“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – The First Amendment to the US Constitution.

“Lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for.” – Ethel Lina White, The Wheel Spins.

“Be inconvenient; be sand, not oil in the gears of the world!” – Gunter Eich

It’s easy to feel hopeless in America right now. Innocent people are being killed by Trump’s Gestapo, while his cabinet and its supporters show no concern for the growing body count and, in fact, willingly swallow and regurgitate the pathetic explanations given. Even while his popularity continues to plummet to the basement, Orange Julius continues to build an authoritarian state, free of religious equality, free speech, free press and any other democratic norms. 

But we are Americans. Our country was formed in blood, blood shed by men and women dedicated to establishing a democratic republic, where everyone could have a say in how it should be run. A noble experiment, indeed, and one that has existed for nearly 250 years. It would be an ignoble betrayal of their sacrifice to simply let the forces of fascism have their way, without even so much as a token protest.

So to those among you who wonder, “But what can I do?” Here is a starter list. I’ve appended some useful resources, but you are encouraged to do your own research.

Read Saul Alinsky’s Rules For Radicals

Forget what side Saul was on. His tips and advice cover all contingencies for all stripes of dissent. A bit dated, but still plenty of good intel that applies to protest, then and now.

Make phone calls to your local and national politicians

Phone calls to Congress can have a significant effect, especially if one of your Representatives or Senators is Republican. Somebody has to record these calls and tally the numbers. If the calls are running 80 percent against you, then you have to choose between supporting the President and continuing your political career. https://5calls.org is an excellent resource for outreach.

Comments on social media

This is the easiest, and perhaps least effective, means of getting out the anti-Trump message. But if nothing else, it continually reassures you and your friends that you are not alone, that you are not isolated in your outrage, and that it serves as a way to share intel.

Protest attendance

Get some fresh air. Get to know people you would otherwise never have met. Let your friends and family know that you do not support this authoritarian regime and that you are willing to appear in public to express your anger.

The corollary to this is: know your enemy. If you’re going to be confronting ICE agents, expect the worst. Clearly, they have no compunction against shooting unarmed protestors. Any form of physical protection you can come up with is, therefore, essential: protective headgear, knee pads, steel-toed boots, and some form of body armor. You can make your own by using duct tape, ceramic tiles and the covers of hard-backed books. 

I don’t recommend being armed, but safety goggles, hard hats, respirators and gardening gloves will come in very handy when dealing with tear gas canisters. And don’t forget bandannas and bottled water (preferably in non-plastic bottles). 

https://www.nokings.org for upcoming events.

Join local resistance groups

The more isolated you are, the less you see of the battle. It’s easy to become discouraged when you don’t have people near you, or a phone call away, who believe in democracy and are willing to fight for it with words, marches, and weapons. 

The ways of sabotage

Sometimes the best way to do damage is to follow instructions to the letter. Or go the cosmetic approach: do the job well enough that it looks flawless, but leave things just loose enough that they will start to fall apart almost immediately.

One-on-one encounters (word-of-mouth)

I’m of two minds when it comes to engaging MAGA, whether on social media or in real life. There are none so willfully blind or deaf that they close their eyes and ears to any fact that contradicts their worldview. It usually requires a great deal of effort to make any headway. And then there’s always the possibility of physical violence. (Perhaps they sense how very fragile their bubbles are.)

On the other hand, preaching to the converted is often a waste of time and energy. An amen corner is simply a bubble with a quasi-religious gloss. Best to focus on converting the unconvinced or doubting Thomases.

Speaking to the media

This requires careful thought and preparation. Even sympathetic media outlets can edit material, take statements out of context, and otherwise twist the meanings of straightforward statements of purpose. The questions tend to be, “What are your goals?” “Why are you here?” and the like. Short, pragmatic answers are best. Unless you’re good at talking off-the-cuff, I recommend preparing some boilerplate answers. 

And use your own words–recycled quotes always sound like it. 

If you are arrested

Enhance your calm. (I know–easier said than done.) Worry and fear are your biggest enemies at that moment. Shout out your name and phone number of a contact person so protest organizers can act quickly on your behalf. Write the phone number of a trusted friend or lawyer on your arm with a Sharpie pen (very hard to wash off). Do not resist arrest–the officers (whether ICE, Border Patrol, or what have you)- will use that as an excuse to be rougher and inflict more pain. Speak respectfully, without any hint of servility. 

I am not saying any of this is easy–that would be an egregious lie. That is why you should engage in the level of protest with which you are comfortable–until or unless you need to leave your comfort zone. Some of us are better at engaging from behind a desk to tumbling in the streets. Any form of protest or resistance is valuable and welcome. Even the smallest act of sabotage can send out vast ripples, like the butterfly in Spain flapping its wings.

“If our work cannot be understood as criticism, as opposition and resistance…then we are positive and decorate the slaughterhouse with geraniums.” – Gunter Eich

“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” –Albert Camus (attributed)