Phew, how much I'd love to hug you right now, Jo — is that a suspicious sign of an inner community affiliation?
To me, communication has always been about action. Standing up against fascism and facing hostility isn't always a walk in the park. Words can lead to tangible consequences in the real world — some we hope for, and others that come uninvited.
But as you've passionately pointed out, words alone aren't enough; they need to be backed by action.
And acting on our common values is hardly a solo endeavor; it's so profoundly collective that it makes my heart scream: Our capacity for building bonds is far more powerful than any lone wolf could ever be! (says someone with a lone wolf attitude)
Everything the trump/muskrat administration is doing is tantamount to a declaration of war on the people of the US everyone who says the courts are going to stop him is fooling themselves physical resistance is needed
This ties so well into what I was just reading about protesting and takes it that one big step further. “In an effective act of protest, the act itself is the message.” So we go viral showing the Constitutional rights MAGAs are taking away with us protecting them by doing them. Okay, what's OUR sitting at a lunch counter or at the front of the bus, crossing a bridge or sitting in front of a courthouse to register to vote? And then how do we connect those acts to broader, more durable lived change?
Spitballing -- maybe we gather in front of the universities that are caving to read aloud the pieces of legal protest that those who were disappeared wrote along with writing clinics to write more? Then have places to publish them and connections to legal protection quick response teams at the ready to act when someone's free speech rights are violated.
Or we set up tattoo sessions, even for temporary ones or gang tattoo removal, outside ICE locations? Coordinate this with organizations that protect the rights of immigrants and provide help for those escaping gangs.
What about if we line up outside or encircle Social Security offices that are scheduled to close (or VA facilities) and maybe play over speakers the messages stating wait times? At the event teams of senior and disabled organizations provide information on how communities can set up their own teams/clinics to protect vulnerable populations.
Or we could stage teach-ins outside DOD offices on the people and events that are being deleted from their websites and organize ongoing free courses within communities on things they say we can't talk about and how to set up neighborhood book swaps.
Could we set up mobile vaccination stations near or outside of GOP lawmakers' offices where masks are handed out and we get local clinics involved to set up monthly free vaccination clinics sponsored by the plentiful progressive money looking for a cause?
How about organizing protests where people bring food instead of signs to the food banks whose funds and shipments of food are being cut with information about setting up community fridges and pantries and seed sharing.
There are surely those more strategic and creative than I am who will know what acts have the best chances of getting onto the radars of lots of people of every sort and getting those in positions of power signing onto them too. But the idea is we protest strategically in the form of actual acts of resistance to what they are specifically trying to force upon us and/or steal from us and like Jo says, then extend those acts of public resistance into our everyday communities and ways of life. We show we are protecting American lives and liberties by doing the things they say we cannot.
Thanks, Jo, for continuing clarity and inspiration.
Hell yes, and if you don't know where to start, you can start anywhere. Make stickers using label paper, sticker presses or just paper and tape. Join community calls, town halls and groups. Call your elected officials and yell at them. Make stencils out of foam and leave messages of protest around public areas with spray chalk. Attend a local protest. Email your elected officials and yell at them. Hell even getting involved with community organizations like charities are a great way to meet the community, strengthen local bonds and potentially talk people into to seeing things your way. Everything you do makes you more confident and give you an idea of what to do next.
Also fax your reps and yell at them seriously I cannot stress how easy it is to do, I write emails to my reps when I'm in the bathroom at work.
Are you sure y'all are ready for revolution and the pain and loss that comes with it? It's necessary to get rid of these bastards but we won't all see the other side.
Wow. Take no prisoners. Literally. Passivity is the problem, clickbait is not the solution. Thank you for this kick in the pants. It empowers me.
Thank you, Caroline. That's exactly what I hoped for - not just awareness, but empowerment to act. Fewer hot takes and more helping hands.
🔥🔥🔥🔥
🖤🖤🖤🖤
Phew, how much I'd love to hug you right now, Jo — is that a suspicious sign of an inner community affiliation?
To me, communication has always been about action. Standing up against fascism and facing hostility isn't always a walk in the park. Words can lead to tangible consequences in the real world — some we hope for, and others that come uninvited.
But as you've passionately pointed out, words alone aren't enough; they need to be backed by action.
And acting on our common values is hardly a solo endeavor; it's so profoundly collective that it makes my heart scream: Our capacity for building bonds is far more powerful than any lone wolf could ever be! (says someone with a lone wolf attitude)
Consider us hugging, Maja.
Everything the trump/muskrat administration is doing is tantamount to a declaration of war on the people of the US everyone who says the courts are going to stop him is fooling themselves physical resistance is needed
To people all over the world.
Exactly
This ties so well into what I was just reading about protesting and takes it that one big step further. “In an effective act of protest, the act itself is the message.” So we go viral showing the Constitutional rights MAGAs are taking away with us protecting them by doing them. Okay, what's OUR sitting at a lunch counter or at the front of the bus, crossing a bridge or sitting in front of a courthouse to register to vote? And then how do we connect those acts to broader, more durable lived change?
Spitballing -- maybe we gather in front of the universities that are caving to read aloud the pieces of legal protest that those who were disappeared wrote along with writing clinics to write more? Then have places to publish them and connections to legal protection quick response teams at the ready to act when someone's free speech rights are violated.
Or we set up tattoo sessions, even for temporary ones or gang tattoo removal, outside ICE locations? Coordinate this with organizations that protect the rights of immigrants and provide help for those escaping gangs.
What about if we line up outside or encircle Social Security offices that are scheduled to close (or VA facilities) and maybe play over speakers the messages stating wait times? At the event teams of senior and disabled organizations provide information on how communities can set up their own teams/clinics to protect vulnerable populations.
Or we could stage teach-ins outside DOD offices on the people and events that are being deleted from their websites and organize ongoing free courses within communities on things they say we can't talk about and how to set up neighborhood book swaps.
Could we set up mobile vaccination stations near or outside of GOP lawmakers' offices where masks are handed out and we get local clinics involved to set up monthly free vaccination clinics sponsored by the plentiful progressive money looking for a cause?
How about organizing protests where people bring food instead of signs to the food banks whose funds and shipments of food are being cut with information about setting up community fridges and pantries and seed sharing.
There are surely those more strategic and creative than I am who will know what acts have the best chances of getting onto the radars of lots of people of every sort and getting those in positions of power signing onto them too. But the idea is we protest strategically in the form of actual acts of resistance to what they are specifically trying to force upon us and/or steal from us and like Jo says, then extend those acts of public resistance into our everyday communities and ways of life. We show we are protecting American lives and liberties by doing the things they say we cannot.
Thanks, Jo, for continuing clarity and inspiration.
https://www.liberalcurrents.com/roadmap-to-american-reconstruction/
Hell yes, and if you don't know where to start, you can start anywhere. Make stickers using label paper, sticker presses or just paper and tape. Join community calls, town halls and groups. Call your elected officials and yell at them. Make stencils out of foam and leave messages of protest around public areas with spray chalk. Attend a local protest. Email your elected officials and yell at them. Hell even getting involved with community organizations like charities are a great way to meet the community, strengthen local bonds and potentially talk people into to seeing things your way. Everything you do makes you more confident and give you an idea of what to do next.
Also fax your reps and yell at them seriously I cannot stress how easy it is to do, I write emails to my reps when I'm in the bathroom at work.
Build that confidence so when you see fuckery, you can inspire others to stomp it out with you
i literally argued this exact point with somebody last night.
A guy who thinks clicktivism and "speaking to power" will help him when the secret police SWAT execute a no knock raid at 3 AM
Are you sure y'all are ready for revolution and the pain and loss that comes with it? It's necessary to get rid of these bastards but we won't all see the other side.
That’s what i plan to do, Lorenz. I’m starting a continental political party called the Phoenix League. https://bsky.app/profile/phoenixleague.bsky.social
yewww - great writing to literally say - lets get to doing this makeover change being called for.
Too many people believe hitting like and share is the same as radical action.
Well said.
The resistance to white nationalists, neo-Confederates, Christo-fascists, and neo-Nazis is found in the Second Amendment.
What happened to your well timed profanity?
I cannot hear you!