Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List
Photo: Jon Tyson for Unsplash
Welcome to the Western Mass Resistance Calendar for the week of 8/1, a listing of resistance actions to the Trump Administration and a resource for pro-democracy actions throughout Western Massachusetts. Last week’s big national action was One Million Rising – Strategic Training for Non-cooperation. No word on the turnout yet but the organizers will offer one more session on August 13 (see below).
Coming up locally is Rage Against the Regime in Holyoke on Saturday Aug 2 as well as the usual assortment of weekly standouts. (see below).
We have added some additional blogs and listserves that link readers to virtual resistance efforts as well as to organizations lobbying elected officials.
Please send your listings for the calendar for future actions, organizational meetings ,and trainings to amherstindy@gmail.com. This resource is in addition to our occasional column What Now? that explores resistance strategies.
Where Do We Go from Here?
As the demolition of our democracy accelerates and new atrocities accumulate daily, it is no wonder that some people have become dispirited and have begun to wonder whether protest will get us anywhere. Attorney and political pundit Robert Hubbell, in his Friday blog post, evokes political scientist Erica Chenowith’s widely cited study on how authoritarian regimes fall, to remind us that protest is an essential part of mobilizing the people for what comes next. He said:
Professor Erica Chenoweth of the Harvard Kennedy School has published a study on what it takes for resistance movements to succeed in saving democracies. See Harvard Magazine, The Harvard Professor Who Quantified Democracy. Take some time over the weekend to read the article in a moment of calm reflection. It will inspire confidence that if enough of us resist in a disciplined way over the long term, the odds favor our eventual success.
Professor Chenoweth’s study found that four conditions helped resistance movements to succeed:
· They mobilized mass participation by diverse groups of people, who stayed involved over time.
· They induced defections among those with power in the regime—economic and business elites, state media officials, security forces, and sometimes even members of the opposition party.
· They varied their methods to keep the pressure up, relying not only on protests but also strikes, boycotts, work slowdowns or outright stoppages, sit-ins, civil disobedience, and other forms of noncooperation.
· They were able to maintain discipline in the face of escalating repression without falling apart or turning to violence.
Chenoweth’s studies emphasize the need for increasing scale, persistence, and discipline. As I see it, the grassroots base is meeting each of those metrics in resisting Trump.
Trump’s most recent efforts to exercise imperial authority over a constitutional democracy should spur us to greater action. Rather than looking away in fear and disgust, we must look forward with determination and confidence. If we do that, others will follow.
Local Direct Action
SATURDAY August 2: A Rage Against the Regime. 50501 is hosting Rage Against the Regime next week. “On this day, we come together to transform anger into action, harnessing the energy of collective resistance. Our movement is rooted in non-violence, but it is far from passive.” Host a protest or attend one. To date, there are over 100 locations. Join a protest and get more information HERE.
SATURDAY August 2: Rage Against the Regime in Holyoke. 12:30 – 2 p.m. Corner of Routes 202 and 5. We will come together to transform anger into action, harnessing the energy of collective resistance. We will continue to make “good trouble” by protesting with signs and chants against all the cruelty: the healthcare cuts, the ICE kidnapping of humans, attacks on veterans, crazy tariffs and high prices, attacks on media, threats to social security, attempts to choke universities and law firms, and more. This is a peaceful, nonviolent event. Bring your friends! As you courageously rally against this regime, you forge a path for others to be courageous, as well. Parking is available in the bank parking lot. Co-sponsored by Defending Democracy in Hampden County and Indivisible Northampton-Swing Left Western MA. More information
SATURDAY August 2 (and every Saturday): Greenfield Weekly Standout for Palestine – Saturdays between 11:00am and noon. Court Square, Greenfield. Bring a sign. Join local peace vigil holders from Traprock Peace Center, local Jews, and friends every Saturday. All are welcome. Updated flyer: Greenfield Standout for a Ceasefire
SUNDAY August 3: Interfaith Vigil and Procession for the Disappeared in Northampton. 2 p.m. Edwards Church. 297 Main Street, Northampton. The Social Justice Commission of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts is pleased to co-sponsor this prayerful witness for those indiscriminately detained or deported. Purpose: To create time and space for people to grieve together as we witness immigration injustice taking place in our communities; to provide spiritual help in processing and living through this dark time; to let immigrants in our midst know we stand with them; and move people to take action to stop this injustice.
MONDAY August 4 (and every Monday). Standout: Hands Off the VA. Support our Federal Workers. 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. VA Medical Center, Leeds. Show our veterans and federal workers that they are not alone—and help give others the courage to join us and take a stand! Please bring your signs, flags, and friends! Come even if you don’t have a sign! You’ll enjoy loads of honking from passing vehicles!The link for more info and to register is here. Park in the visitors lot at the VA or, if you have a sticker, park in Look Park.
TUESDAY August 5 (and every Tuesday): Easthampton Standout for Palestine. Easthampton for Ceasefire will hold weekly standouts in support of Palestine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Join them EVERY TUESDAY 5 pm – 6 pm at the pond. Bring signs, banners, flags, and friends! Kids and families are welcome and encouraged to participate. For more information email easthampton4ceasefireresources@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!
TUESDAY August 5: Standout at I-91 Overpass in Hatfield. 3:30-5:00 p.m. Chestnut Street, Hatfield. Come out to show that ordinary people can raise their voices against the chaos and destruction of this Administration. Help remind folks that they, too, can stand up for their beliefs – and that there’s lots and lots of people who aren’t on board with the “cruelty as entertainment” behavior of Trump and Musk and the GOP. We’ll have letterboards prepared with the message on the photo above. See The Visibility Brigade Toolkit (https://tinyurl.com/TheVisibilityBrigade)! Come when you can, and leave when you must. You needn’t be present for the entire 2-hour stand-out. Once we are set up, our main job is to wave at cars and dance to the honks! More information
TUESDAY August 5: Standout at I-91 Overpass Holyoke. 9 Mt. Park Rd. 4:00-5:30 p.m. Come out to show that ordinary people can raise their voices against the chaos and destruction of this Administration. Help remind folks that they, too, can stand up for their beliefs – and that there’s lots and lots of people who aren’t on board with the “cruelty as entertainment” behavior of Trump and Musk and the GOP. More information.
WEDNESDAY August 6: A Call for Peace, Now More than Ever. Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 4:30 – 8 p.m. 50 Payson Ave. Easthampton. More information
WEDNESDAY August 6 (and every Wednesday). Early Birds for Gaza. Standout at L3Harris in Northampton. Greet L3Harris employees with a peace message – No More Weapons to Israel – Convert to Peace Work”Come down and join us! Hosted by Demilitarize Western Mass. The idea is to have a regular space where we can gather, let L3 know we’re not going anywhere, and experiment with different tactics and approaches! Newcomers and new ideas welcome.
WEDNESDAY August 6: National Day of Action Against Avelo Airlines (the deportation airline). National Virtual event. 8 a.m. EDT. On August 6, there will be Avelo actions all over the country. Sign up here to say you’re taking action with us, and you’ll get a digital action to take on the day, too!
THURSDAY August 7: Stop the Eversouce Pipeline. 5:15- 8 p.m. Stearns Square, Springfield. Eversource Gas is holding an Open House and Listening Session at UMass Center at Tower Square in Springfield on August 7th at 6pm to take a concrete step towards getting permits and building this toxic and dangerous pipeline. Springfield Climate Justice Coalition (SCJC) is once again calling on people in Western Mass and beyond to stand with us as we send a powerful message to the Healey administration, elected officials and Eversource Gas: We do not want Eversource to build a polluting pipeline that would run through environmental justice residential neighborhoods, and dangerously close to schools and community hubs in Springfield!The Eversource Open House (6 to 8 pm) will include a short presentation followed by Q & A, food, child care and language interpretation (Spanish and Russian). Let’s pack the space with opponents of this dangerous project, raising the questions Eversource wants avoided!SCJC is organizing a dynamic outdoor event before the Open House, calling public attention to the dangers of this project and Eversource’s deceitful and self-serving intent in building it.
Wear red.
FRIDAY August 8 (and every Friday): AMHERST HANDS OFF OUR LIVES! Peaceful Visibility Standout, 4 pm – 5:30 p.m., Kendrick Park, Amherst: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/778646/
FRIDAY August 8, Belchertown Weekly Standout – Fridays (recurring) 4:00-6:00PM, corner of Main and Jabish Streets, opposite Town Hall, Belchertown. There is ample parking in the adjacent lot.
FRIDAY August 8(and every Friday): Northampton Standout For an Arms Embargo. Noon- 1 p.m. Northampton City Hall, 210 Main Street.
FRIDAY August 8 (and every Friday): Jewish Voice for Peace Weekly Northampton Standout. 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Route 9 roundabout at the Northampton side of the Coolidge Bridge. Join us in demanding a ceasefire & arms embargo. Signs & banners provided. Park at the Norwottuck Rail Trail, 446 Damon Rd. Click here for access info.
SATURDAY August 9 (and every Saturday): Greenfield Weekly Standout for Palestine – Saturdays between 11:00am and noon. Court Square, Greenfield. Bring a sign. Join local peace vigil holders from Traprock Peace Center, local Jews, and friends every Saturday. All are welcome. Updated flyer: Greenfield Standout for a Ceasefire
MONDAY August 11 (and every Monday). Standout: Hands Off the VA. Support our Federal Workers. 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. VA Medical Center, Leeds. Show our veterans and federal workers that they are not alone—and help give others the courage to join us and take a stand! Please bring your signs, flags, and friends! Come even if you don’t have a sign! You’ll enjoy loads of honking from passing vehicles!The link for more info and to register is here. Park in the visitors lot at the VA or, if you have a sticker, park in Look Park.
TUESDAY August 12 (and every Tuesday): Easthampton Standout for Palestine. Easthampton for Ceasefire will hold weekly standouts in support of Palestine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Join them EVERY TUESDAY 5 pm – 6 pm at the pond. Bring signs, banners, flags, and friends! Kids and families are welcome and encouraged to participate. For more information email easthampton4ceasefireresources@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!
TUESDAY August 12: Standout at I-91 Overpass in Hatfield. 3:30-5:00 p.m. Chestnut Street, Hatfield. Come out to show that ordinary people can raise their voices against the chaos and destruction of this Administration. Help remind folks that they, too, can stand up for their beliefs – and that there’s lots and lots of people who aren’t on board with the “cruelty as entertainment” behavior of Trump and Musk and the GOP. We’ll have letterboards prepared with the message on the photo above. See The Visibility Brigade Toolkit (https://tinyurl.com/TheVisibilityBrigade)! Come when you can, and leave when you must. You needn’t be present for the entire 2-hour stand-out. Once we are set up, our main job is to wave at cars and dance to the honks! More information
TUESDAY August 12 Standout at I-91 Overpass Holyoke. 9 Mt. Park Rd. 4:00-5:30 p.m. Come out to show that ordinary people can raise their voices against the chaos and destruction of this Administration. Help remind folks that they, too, can stand up for their beliefs – and that there’s lots and lots of people who aren’t on board with the “cruelty as entertainment” behavior of Trump and Musk and the GOP. More information.
WEDNESDAY August 13 (and every Wednesday). Early Birds for Gaza. Standout at L3Harris in Northampton. Greet L3Harris employees with a peace message – No More Weapons to Israel – Convert to Peace Work”Come down and join us! Hosted by Demilitarize Western Mass. The idea is to have a regular space where we can gather, let L3 know we’re not going anywhere, and experiment with different tactics and approaches! Newcomers and new ideas welcome.
FRIDAY, August 15. Overpasses for Democracy. Overpasses for Democracy event will be held 4:00 – 5:30 p.m on 18 overpasses from Longmeadow, Massachusetts to Newbury Vermont on the fourth Friday of every month. Click here for an interactive map of all of the locations. Look here for more information.
FRIDAY August 15 (and every Friday): AMHERST HANDS OFF OUR LIVES! Peaceful Visibility Standout, 4 pm – 5:30 p.m., Kendrick Park, Amherst: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/778646/
FRIDAY August 15, Belchertown Weekly Standout – Fridays (recurring) 4:00-6:00PM, corner of Main and Jabish Streets, opposite Town Hall, Belchertown. There is ample parking in the adjacent lot.
FRIDAY August 15(and every Friday): Northampton Standout For an Arms Embargo. Noon- 1 p.m. Northampton City Hall, 210 Main Street.
FRIDAY, August 29 . Overpasses for Democracy. Overpasses for Democracy event will be held 4:00 – 5:30 p.m on 18 overpasses from Longmeadow, Massachusetts to Newbury Vermont on the fourth Friday of every month. Click here for an interactive map of all of the locations. Look here for more information.
MONDAY, September 1. Labor Day National Day of Action: Workers Over Billionaires. Look here for more information including how to organize an event in your community.
ONGOING: Tesla Takedowns: Elon Musk is destroying democracy around the world, and he’s using the fortune he built at Tesla to do it. We are taking action at Tesla to stop Musk’s illegal coup. Tesla Takedown is a peaceful protest movement. We oppose violence, vandalism and destruction of property. This protest is a lawful exercise of our First Amendment right to peaceful assembly. In the valley – Tesla Takedowns have been held at the Tesla charging facility at the Pride Station on the Hadley side of the Coolidge Bridge. Find a listing of Tesla Takedown
actions here.
ACTIVE BOYCOTTS: Boycotts can be a powerful tool to make companies stop doing bad things. Perhaps you’ve seen dozens of boycotts across your social media feed. Look up what boycotts are happening now and who is organizing them rated by Choose Democracy’s criteria of what makes a boycott effective.
TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS
Thursday August 7: Organizing to Protect Democracy Session 2: Relational Organizing. 8 p.m. EDT on Zoom. You’ll learn how to: Organize effectively in your community, have persuasive conversations that move people to action, and build lasting connections with others who are ready to rise to the moment. This is the second in a 4-part training series that is designed for people ready to turn passion into action – and to take on an even greater leadership role in their community. Space is limited, so sign up now to reserve your spot. All we ask is that you commit to attend and share info about this training with friends and family. Organizing is relational, and the path forward depends on all of us. Register here.
Thursday August 14, Organizer 101:Virtual Event, 4-5:30 p.m. PDT. a fast-paced, 90-minute training from Activate America designed to help you turn action into power. Whether you’re new to political organizing or looking to deepen your impact, this session gives you the tools to bring people with you—and build real momentum in your community. More information.
Wednesday August 13:Final One Million Rising Training in Non-cooperation. No Kings is holding trainings this summer – a national effort to train one million people in the strategic logic and practice of non-cooperation, as well as the basics of community organizing and campaign design. This is how we build people power that can’t be ignored. You’re invited to join us—and lead.: One Million Rising. The final session will be on August 13 at 8 p.m. EDT. Sign up here.
Saturday August 16: Rise for Freedom Workshop in Amherst. 1:15-4:00 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst. 121 North Pleasant Street, Amherst. There are many organizations in America already providing guidance and leadership to those of us who want to resist the hostile takeover of our government by the radical right MAGA movement. In a workshop on August 16 at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst, we are offering an introduction to some of these. We will be showing a training originally aired on May 15 called “Mutual Aid & Structures for Stronger Local Organizing.” It comes from a workshop series conducted by the Rise for Freedom coalition of activist organizations (including the League of Women Voters, Public Citizen, and Unitarian Universalists of Social Justice). You can learn more about the coalition at rise4freedom.org. We will watch portions of the video and discuss them as a group. Space is limited, so please RSVP to Anne and Bill at annieluigie@gmail.com/ We will notify you to confirm your place in the workshop.
Ongoing: How to Organize a Bearing Witness Standout at ICE Facilities. This is a one page handout. Every Wednesday since February, a growing group of people have gathered at the ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations office in Burlington, Massachusetts. They call it Bearing Witness. Their purpose: to show love and support to immigrants, express shame at ICE, and bear witness to the cruelty of our government. We can see video of their protests here. Now, the organizers have created a shareable guide to organizing a bearing witness standout. Let’s consider using it to organize our own standouts, and let’s share it.
OTHER LISTINGS AND CALENDARS
Comprehensive WMASS Actions/ Events Calendar by Indivisible
Rise Up Western Mass Facebook (with postings of upcoming events)
Western Mass Showing Up for Racial Justice (WMSURJ)
413 Staying Connected
Regular Standouts for Palestine Calendar
VIRTUAL DISSENT
WEDNESDAY August 6: National Dsy of Against Avelo Airlines (the deportation airline). National Virtual event. 8 a.m. EDT. On August 6, there will be Avelo actions all over the country. Sign up here to say you’re taking action with us, and you’ll get a digital action to take on the day, too!
K Starling, at We The People Dissent, has started a listing of virtual , ADA accessible and at home ways to dissent. Check out her first listing for virtual events here.
Take on The Lawyers Whose Firms Caved to Trump
(from Jess Craven – Chop Wood Carry Water) Rachel Cohen, the lawyer who left her law firm over its decision to comply with the Trump administration, has created a fantastic action to hold the law firms that are caving to Trump accountable. The idea is to send emails to organizations where these lawyers sit on the boards and ask them to remove those lawyers from their board. This creates specific individual consequences for the lawyers who decided to cave. She’s created a tool kit that allows you to send emails automatically, by clicking on a link—this will work for everyone EXCEPT for those with VPNs. If it doesn’t work for you she also provides all of the letters as separate docs so you can copy and paste them into an email or print them. (Here’s a link to her TikTok about this action, although I know you’re not all on TikTok. It doesn’t seem to be on any other platforms.)I sent about twenty emails this morning. It’s addictive! Just make sure you proofread the first paragraph and add your name at the end!
Every Sunday: Massachusetts Rapid Response for Our Freedoms: Virtual 6:30 pm. – 7:30 p.m. To mobilize and activate a network of people ready to take immediate, strategic action to defend our rights, freedoms, the rule of law, and democracy.-To educate and inform participants about current authoritarian threats, legal overreach, and coordinated attacks on our freedoms.-To share concrete tools, tactics, and next steps that individuals and groups can take in their communities to push back.-To build a connected movement rooted in collective power, solidarity, and a shared vision of justice and equality for all—not just the wealthy, powerful, or those with privilege. Register and more information.
Lobbying Your Elected Representatives
The Western Mass Resistance Calendar Focuses on Direct Action. But there are many folks out there who are organizing for lobbying Congress to act to prevent a long list of specific atrocities and there are numerous blogs and list-serves that offer weekly actions that you take in response to the most pressing issues. Usually provided are addresses, phone numbers, and scripts that you can use to exhort your reps into action. If you are looking for an action that you can take in 15 minutes, you can find all sorts of suggestions on these lists. Many of these lists also contain weekly summary’s of wins or good news from the resistance -reminding readers that resistance is not futile. Here is a sample of places to check out.
Rogan’s List
American’s of Conscience Checklist (also provides a listing of GOOD NEWS from the previous week)
Chop Wood, Carry Water
5Calls.org
Resistbot
Third Act (focusing on actions by seniors)
Postering
You can resist on your block, at your library, or at your gym. Consider printing and posting resistance messages. It can be a sticker, printed art, or homemade posters. HERE is information on how to get started.
GOOD READS
The State We Are In: Tracking the Atrocities
The assaults on the rule of law and on well-established civil rights have been coming so quickly that it’s hard to absorb how dramatic the changes to our society have been. I have been following five blogs that help me to track the proliferating atrocities and to help direct me toward the malfeasance that is most consequential.
Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson – Richardson, an historian, offers her daily dissection of (usually) a single Trump Administration atrocity and then places it in the context of American history. Each day offers a compelling read that includes citations. Read the blog or subscribe here.
Today’s Edition Newsletter by Robert Hubble. Hubble offers a daily summary of the worst of Trump/Musk from the previous day and then reports on what folks are doing to resist Trump’s edicts and actions. Read past editions here.
The Daily Briefing by Rick Seltzer. This blog provides a daily rundown of Trump’s assault on Higher Education – providing the most comprehensive tracking of Trump’s war on universities that I have found. This one is behind a paywall but if you’re concerned with where Trump’s attacks on education are going and where the resistance is forming in higher education, this is the place to stay on top of those issues. The blog is a feature of the Chronicle of Higher Education and can be found here
Democracy Docket: Tracking the Legal Fight Against Trump. A great blog for keeping tabs on where Trump’s actions are being challenged in the courts. Read a sample or subscribe here.
Organizing My Thoughts by Kelly Hayes, the blog of writer, organizer, and Truth Out editor. Features interviews with other organizers, tips on self-care and staying sane and brave through the crisis, and a monthly, must-read reading list, reviewing the major atrocities emanating mostly from, but not limited to Washington. Read her posts here.
And here’s an article by Kelley Hayes that sums up where we are at the moment.
Fascism Isn’t Coming: It’s Here Now. Now What? by Kelley Hayes (4/17/25). We’re not just contending with right-wing movements. We’re talking about movements that have reached one of their goals, which is to take over the government,” says organizer and grassroots strategist Ejeris Dixon. In this episode of “Movement Memos,” Dixon and host Kelly Hayes discuss fascism, coalition building, and the compassion and shared knowledge we need to create safety and justice in these times. (Truthout)
Resistance Is Everywhere
What Can I Do to Fight this Coup – a checklist from Choose Democracy. People are resisting at every level. Tesla Takedowns. Refusing illegal orders. Court challenges. Boycotting. Thousands of protests. (More examples!) Alongisde grounding yourself in these times, here are some starting points on how to orient and help fight the coup.
How ICE’s Arrest of a High School Student Activated a Massachusetts Town by Isabela Dias (7/15/25). While Gomes da Silva waited, the local resistance continued. It was primarily led by the students, who walked out of class the Monday after the arrest wearing white T-shirts with the words “Free Marcelo.” An online fundraiser was set up to help the family. Neighbors began bringing them groceries. For several days, Greco’s house became a sort of command post as supporters flowed in and out to offer help and write affidavits attesting to Gomes da Silva’s standing in the community. “I don’t think he really understands how this all came together,” she said, “and just how fast…When I think about all the miracles I got to witness over those two weeks, it still blows my mind.” (Mother Jones)
We Are No Longer Free. But We Can Win Our Freedom Back by Deepak Bhargava (6/14/25). Disruption differs from protest in a key sense. Where protests are designed to capture attention…disruption is not always loud and noisy. Sometimes it involves sitting where you’re not supposed to, not buying what you usually do, or not showing up for work. The point is that disruption must exact real economic or political costs on authoritarians and their collaborators. During the early days of the administration, we have already seen such methods yield results. Take the ongoing boycott of Target over its diversity, equity and inclusion policy rollback, which has depressed the chain’s foot traffic and stock price, or the widespread disavowal of Tesla, resulting in a worldwide sales crisis for Elon Musk’s once-trendy automaker. Or look at the Los Angeles unified school district’s refusal to give federal immigration authorities access to the city’s schools. These acts of non-cooperation create friction, and friction slows the consolidation of authoritarianism. Each act of non-cooperation, of disruption, inspires others to use the power they have to throw sand in the gears. (The Guardian)
Mutual Aid in the Age of Fascism by Judith Levine (Spring 2025). Still more mutual aid formations and institutions will need to be born, or reborn. The Department of Agriculture has canceled over $1 billion in funding for two programs that link local farms with food pantries and public school cafeterias. We need farmers’ cooperatives based in agrarian socialism. Daycare and afterschool programs are under the knife; Christian nationalism is creeping into curricula. Bring back the free school movement of the 1960s. Health and Human Services is closing the Administration for Community Living, which has helped frail elders and people with disabilities live at home, not in institutions. Because caregiving will be even more privatized than it is now (and we won’t have immigrants to do it cheap), the burdens will revert to the family, particularly women. What will family mutual aid look like? Communal, intergenerational housing, shared kitchens, child care shifts, leaving free time for creativity and leisure: let new forms of intimacy and interdependence supplant the patriarchal nuclear family religious fundamentalists and their elected officials have been laboring to reinvigorate for decades. (Boston Review)
American Spring? How Nonviolent Protest is Accelerating in the US by Erica Chenoweth, Soha Hammam, Jeremy Pressman, and Christopher Wiley Shay (Waging Nonviolence). Contrary to conventional wisdom, the size and scale of anti-Trump protests this year have dwarfed those in 2017, and they have been extraordinarily peaceful.
56 Small Tasks to Be Proactive Against Book Censorship in 2025. by Kelly Jensen. (Book Censorship News). It is a myth that book bans increase book sales and “help” an author whose work has been targeted. It is also a myth that book bans encourage young people to get their hands on the banned title. The reality is what’s at stake are our public institutions of democracy: public libraries and public schools. Also at stake are the lives of whole groups of people whose stories are being silenced, erased, and burned nationwide by a small, vocal, wealthy, and well-connected contingent of far-right politicians and Christian nationalists (sometimes those groups are one and the same).
When You Feel Hopeless, Read This. The Resistance is Speading in Towns and Cities Alike. by K. Starling. (We The People Dissent). Not only do I catalogue the protests, but I record their numbers and document their stories. CNN, NBC, and NPR are not telling the whole story, not necessarily due to bias or censorship. Unless you spend hours every week recording protests and listening to people, you’ll miss it—the hope.
What to Do if the Insurrection Act is Invoked by Daniel Hunter (Waging Nonviolence).With the Insurrection Act looming, now is the time to learn how it might unfold and the strategic ways to respond — including the power of ridicule.
The Creative Playbook Behind Turkey’s Mass Protests by Ela Buruk (Waging Non-Violence). In late March 2025, Turkey was rocked by its largest protests in a decade after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu — a leading rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan — was detained on corruption and terrorism charges. Outrage over his jailing and the subsequent closure of city services (such as metro and bus lines) under a protest ban quickly spilled into the streets. Yet alongside anger and defiance, an unexpected element emerged: humor and creative spectacle.
How to Fight Fascism in a Captured State by Kelly Hayes and Shane Burley. (Podcast Transcript from Truthout). We need to think deeply about cultivating that mindset of collective survival, of needing to understand each other and work together, even if we don’t like each other, and would never actually choose each other, because this is the ‘us’ we’ve got in an us versus them situation
The Anti-Authoritarian Play Book: What to Do Now. by Scott Nakagawa (blog The Anti-authoritarian Play Book). Now is the time to build stronger and deeper pro-democracy coalitions that are educated about what’s at stake and prepared to act together. The most effective approach involves forming broad coalitions across civic groups, advocacy organizations, business interests, and faith communities before a crisis hits, like a constitutional crisis, an escalation in immigration enforcement, widespread targeting of opposition leaders, crackdowns on civil society organizations, and other moves. These networks are most powerful when they transcend traditional political divides, bringing together diverse stakeholders united by their commitment to democratic principles rather than specific policy positions.
Divest Public Dollars from Elon Musk: A How to Guide by teslatakedown.com. Cities & states opposed to Musk’s illegal takeover of the federal government invest trillions of dollars in the stock market through city pension systems. Some cities purchase vehicle fleets from Tesla, and others hold contracts with Musk’s businesses. As Musk’s brutal and unnecessary cuts are ravaging state and local budgets, local governments that care about democracy should not be giving Elon Musk money by investing in his companies.
Be There, Be Counted. An Inventory of Community Actions in 2025. by K. Starling (5/1/25). A(mostly) complete list of (almost) every protest across the country. (We The People Dissent /Substack)
Fighting Elon Musk One Tesla Dealership at a Time by Sarah Larson (3/30/25). “It’s ironic that, as a pro-democracy and pro-climate group, we’re protesting against electric cars,” one activist said. “But you cannot sacrifice our democracy for one piece of the thing.” (The New Yorker)
The People’s Toolkit by Women’s March. Don’t just watch from the sidelines – join a community ready to take action. This power-packed toolkit developed by organizations behind the 2025 People’s March will connect you directly to movements making change on the issues you care about most. We’ve gathered concrete actions and individual demands from grassroots partners across the movement. Whether you’re passionate about voting rights, gender equity, or economic justice – there’s a clear path to make an impact.
17 Ways to Disprupt the Status Quo in Your Hometown by K. Starling (4/21/25). Whether you live in a sea of blue or are a blue dot in a red county, any one of us can dissent from our hometown. Here are 17 ways you can disrupt the status quo and make an impact in your town. And don’t forget—invite others to amplify your impact. (We The People Dissent / Substack).
How to Protest Safely by Courtney Lindwall (10/26/22). We must bear in mind that protesting in person is a privilege that not everyone shares. Some cannot chance gathering in groups due to health vulnerabilities. Some cannot afford run-ins with police due to their immigration status, family responsibilities, or job. And protesting remains uniquely dangerous for people of color—especially Black people—who continue to face intentional targeting and violence at the hands of police. For those who are willing and able to show up and speak out, here is your guide to protesting safely and effectively. (NRDC.org)
What Would a General Strike in the US Actually Look Like by Jeremy Brecher (4/8/25). Calls for a general strike in the US are growing. It’s important to understand how to organize one, given their key role in overcoming tyrants around the world. (Waging Nonviolence)W
How Civil Resistance Can Topple A Dictator by Erica Chenoweth ((2/1/25). It may only take 3.5% of the population to topple a dictator – with civil resistance. (Portside / The Guardian)
Resistance is Alive and Well in the United States by Erica Chenoweth, Jeremy Pressman, and Soha Hammam (3/19/25). Protests of Trump may not look like the mass marches of 2017, but research shows they are far more numerous and frequent — while also shifting to more powerful forms of resistance. (Waging Non-Violence)
So You Want to Be a Dissident: A Practical Guide for Courage in Trump’s Age of Fear by Julia Angwin and Amy Fields-Meyer (4/12/25). Sometime in the past two months the United States crossed into a new and unfamiliar realm—one in which the consequences of challenging the state seem to increasingly carry real danger. The sitting President, elected on an explicit platform of revenge against his political enemies, entered office by instituting loyalty tests, banning words, purging civil servants, and installing an F.B.I. director who made his name promising to punish his boss’s critics.Retribution soon followed. (The New Yorker)