After Trump, What Now? I Suggest We Resist.

Last Update: July 26, 2017

This is an article I had hoped I would never have to write. Trump won the election. This indicates to me the forces of hatred, evil and intolerance have temporarily won. However, it is not my style to succumb to oppression. I hope it’s not yours either.

If you are an independent woman, person of color, LGBTQ, Muslim, Jewish, non-Christian, atheist, immigrant, disabled, a white heterosexual Christian male who has love in your heart, or anyone who cares about humanity and a loving and peaceful world, then you are now part of a coalition that must stick together. We must work together because we are truly stronger together. Darkness will not win. Hate will not win. Bigotry will not win. It simply can’t.

Many have deemed the entire collection of us that now must fight back against the Trump agenda as “The Resistance” and I’m good with that name. I hope you consider yourself part of The Resistance too. Resistance is our only option right now.

So, after that horrific election day, as is my way when dealing with such horrific situations, I got angry for a few days (well, honestly, I’m still angry), but then I started to mobilize. Now I’ve committed to doing something every single day to resist to help blunt the impact of a Trump Presidency.

In no particular order, here is some inspiration and actions you can take to help. I plan to continually update this article as new ideas are presented elsewhere or ideas already presented can be improved.

If you have an idea you would like to offer, feel free to suggest it as a comment to this article.

With all that said, here’s what I offer. May this help us survive and flourish in this country we love.

• Know that there’s hope. I found heartening this article that offers some thoughts about the election that might buttress those of us on the left end of the political spectrum and serve as a battle plan going forward. But wherever you can gather up hope and resolve, do so. We need it now more than ever.
• Understand that we must resist Trumpism and the emerging fascist forces now rising in Washington. Read the wise words of Dan Rather as he sounds the alarm that we must not remain silent or disengaged.
• Now that you have hope and realize the importance of lending your voice and actions to resisting the rise of oppressive forces, read this brilliant article by Barbara Kingsolver on why none of us who care about our country can politely stand by watching lives and liberties get slashed beyond repair.

Now that you have some hope, understand the dire circumstances we now face, and realize how important your voice and actions are, here are some tangible things you can do.

• Commit to being a friend and ally to anyone who might be oppressed by the darker forces at work. Here’s someone else’s list of commitments that was circulated on social media and it’s a good one.
  If you wear a hijab, I’ll sit with you on a train.
  In you’re trans, I’ll go to the bathroom with you.
  If you’re a person of color, I’ll stand with you if the cops stop you.
  If you’re a person with disabilities, I’ll hand you my megaphone.
  If you’re an immigrant, I’ll find you resources.
  If you’re a survivor, I’ll believe you.
  If you’re a refugee, I’ll make sure you’re welcome.
  If you’re a veteran, I’ll take up your fight.
  If you’re LGBTQ, I won’t let anybody tell you you’re broken.
  If you’re a woman, I’ll make sure you get home OK.
  If you’re tired, me too.
  If you need a hug, I’ve got an infinite supply.
  If you need me, I’ll be with you. All I ask is that you be with me, too.
• Every day I text the word “resist” to 50409 and this easily allows me to call, fax or write my Senators, Representative or Governor. This services is called Resistbot and it’s awesome. This takes you maybe one minute to do every day and hearing from us has impact on how legislators vote.
• Gather some inspiration and share with your friends some of the great “The Resistance” videos being delivered by Keith Olbermann on GQ Magazine’s site.
• The esteemed former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich and many others are promoting this Indivisible Guide and groups forming to implement its guidance as key to stopping Trump’s agenda. Have you noticed all those vocal attendees at some of the local town hall gatherings held by members of Congress? Most attribute the massive resistance showing up at these town halls to local groups organizing around the principles and guidelines offered in the Indivisible Guide. This has become a primary organizing document for hundreds of local groups around the country. You can organize one too. Do it.
• On February, Michael Moore launched an amazing The Resistance Calendar on which he lists most of the actions taking place around the country to resist Trump and his administration’s agenda. Fantastic resource.
• Speaking of Michael Moore, here’s “The Michael Moore Easy-to-Follow 10-Point Plan to Stop Trump.” It offers sound advice on how we can resist Trump and his agenda.
• Stay informed. A convenient way to make sure you’re aware of important national political news including Trump and his administration’s activities is to subscribe to Matt Kiser’s fantastic newsletter, whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com. Subscribe and you’ll get concise email every day that you can scan in a minute or two.
• Shannon Coulter created the #GrabYourWallet (use that hashtag on Twitter) campaign that’s been incredibly effective. The #GrabYourWallet project encourages consumers to not spend their money at retailers that sell any type of Trump-branded goods. Consumers are also encouraged to avoid Trump properties as well. Coulter maintains a detailed #GrabYourWallet spreadsheet that lists the dozens of companies that should be boycotted. She includes notations about why they’re on the list and updates the inventory of Trump merchandise they offer. If a retailer ceases doing being with the Trump companies, they are removed from the list. Boycott businesses selling Trump merchandise and let the retailers know why you’re not spending your money there.
• Here’s another great collection of links to tangible actions you can take to resist Trump.
• Calling the appropriate legislators is one of the most effective ways to get your voice heard and move votes. The 5calls.org site will provide phone numbers and scripts to make calling quick and easy. It uses your location to find your local representatives so your calls have more impact.
• While I offer many action ideas here, the newly launched site holyfucktheelection.com has a lot of wonderful ideas on how to offer your money or time to help. Check it out. It’s really a well done site.
• Subscribe to the Weekly Actions to Resist Trump. They pick a call action and a financial action each week. After you make calls on an issue, if you want to choose an issue you care about to make additional calls using their scripts, you can.
• The Women’s March was a national and international protest phenomenon. Subscribe to their 10 actions in 100 days project and also investigate their Resources page for ways you can have an impact.
• Protest! Yes, get into the streets and protest. There are lots of important things to do to resist Trump, but the situation is dire enough that I believe everyone must take to the streets. I mean everyone. Find a protest near you and join. Here’s a site to help you find an airport action to protest the Muslim Ban, but you’ll need to be on the lookout for other protests. Facebook and Twitter often promote protests. Ask your friends to forward protest information to you. Protesting can’t be someone else’s job. It’s up to all of us.
• Join the ACLU. They help protect free speech and the right to protest, fight relentless attacks on reproductive freedom, and push for reforms to our racially-biased criminal justice system. Good people.
• Donate to the Southern Poverty Law Center. They: monitor hate groups and other extremists throughout the United States and expose their activities to the public, the media and law enforcement; are dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation’s children; and seek justice for the most vulnerable people in society.
• Donate to the National LGBTQ Task Force. They help to advance full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people.
• Especially in light of Trump’s recent Muslim Ban, the National Immigration Law Center could use donations. This is a group you don’t hear about enough and they could really use the money. They’re leading the legal resistance to the Muslim ban now and will be there to protect immigrants in the months to come.
• There are many grassroots organizations and collectives, not all of which have nonprofit status, working at the intersection of ability, gender, race, and class-based oppression. Here is an admittedly incomplete list of groups in regions that are particularly vulnerable to the threats of the Trump administration, working for the liberation of communities that Trump has explicitly stated his administration will target.
• We must realize that Americans are likely no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism or communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience. Now is a good time to do so. Here are 20 lessons from across the fearful 20th century, adapted to the circumstances of today.
• Use Vote Smart to find free, factual, unbiased information on candidates and elected officials. They can use your donations too.
• Make sure you know who are your Senator and Representative and contact them regularly with your concerns. Here is a great article on how to make your Congress member listen to you. In essence, writing a letter to the district (state) office is better than an email or writing to the Washington, DC office. The most effective thing to do is to call them on the phone at their district (state) office because they have to talk to you there. When possible, talk to your representative in person at town hall meetings when they’re held and bring a lot of your friends to show numbers in support of your views. The article lists a lot of other great advice too.
• Subscribe to publications that provide good journalism with integrity because a free press with an objective, investigative approach is what we need now more than ever. If they don’t have enough paying subscribers, they can’t stay in business and serve as one of our country’s checks against government overreach. I suggest these publications, but subscribing to any objective publication is helpful: The New York Times, Washington Post, Mother Jones, The Guardian, The Economist, Vanity Fair and The Atlantic. Also, assuming you can determine if your local newspaper or magazine has high journalistic standards, consider subscribing locally too. Newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times and Boston Globe have high-quality reporting and commentary.
• Donate to Planned Parenthood. This organization is under constant assault by conservative right-wing forces. They are a trusted health care provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world. They deliver vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of women, men, and young people worldwide.
• Join or donate to the NAACP. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ensures the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and works to eliminate race-based discrimination.
• Donate to the US Council of Muslim Organizations. Muslims are under attack for their faith and it must not be tolerated. This organization works to open effective communication and coordination spectrums between all American Muslim organizations, help solidify these mutually crucial relationships, and create and sustain an urgent, collective sense of direction that best serves the American Muslim community toward the betterment and guidance of our nation.
• Organize or attend a local safety and self-defense seminar. Minorities and marginalized community members need to be prepared to respond appropriately to the hate crimes and heinous attacks that have already increased since the election.
• Get a copy of the U.S. Constitution. Carry it and read it. Know your constitutional rights. It’s only $3 (to cover shipping and handling — the document is free). Here’s one opinion on why it’s so important to understand our Constitution.
• Donate to Lambda Legal. They are committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
• As often as you can, spend your money with businesses, small and large, that are minority owned or whose ownership is supportive of your values.
• Volunteer locally with as many organizations as you can that work to counteract any negativity that may result from Trump and his administration. There are lots of great nonprofit organizations doing great work that need volunteers as well as funding. Step in and make a positive difference.

That’s what I am offering for now, but keep coming back to this article for more ideas as I add to it or revise it over time. This is going to be a long four years and we must resist every day to ensure that we retain the freedoms and values that this country was founded upon. Stay strong. We can succeed in holding on to the country we all love.