A local group of protesters is continuing this tradition with a twist. They are writing “Release the Disappeared” in English and Spanish on ice-blue ribbons and tying them around fences, benches and other public structures in support of the thousands of wrongfully disappeared immigrants. You can do the same, or use your creative talents to come up with your own ideas for giving voice to those facing the direct and undeserved cruelty of this regime.
Stickers:
A few friends have ordered small vinyl stickers using designs they have found on the internet, and I plan to do the same. These are a great way to spread the message of your choice far and wide. I place them in public places (lamp posts, signs, utility poles, etc.), where pedestrians are most likely to see them. I use some discretion in placing them since this could be considered defacing property. Unlike chalk, they don’t wash away.
Protests:
The organizers of every protest I attend make it clear that the goal is to be non-violent, and I am happy to report they have all been very peaceful. Yet some are afraid to attend due to the large crowds and uncertainty about bad actors. I’ve been to protests with as few as 20 people, and some with as many as 10,000, and in every case, there has been joy and community along with many diverse protest signs, vibrant chants and great costumes. There are also bridge brigades that hang banners over highways. Attending a protest or a march brings concerned citizens together and lets you know you are not alone. In the case of our Tesla Takedown protests, the honking from passersby can give you a real dopamine hit, and we love the “dogs for democracy” that lean out of car windows! Attend a protest, meet others like you who want to see change, and be the difference!!
Chalking: Each locality has its own code, so be sure you know what is permitted in your area. In many cities, chalk is allowed on sidewalks and in public spaces like playgrounds. Some law enforcement may be opposed to the anti-regime messages you write. Friends and I learned this the other day when we were detained for chalking a bike path wall. On previous occasions at the same location, officers told us we were okay to proceed. On this particular evening, the Sergeant who showed up detained us for “defacing property” and we had to provide our personal information. No charges came of it, and we later learned that his claim was false. This kind of ambiguity is not for everyone – and that’s okay. But if you are willing to risk an encounter with local law enforcement by spreading messages of resistance with chalk (which does not damage anything and washes away with rain), I can highly recommend it! We are going to wait for things to cool down a bit before we go back to our wall. Today we left some chalked rocks on top of it… they are not going to silence us.
“History will have to recall that the greatest tragedy of this period was not the vitriolic words and the violent actions of the bad people but the appalling silence and indifference of the good people.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Susan Douglas is a writer and advocate for human rights. Follow her substack here.
