What can we do to get more people to protest? (And resist?)
I find that having concrete steps I can take to volunteer makes it more likely I will take action and doing so, I feel empowered and energized instead of overwhelmed. I'm not powerless or alone and neither are you.
This excellent strategy guide for regular people like you and me is well worth the 20-30 minutes to read it: INDIVISIBLE: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DEMOCRACY ON THE BRINK
This is a simple list of things you can do: What Can You Do Now?
Step 1. Talk to a friend, keep each other informed.
Step 2. When they get to a point where they want to do something about what's going on or they feel powerless, give them all this info.
Step 3. Ask them to follow these instructions.
Step 4. Go to step 1
Geometric growth folks. If 5 people tell 5 people who each tell 5 people and so on you get a hundred thousand pretty fast.
That said not everyone is going to jump at the chance to join us. Stay strong and hold onto your optimism. The people that know what's at stake will be eager to help.
You can also spread the word by passing out these Remove Reverse Reclaim fliers: https://www.reddit.com/u/Streszhouna/s/385My09V1H
Phone calls are still the most effective means of contacting your representatives. Provide your name and address and staffers will tally your call or voicemail right away.
Contact your representatives using:
- https://5calls.org (phone) - provides scripts if you're not sure what to say.
- https://resist.bot (email, fax, letter) you type your message via SMS, Messenger, Insta, etc.
Contact the White House. White House Comments line – (202) 456-1111 White House Switchboard – (202) 456-1414
An excellent in-depth guide to calling representatives: https://github.com/RaiseRuntimeError/call-to-action
Look for tasks to volunteer for at https://mobilize.us
50501: https://fiftyfifty.one
50501 on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/50501
Look up your local chapter of Indivisible and other resistance organizations. https://indivisible.org/
Find protests:
Truth Tuesdays (Rise and Resist) - organization is targeting Fox “News” and has resources to help you plan a protest. https://www.truthtuesdays.org/
Try to meet folks IRL if you can, to make connections & expand support for each other. You can search for local groups protesting or supporting your top issues.
ACLU: know your rights: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights
NYU Law School Tips: https://www.law.nyu.edu/centers/race-inequality-law/protest-tips
Electronic Frontier Foundation Guide: https://ssd.eff.org/module/attending-protest
For safety / security block out pics of faces and uniquely identifying features (see EFF guide above), but share protest pics to increase awareness and inspire people since media coverage has been limited.
Write your senators to support Senate Bill 696 that would battle Trump revoking Ukrainians' immigrant status by making Ukrainians eligible to stay until war is officially over:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/696
Ukraine charities: https://reddit.com/r/ukraine/w/charities
https://www.reddit.com/r/ActionForUkraine/s/RPzrNnHgSn
American Coalition for Ukraine - check their website for calls to action, calling representatives, how to donate, summits you can attend, protests, and another actions.
https://americancoalitionforukraine.org
Official Ukrainian Government donation website: https://u24.gov.ua/
Let's try to tilt the balance in the House in our favor: Search Mobilize.us for "Gay Valimont" and "Josh Weil"
Volunteer opportunities for Gay Valimont https://www.mobilize.us/gayforcongress/
Josh Weil postcarding
https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/754042/
https://volunteerblue.org/postcarding/
VoteRiders letter writing to inform voters of new Voter ID laws and how to get help. The organization also actively helps people obtain IDs including paying fees if they cannot. One of their campaigns is for Florida and there is also a Wisconsin campaign
https://www.voteriders.org/letterinfo/?swcfpc=1 Follow the DIY Letter-Writing guide and use the info on the page for writing letters.
One seat is up for election on the WI Supreme Court. Republicans have been packing the courts so we need to turn this around. WI is a battleground right now.
https://volunteerblue.org/calendar/postcards-for-wi-supreme-court-special-election/
Blake Gendebien is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to replace Elise Stefanik in a special election.
https://blakegendebienforcongress.com/
The Trevor Project is awesome: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Also consider helping:
- Transgender Law Center,
- A4TE (advocates For Trans Equality)
- GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law),
- NCLR (National Center for Lesbian Rights), and
- Lambda Legal.
Each state usually also has an equality org like Equality California and One Colorado.
Be an ally. Wear LGBTQ ally gear IF IT’S SAFE TO. Be safe, first and foremost. Buy from LGBTQ artists and businesses, especially books that are being banned. ESPECIALLY trans.
It is important for immigrants and citizens to know their rights regarding immigration. ICE has been shown to abuse their power.
Order these Red Cards from a print shop and leave at places in the community like on bulletin boards, at willing businesses, etc. to inform people of their rights. https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas
AOC provides this page with info and printable cards: https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/services/immigration-know-your-rights
United Farmworkers (union) is supporting displaced migrants. https://www.ufw.org The UAW is prepping for a General Strike https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/22/autoworkers-uaw-shawn-fain-may-2028-national-strike. Teachers & other public sector unions
Immigrant Groups: The Ayni Institute trains organizers: https://ayni.institute/
On Sunday, March 23, NALC branches are hosting local rallies to say "Hell no!" to dismantling the Postal Service. With branches holding events nationwide on the same day, we are sending a clear, unified message: Hands off USPS!
https://www.nalc.org/news/fight-like-hell
Petition for Trump's new EO that threatens independence of agencies. https://resist.bot/petitions/PGFEDO
Join the #JustStop movement! Every day at 2 PM local time, stop everything-no talking, walking, working, scrolling, or spending-for 10 minutes. https://www.reddit.com/r/50501/s/fi9eKF2jbR
Ongoing economic boycott - https://www.reddit.com/r/ProtestFinderUSA/s/4LrmQMsRcU
Boycott various huge companies - schedule and details here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Anticonsumption/s/2nZkQYNe0O
https://www.reddit.com/r/50501/comments/1ish15s/solidarity_stars_protest_218228_to_gain_momentum/
X (Twitter) boycott. Don't use the platform. Delete your account if you have one, don't follow links.
Tesla Boycott. Many local orgs are protesting outside of Tesla dealerships.
Organizing a Protest:.I have never done it. I would start with looking for experienced local groups first. If for some reason there aren't any, I guess this guide could help: https://commonslibrary.org/organising-your-first-protest/
Start a mutual aid network https://afsc.org/news/how-create-mutual-aid-network
Someone posted this recently. If you like it, spread it in person and/or online. So What Now Pamphlet. Add your own state’s info. https://drive.proton.me/urls/BVR345TXXR#svaHcAl7ssCA
Excellent guide to building a movement from a trained organizer on Reddit - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IbI2KEaN09j1WIsEMWQqBfbWJv0jPN04WteFX6H79Eg/edit?usp=sharing
Excellent curated list of actions you can take: https://doc.clickup.com/9013576179/d/h/8cm0gfk-113/6ef629b0c5ea4e9/8cm0gfk-2193
Understand how Ukraine defeated a Russian Puppet Dictator: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/explainers/understanding-ukraines-euromaidan-protests
We need progressives, people who refuse to be bought to run for office. I believe we can change the face of American politics but it is a long game of 30-50 years.
But it needs to start right now. And it starts with someone like you, fellow Redditor, running. Run for school board, City council, local, state, federal offices. whatever. Here’s a guide on how.
https://runforsomething.net/run/
Unplugging from doom scrolling is a good idea and expanding your mind with books is always good.
Here are some books I have read, or have been recommended to me:
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On Tyranny, Timothy Snyder. Quick read with 20 lessons to fight tyranny from the 20th century. I can't recommend this enough.
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Ur-Fascism, Umberto Eco - actually more of an essay including the 14 characteristics of Fascism.
Often Recommended but I haven't read them yet.
- It Can't Happen Here, Sinclair Lewis. I see this recommended very often.
Recommended by some but no clue if they're worth it or not. Please don't yell at me if they suck :)
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Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt. Cited often by Snyder but that's all I know.
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Anatomy of Fascism, Robert Paxton
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Fascism: A Quick Immersion, Roger Griffin
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Fascism: Roger Griffin
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Why Civil Resistance Works, Erica Chenoweth
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Civil Resistance, What Everyone Needs To Know, Erica Chenoweth
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More recommendations here: https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/s/OCpkBJj5mp
I am attempting to keep this maintained and usually end up editing it dozens of times a week to add new info, delete old, improve writing.
Please share far and wide.
Input, ideas, and feedback welcome.
https://github.com/AgentFlounder/TakeAction/blob/main/README.md