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Resistance Resources for Political Newbies
By Alaina Johns
INTRO
This is a guide for people who want easy-to-understand info about why our democracy is at risk, why ordinary people need to speak out in large numbers, and how to get started doing that (even if your friends or family aren’t). I am going to talk about why and how to call Congress, join a protest, stay informed, or take other peaceful actions to support US democracy. This info is especially for people who have never taken these actions before and don’t know what to expect.
This document is open to anyone to read and share. Put it on social media. Put it in your group chat. Email it to your mom and dad. Bring it to your discussion group. Bookmark it so you can come back and look at it later when you need to.
Skim the headings below to find out which parts you want to read.
UPDATE: After good feedback on this document, I am developing a Resistance Resources live Zoom class. If you want to know when that’s happening or you want general updates, fill out this short form.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Who is writing this?.... p.2
Is it really ok to be “political?”.....p.2
Are things really so bad that I need to “resist”?....p.3
ALL ABOUT CONTACTING CONGRESS
Why should we contact Congress?.......p.5
Are there reasons to avoid contacting Congress?.....p.5
How should we contact Congress?......p.6
How do we prepare to call?........p.7
What are some ways to build our calling muscles?......p.7
What exactly happens when we call?........p.7
Other resources for learning how to call Congress.....p.8
TAX RESISTANCE….p.9
ADVICE FOR STAYING INFORMED WITHOUT GOING NUTS
Questions to ask when you’re looking at stuff online…..p.9
How to tell pundits and journalists apart…p.10
Journalism sources I recommend…p.10
Resources for understanding more about journalism itself….p.11
INFO FOR FIRST-TIME PROTESTORS
Why should we protest?.........p.12
Misconceptions about protesting…...p.12
What are different ways of protesting?.....p.13
What exactly should we expect at a typical protest or rally?...p.14
What if something bad happens at a protest?........p.15
Can disabled people protest?.....p.15
Reasons to avoid protests.....p.16
How to find protests.....p.16
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND...p.17
WHO IS WRITING THIS?
My name is Alaina Johns and I’m a Philadelphia-based journalist with more than 15 years’ experience, including 10 years as an editor. I support LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights and reproductive justice, disability rights, education, racial justice, immigrants’ rights, freedom of speech, the separation of church and state and the separation of powers in the US Constitution, voting rights, and other human rights. I oppose the MAGA/Musk agenda of unconstitutional cuts, firings, and deportations.
I believe we all have a responsibility to speak up to our leaders and speak up in support of people who are less powerful than we are. I have been joining protests for more than 10 years. I join community actions and organizations and call my members of Congress often about my concerns.
I think that people who have lots of info should not make other people feel bad about what they don’t know. Everyone deserves to learn and grow and they should not be ashamed to ask questions.
I’m a cisgender white woman with a disability. I am not perfect and am always learning and trying to be mindful of people who have different experiences or a harder life than I have.
You can find me on Instagram @dontyouwantarealjob
IS IT REALLY OK TO BE “POLITICAL”?
A lot of us privately support things like racial justice or trans rights, but feel nervous about saying “political” things out loud, posting about it on social media, or putting our bodies in spaces where people are protesting.
That nervousness is for a lot of reasons. We might feel like we don’t know enough to speak up and be afraid of making a mistake. We might not know anybody else who’s doing it. We might see other friends getting slapped down by people who complain that someone is “getting political” or making others feel uncomfortable. We might realize that speaking up challenges the way things are, and a lot of people, including most of our friends, like the way things are.
This is how I think about it:
Standing up for basic human rights (like being able to vote, get healthcare, or get due process in court) is not “political”. These shouldn’t be Democratic or Republican issues. They are basic humanity. At the same time, politics is the way we get and keep our rights in society. People did not simply get the right to vote (for example) because the white men in power were nice enough to give it, first to Black men, and then to all the groups that kept fighting when they were left out, like women, Indigenous Americans, etc. We have rights because we fought for them by campaigning, voting, demonstrating, donating, and everything else we do to elect the leaders we want and remind them what we elected them to do. We should be proud of participating in our democracy, not running away from being “political”.
If you speak up for human rights, or for democracy, and someone tries to make you stop by calling you “political”, ignore them. You don’t have to argue with them or give them any attention. It’s likely that they are comfy with the way things are and either do not realize or do not care that other people are suffering. They want you to spend your valuable time feeling upset or arguing with them, rather than doing something to help others.
If this will create conflict among your friends and family, only you can decide how much to say and how much those relationships matter to you (or how much you depend on those people in your life). You can decide to take action privately, avoid conflict with loved ones, and protect your peace if you need to. Or you can set new boundaries, control who can see what you say on social media, and focus on relationships with people who value human rights. It’s not a total either/or, and whatever you decide today can change as needed.
Ultimately, if you decide that supporting human rights and democracy are important values to you, then staying silent about them might be more harmful to your mental health than whatever difficulty you encounter from speaking up. If you decide that human rights are not priorities for you, or you don’t care enough or feel personally affected enough to take action, then at least stay out of the way of the people who are participating in our democracy.
ARE THINGS REALLY SO BAD THAT I NEED TO “RESIST”?
Yes.
Some people think that the concern is overblown, that progress will naturally happen over time, and that no matter what happens, the government will right itself eventually. There’s a word for that: complacency. And it doesn’t help anyone.
While it’s true that injustice is nothing new in America, Trump is purposely trying to break our government norms and functions in new ways, and increase his own power. This is very different from his first term. Here’s a partial list of what’s happening in case you didn’t know or need help warning other people:
Social security is at risk of collapse. Here’s a source.
Tens of thousands of federal workers are being fired without cause. You can read about this in countless news stories.
With its Health and Human Services cuts, the Trump administration has stopped a long list of services and research, ending the federal government’s support for workplace safety, infant health, asthma research, infectious disease monitoring (bird flu, anyone?), drug and medical device safety, food safety, air and water safety, reproductive care, and lots more. This is deadly to all of us. This podcast episode has a great segment explaining this.
The Trump administration is erasing trans people, non-white people, and women from public records.
Trump is blocking the release of money that Congress voted on, in violation of the Constitution that gives America’s “power of the purse” to Congress, not the President. There is lots of reporting about this.
Trump, VP Vance, and Speaker Johnson are threatening to ignore or even remove judges that rule against Trump (that means he is trying to take ALL power into the presidency, instead of giving it equally to Congress and the courts like the Constitution requires). This article has more info, and this one.
Trump is threatening law firms that represent or employ prominent Democrats or anyone who has sued him, in an attempt to scare and bankrupt anyone who brings cases against him. If lawyers can’t do their job, then we have no due process in court. Here is a source.
Trump is defunding and trying to close our national parks, and turn them over to oil drilling. Here is a source.
He is trying to close the Department of Education without the approval of Congress, which will force many disabled children out of school or make it much harder for them to learn. Here is a source.
Under his orders, ICE is arresting people who are in the US legally and in some cases, sending them to a horrible prison in El Salvador without any evidence that they committed a crime, and against a judge’s orders. Here is a source.
ICE is also arresting and detaining immigrant student protestors with valid visas, and threatening to send them to prison or deport them without giving them a chance to defend themselves in court. This is a clear violation of the First Amendment. Here is a source.
Trump’s budget will make catastrophic cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA, cutting off health care to millions of older folks, poor people, disabled people, and veterans – but not so Congress can save money. It’s so they can give even bigger tax cuts to billionaires and corporations. Watch this short video to learn more.
Trump is pushing a new voter law (the SAVE act) that will stop millions of citizens from voting, especially married women.
Millions of people around the world, especially children, will starve or die of preventable diseases because Trump has suspended USAID. Watch this short video to learn more.
With one day’s notice, Trump cut off federal funding that provides the only chance for poor women in many states to get medical checkups, cancer screenings, and birth control. Here is a source.
Trump is attacking our longtime international allies, including Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, and talking about invading some of them with the US military. There is lots of reporting about this.
Trump’s national security and military leaders are planning classified military operations on Signal, a commercial texting app that the Pentagon has warned staffers not to use because it is vulnerable to Russian spies. They also added a journalist to a chat by mistake. The original story broke in The Atlantic, which has a paywall, but there is lots of other reporting about this.
Trump is already talking about running for a third term in open violation of the Constitution. Read this.
This is only a partial list of what the Trump administration is up to. None of these items are exaggerated. Beyond the links provided above, you can learn lots more about all of them if you tune into the sources I list later in this document.
If ordinary people do not stand up now, in BIG numbers, we may never have a fair election again, or restore the checks and balances of our democracy or the workings of our government. The US will become much more like Russia or Hungary, with one leader who holds onto power no matter what and threatens, imprisons, or even kills people who oppose him.
If our Constitution endures, it will be because enough people took action. Be one of them.
ALL ABOUT CONTACTING CONGRESS
WHY should we contact Congress?
Congress works for YOU! Even if you do not vote for the person who got elected, they have a responsibility to hear you and represent you, and you pay them with your tax dollars.
Here are some more reasons to contact Congress:
Are there reasons to avoid contacting Congress?
Some people are too tired, traumatized, or angry about an injustice that deeply affects them to contact Congress. Given what a lot of us have been through, especially disabled folks, LGBTQ+ folks, or people of color, that is totally understandable. Those of us with more energy should step up for people who feel depleted, and not criticize them or argue with them.
Some people think that there is no point in contacting Congress: that our representatives and senators are going to do what they do regardless. And some people, even if they won’t admit it, are nervous about contacting Congress. It feels especially scary to pick up the phone.
I don’t agree with people who say there’s no point in getting in touch. Yes, it’s true that one call or email is not going to solve whatever the problem is. But what about hundreds, thousands, or millions of them? We all have a part to play. Yes, it’s true that a lot of our reps are hopelessly sunk into partisanship and fearing Donald Trump or Elon Musk instead of listening to us, their constituents. But we should not roll over and be silent. If they are going to harm their constituents, let them get an earful from us. Constantly.
While I am sympathetic to people who have phone anxiety (especially people who grew up without having to learn how to regularly make phone calls), I don’t think anxiety is a valid excuse for staying quiet. Throughout US history, people have fought, marched, bled, and died for our right to vote and to protest injustice. We need to find our own dabs of courage to speak up.
Here is a link to an article where I wrote more about this: Six reasons my friends aren’t calling Congress, DEBUNKED.
HOW should we contact Congress?
You can send an email to your representative (most of them have a form on their website for that), you can call their offices, you can request in-person meetings with them, and if all else fails, you can protest outside their office or elsewhere.
In DC we each have one member of the House of Representatives, and two senators (each state has two senators). You can find your House representative on this page with your address. You can find your senators on this page using the tool on the top left.
(Remember that you also have state representatives and local representatives for your county or city. If you are worried about a local issue, don’t hesitate to contact them. You may make a bigger impact with your calls on the local level.)
Emailing is a fine way to start getting in the habit of talking to your reps. But ultimately calling is the best and quickest way to make your voice heard. Remember that your member of Congress has local offices as well as their DC office. Look up the numbers and save them to your phone. If you can’t get through in DC, try local offices.
Contact your own reps—it doesn’t do any good to call people who don’t actually represent you. However, you might contact other members of Congress who do not directly represent you if they are chairing important committees, or in their capacity as party leader in the House or Senate. You can indicate this when you make the call.
How do we prepare to call?
What are some ways to build our calling muscles?
What exactly happens when we call?
Sometimes, the phone line will be busy or it’s after hours, and you will leave a message. Sometimes the rep’s voicemail box will be full, and you will send an email instead and try calling again another day. Sometimes a staffer will pick up the phone.
Here’s an example of how it will go, using one of my recent calls as an example.
Staffer: Hello, this is Senator Dave McCormick’s office.
Me: Hello, I am a constituent. My name is Alaina Johns and I live in Philadelphia. I would like to leave a message for Senator McCormick.
Staffer: Sure, I would be happy to carry your message to the senator.
Me: Thanks! I want the senator to know that I am very upset about reporting I saw this week about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other national security leaders making war plans on Signal in a chat that accidentally had a journalist added to it. I didn’t think the Trump administration could still shock me, but I am appalled by this. Pete Hegseth needs to resign, and if he doesn’t resign, he should be impeached by Congress and there should be immediate hearings about this. I want Senator McCormick to stand up for me on this.
Staffer [typing furiously]: Ok, thanks, I will get that message to the senator. Can you tell me your name again please and your ZIP code and a way to contact you?
Me: [Spell my name, give my ZIP code and my phone number.]
Staffer: Thank you. I will get your message to the senator.
Me: Thank you!
Staffer: Enjoy the rest of your day!
Me: You too!
Every call will be a little different, but that’s basically how it goes. Most staffers are friendly. They take your comment and your info and that’s it. (It is important for them to get your ZIP/address because that’s how they confirm you are a constituent.) Very occasionally you will get a grumpy person or a person who tries to argue with you. It has happened to me maybe a few times out of countless calls. If this happens, remember that it is a THEM problem, not a you problem. It’s against the rules of their job to be rude to you or to try to argue with you. They are there to hear what your concern is. That’s it. So if it happens to you, try not to stress. You have done the right thing and they are not doing their job properly.
Remember that you do NOT have to be an expert, make a whole political or philosophical treatise, or be prepared to debate anyone when you call Congress. You simply need to know what your concern is, and say it in a few sentences. And be polite to the staffer! Even if you’re angry at their boss, don’t take it out on them.
Other resources learning how to call Congress:
The progressive civic action nonprofit 5 Calls explains why calling is important and has suggested topics and scripts for calls every day. Check them out. Many people use Resistbot. I haven’t used that myself but lots of folks recommend it.
The Chop Wood, Carry Water newsletter and social media accounts from activist Jessica Craven are full of great daily resources for easy actions to take, including guidance on calling Congress.
So if you haven’t already, give calling Congress a try! When you make a habit of doing this, it becomes quite easy, and you can feel good about taking consistent action on behalf of yourself and your neighbors.
TAX RESISTANCE
The US has a long history of people who refuse to pay their federal taxes for moral reasons, like objecting to war. As Musk and MAGA capture the federal government and try to tear it to pieces, more people are getting curious about tax resistance as a way to protest.
The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC) is a great resource to learn about tax resistance (i.e., refusing to file or pay your federal taxes because of a moral objection to something the federal government is doing). This page details the risks of tax resistance, which is against the law, and tips for facing collection. NWTRCC even has a fund to help tax resisters if and when the IRS does come calling. NWTRCC offers a variety of virtual events and even has local tax resistance counselors. Tax resistance is not as black-and-white as many people make it out to be. There are many forms of it, including waiting until the last minute to file your taxes, paying by check instead of digitally, or refusing to have your taxes deducted from each paycheck, and instead paying it all at tax time.
ADVICE FOR STAYING INFORMED WITHOUT GOING NUTS
It’s hard to plan effective acts of resistance if you don’t really understand what’s going on.
Nowadays it can be easy to FEEL informed by looking at social media. People on IG, TikTok, Bluesky or whatever share the headlines or give their reactions to news stories. This is not the same as engaging with the reporting yourself. Keep in mind that while a lot of news “influencers” and political content creators with huge followings rail against the “mainstream media” and how journalists are failing us, most of their content is actually still derived from the reporting of those same journalists and delivered for free to followers (or even monetized) while the journalists often struggle to get paid.
Remember that you can take the most effective action when you have the facts, and getting the facts means paying attention to expert, nonpartisan sources – not politicians or pundits, even if you agree with them. Reporters and their sources will not always reflect your values perfectly, but the journalist or outlet in question can still be working to a high professional standard and giving you the facts you need. Here are my tips for navigating the media.
Remember that supporting quality journalism is an important act of resistance. Journalists are working to hold people accountable when they break the law and harm our democracy. But we can’t do it without your support. Be sure to subscribe by email! Social media is starting to censor journalists.
Questions to ask when you’re looking at a video, story, headline, meme, etc:
How to tell pundits and journalists apart
Be aware of who is a pundit or commentator, and who is actually doing the reporting. Pundits and commentators may round up existing news for you, give their opinion about what is happening, or interview politicians or activists who are friendly to their platform. Examples include podcaster and YouTube star Bryan Tyler Cohen or Robert Hubbell’s Today’s Edition newsletter. They are great to tune into and will help keep you informed and motivated. But you should also follow journalists.
Journalists independently research their topics, double-check the facts they find, give people they report on a chance to comment, and conduct original interviews with a variety of people who offer different views on the subject. They find out firsthand what is happening; they’re not commenting or giving their opinions after the fact about what somebody else uncovered.
Some journalists (like me) have experience with both reporting and opinion writing. A good journalist is always clear about which kind of work they are doing.
Journalism sources I recommend:
Obviously, you cannot read all of these sources all the time. Pick a few that you especially like based on what topics matter most to you, or alternate the ones you check in on.
The Conversation. This outlet compiles easy-to-understand articles about policy, politics, history, science, medicine, culture, and more from ACTUAL QUALIFIED EXPERTS, not pundits or clout-chasers. They always have articles that help you understand whatever is big in the news this week. No paywall.
Jessica Yellin’s News Not Noise. Jessica Yellin is a career political journalist who used to cover the White House for CNN and got disenchanted with the industry. She left and started her own platform designed to give people the news without sensationalism and click-bait. I have followed her for years and her team’s reporting is always solid – relevant, well-sourced, and sensible. She has a newsletter that does a great job of helping you understand what’s actually going on in a balanced way, and you can find her on socials, too.
Jessica Valenti’s Abortion, Every Day. Jessica Valenti is a longtime journalist and author who now dedicates her platform to tracking threats to reproductive rights nationwide (including abortions, contraceptives, and support for parents) and helps you learn how to fight back. She often identifies important trends in anti-abortion arguments before anyone else. No paywall.
Erin Reed’s Erin in the Morning. Erin Reed is a trans journalist covering threats against (and victories for) LGTBQ+ people around the world but especially in the US. She publishes essential take-downs of anti-trans punditry in major newspapers. Her team’s reporting is consistent and well-sourced and essential for protecting queer and trans rights. No paywall.
Alison Gill’s The Breakdown. Alison Gill is a military veteran, sexual assault survivor, and former federal worker who started her own media outlet. She has a bunch of podcasts and on her Substack The Breakdown, she helps you understand the legal filings, arguments, and rulings around Trump. No paywall.
Democracy Docket. A digital platform, including a podcast, socials, and a newsletter, founded by powerhouse pro-democracy lawyer Marc Elias. This is an excellent place to understand the court cases fighting for our democracy.
Generally, The Associated Press and NPR are good news sources if you want the facts without too much bias either way. If you want to look at news sources that lean to the right without going into MAGA territory, The Hill and The Bulwark are good.
And while she is not a journalist, Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American newsletter is essential reading. She is a political historian who rounds up important news stories almost every day (with sources), and then helps us understand the history that led to what’s happening now. She is a GREAT writer and really helps you understand what’s happening, why it’s important, and whether we have faced the same problem in the past. Her newsletter is always interesting. (No paywall.)
Resources for understanding more about journalism itself
It’s important to stay critical. If you want help understanding HOW journalists work and what is happening inside the journalism and media industry, here are two good sources:
Poynter is a nonprofit media organization all about journalism ethics, fact-checking, and media literacy. They have a website, newsletter, and podcast. They help you understand HOW the news is being covered and what is happening inside the industry.
The Unspun Podcast breaks media literacy into small, interesting lessons that help you understand how journalists work, and exactly how newsmakers and politicians try to manipulate and mislead us.
INFO FOR FIRST-TIME PROTESTORS
Why should we protest?
Our right to protest is in the First Amendment: Congress cannot take away our right to free speech or “the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Protesting accomplishes many things, like showing our leaders what we care about; forcing them to take action for justice, follow through on their promises, and uphold the law; and raising public and media awareness for important issues.
Protesting also has other benefits. You can learn from your elected officials, activists, and other leaders who speak at protests or rallies. You can meet other people who share your values and learn about other ways to take action. You can channel your rage in a productive and nonviolent way by marching and shouting with a crowd. You can feel comforted and energized by knowing there are lots of other people who value human rights.
There’s an excellent book called Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict. According to years of studies from around the world, the authors prove that mass nonviolent resistance is much more likely to topple dictators, and ensure democracy afterwards, than using violent tactics. Co-author Erica Chenoweth, a political scientist at Harvard, also notes that scholarship in this area conclusively shows that when 3.5 percent of the population joins the resistance, the movement is a success every time. Think about that. If Chenoweth is right, then just 3.5 percent of the US population needs to hit the streets or take some other action, and we can beat the MAGA regime. By joining in and talking to your friends and family, you can directly help reach that number.
Misconceptions about protesting
Here are some common things you might have heard about protesting. They are ideas I have heard for years, especially from right-wing sources:
The truth is the vast majority of protestors are ordinary people who are fed up about injustice. They have tried other ways to protect themselves and get equal treatment, and leaders are continuing to ignore them. The vast majority of US protests are totally peaceful, and when they do get violent, it is often because of outside groups who want to do harm and take advantage of the disruption of the protest. Sometimes violence occurs in the form of actions by the police: boxing people in, using tear gas, assaulting people, or arresting them when they are peacefully demonstrating.
Sometimes it happens that protestors themselves damage public or private property. I don’t personally condone violence (by the state or by individuals), but when it happens, I remember something I heard after George Floyd’s murder. I wish I could remember the exact source now. When folks say “it’s terrible that the police are killing innocent people, but protestors need to stop damaging property,” turn that around in your mind: “It’s terrible that protestors are damaging property, but the police need to stop killing innocent people.” That is a helpful reframe for me about where our priorities should lie: people’s lives are more important than property. Are you more upset about damaged cars or buildings than you are about (for example) killings by police or illegal abductions by ICE? Why is that?
When violence occurs at a protest, news outlets tend to focus on it, ignoring the vast majority of protestors that are peaceful. For example, if there’s one or two cars on fire, news outlets plaster this on their coverage, when there are tens of thousands of people demonstrating peacefully with chants and songs a few blocks away. This warps our perception of protesting over time.
Oftentimes protests do cause related problems, like a traffic jam or building shutdown. That is the point: protestors who haven’t been able to be heard any other way are deliberately causing an inconvenience to get people to pay attention to the issue.
Ultimately, my observation is that if the people in power do not like what you have to say, it doesn’t matter how you try to say it: they will claim that you are not doing it the right way. From writing a letter to the editor, to speaking to your representative at a town hall, to kneeling on the football field, people who take action against those in power will be criticized for how they did it. They might be doxxed, arrested, or lose their job. It’s a way for leaders to avoid talking about whatever the real issue is and stop change from happening.
What we have to decide is whether we will let that stop us from speaking up for what’s right.
What are different ways of protesting?
Protests take a lot of forms. They could be a march or a rally, a boycott, a sit-in, an encampment, an artwork, or an action campaign (like making calls, canvassing voters, or sending postcards).
Nobody can do it all. You can choose what kind of protest is doable and sustainable for you.
Some people protest by showing up in a public space, listening to speeches or performances, doing chants together, or marching together in the street. This could be planned or spontaneous.
Other ways of protesting are more risky for the people who do it: they might occupy a space or a building that the owners or police are telling them to leave or camp out in a place where they are not allowed. For example, at 1977’s 504 Sit-In, ordinary people occupied a federal building until the government agreed to uphold its own laws protecting disabled people. Many famous Civil Rights era protests caught national attention and ultimately led to change when Black people and their allies refused to give up a seat on the bus, ride buses that were segregated, or leave a lunch counter that was marked for white people only.
Throughout history, people who challenged injustice in this direct and courageous way have faced public criticism, smear campaigns from the government, violence, imprisonment, lynching, and assassination. Especially as the Trump administration ramps up attacks on free speech and on immigrants, and deploys the National Guard and the military against largely peaceful US demonstrators, protesting is becoming more dangerous, even when protestors are following the law. Crackdowns on people who protest are deliberate. MAGA wants to send a message that they hope will stop other people from using their First Amendment rights.
Many people are not able to take the risk of protesting, for many different reasons. But that doesn’t mean you can’t stand up in other ways that are safer for you. It still makes a difference.
You can also support protestors without even attending yourself: offer them a ride, offer childcare, pack them snacks and water, give them a meal, help them decompress, be their emergency contact, share info about protests with your friends, etc.
What exactly should we expect at a typical protest or rally?
Depending on the size of the protest, there could be a handful of people, a few dozen, a few hundred, or thousands of people. Often when the protest is planned in advance, there are some speakers related to the theme of the day, like scientists, doctors, teachers, or union leaders. Sometimes elected officials who support the cause will speak. Sometimes there are performances by singers, musicians, or dancers.
Sometimes the protest will stay in one place, and sometimes people will march. If the protest is pre-planned, the route will have already been determined and publicized and the road might already be closed. Organizers of the protest will lead the march.
There will probably be a lot of police officers, standing around their cruisers or riding bikes or horses. Sometimes they will be in riot gear or have military equipment. They will watch the protest and if it begins to move on a pre-approved route, they will drive ahead of the organizers, clearing the road, and then follow behind at the back of the crowd.
A lot of people bring signs with creative art and slogans on them. Some of them are profane. Protests are a chance for people to peacefully express themselves in ways that catch the attention of leaders, other protesters, and the media. Making signs to carry at a protest can be a fun creative outlet.
Protests can be loud and overwhelming. There are often loudspeakers and megaphones, drumming, music, cheering, booing, yelling, and lots of chanting. If you’re bothered by noise, it’s fine to wear headphones or earplugs or go for only a short time.
Going to a protest can be physically tiring. It usually takes a lot of standing around, often on pavement. You can research in advance if there will be bathrooms available in public buildings or nearby businesses. It’s a good idea to bring some water and snacks in a backpack. Wear comfy shoes and layers. Wear sunscreen and/or a hat. Don’t hesitate to protect your health by wearing a mask.
In my experience, the people in the crowd at protests are very friendly. They want to visit with friends, hear the speakers, and admire the signs. They usually help other people who need it. There will probably be canvassers in the crowd for things like voter registration, smaller political parties, and petitions. You can decide who you talk to.
Generally, you should be aware of what and who you’re photographing. Try taking photos so that they show people from the back. Some people at protests do not want their faces to go on social media. If other people’s faces are visible close up in your protest photo, it might be a good idea to obscure them before you share the photos publicly. If you like someone’s sign, you can ask them for permission to take a photo. Most people don’t mind.
What if something bad happens at a protest?
When a big group of people get together and emotions run high, there can be risks. A crowd can become dangerous when too many people are squeezed together, especially if police are doing the squeezing. Sometimes the crowd will turn away from the expected route onto a more disruptive route, like heading from city streets onto a nearby highway. If this happens, the police will probably take action to try to control the crowd in different ways.
If police stop you, you can ask them if you’re being detained, and if you aren’t, you have the right to walk away. If you are detained, you do not have to say anything to the police, even if they ask you questions. Say that you want a lawyer, even if you know you have done nothing wrong. Experienced protesters will tell you to have a phone number memorized in case you are arrested, like a loved one who will know how to take action on your behalf, or a local legal service. Here is a list of rights for protestors from the ACLU.
Sometimes there will be counter-protestors, and they might have hateful signs or slogans. They are hoping to cause conflict and trouble. Some people will engage them. But it’s best to ignore counter-protestors and focus on peacefully demonstrating for a good cause. We all have a right to free speech unless we’re threatening violence.
It is a fact that the Trump administration is showing worrying signs of wanting to harm protestors. They are searching for justifications to use military force against Americans at home, a violation of our Constitution. Some police departments want to carry out Trump’s anti-democratic will. That means protesting is becoming more dangerous for ordinary people. You could see this as a reason to stop protesting, which is what MAGA wants, or you could see it is a reason for even more of us to keep protesting. When millions of us are protesting all over the country, they cannot stop us.
Right now, the vast majority of the time, nothing bad will happen to you at a protest. If you attend a protest, keep a sharp eye and stay on the edge of the crowd if you feel concerned. You can walk away anytime you decide and heed any orders from police to disperse. I have been attending protests for more than 10 years, and I have been injured only once (a split lip, extensive bruises, and stinging eyes from tear gas nearby), and that was because I ended up right where police were trying to turn a very large crowd by force. In other words, I would not have been hurt if it not were not because of actions by the police. Look out for yourself and others. In the case where I was hurt, another protestor in the crowd quickly helped me, and that’s why my injuries were minor.
Can disabled people protest?
Narratives around protesting often focus on extraordinary physical feats which would be very difficult for many disabled people. That doesn’t mean disabled people can’t protest: there are famous examples of disabled people who participated in physical protests (like the Capitol Crawl of 1990 or even going back to the 1700s, when Quaker activist Benjamin Lay staged physical protests against slavery like lying in the muddy doorway of his meetinghouse).
But in many cases, disabled people aren’t able to take to the streets like nondisabled folks can. There’s no shame in that. There are lots of ways to be involved in resistance movements that are more accessible, including mutual aid networks, leading or spreading information campaigns, many types of organizing, art-making, podcasting, writing books or articles, and leading or participating in discussions in person or online. Disabled people are often disregarded or disdained by our leaders across the political spectrum, and many activist movements forget us or exclude us. But there is no such thing as justice without disabled people. You can learn more about disability justice on Alice Wong’s Disability Visibility platform, including her books, and by following Imani Barbarin, who goes by Crutches and Spice on social media. Judith Heumann’s memoir, Being Heumann, is an exciting book that follows the beginning of the disability rights movement in America.
Reasons to avoid protests
You might have an illness or disability that makes protests hard for you to attend, or you might need to avoid crowds because of Covid and other illnesses. No shame in that. Some people might find the scene overstimulating or overwhelming. No shame in that either. There are other ways to be involved from home or in small groups.
Some people avoid protests because they are at higher risk of being targeted by police or ICE because of their race, gender, or immigration status. Some people, like caregivers for kids or elders, have too many other responsibilities to join a protest. Some people who protest a lot might get tired and need a rest.
Only you can decide what kind of actions are right for you.
How to find protests
Talk to friends and pay attention to where they’re showing up. Look out for actions on social media. Organizations like Indivisible often have actions you can join, and the Movement Voter Project has virtual events and other resources for getting informed and taking action. A new organization called 50501 has been helping decentralized anti-Trump coalitions organize protests across the country. Writers like Robert Hubbell and Jessica Craven of Chop Wood, Carry Water (linked in the media section above) are often good sources for keeping up with all kinds of protest plans. Another new organization called Tesla Takedown is organizing peaceful anti-Musk protests around the country.
Anytime you get interested in a protest, make sure you can figure out who is organizing it before you show up.
You can also organize your own protests! Even a small group in a small town can help raise awareness for human rights.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
If you want to get more involved in resisting the MAGA agenda, that’s great! Keep a few things in mind.
If you want more inspiration from someone who has been marching for a long time and is still finding reasons to march, even though it feels hopeless, read this beautiful short essay.
I hope you feel inspired to join resistance movements and help to protect human rights and democracy! Thanks for reading. Share this with your friends if they need the info – that in itself is an act of resistance.
If you want to buy me a cup of tea for writing all this up, you can! I am on Venmo @Alaina-Johns. (The profile photo is a funny little dog with eyebrows.)