The election of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States is a scary and horrific thing for many of us. He and his cabinet, full of unqualified and unsuitable candidates, threaten civil rights, voter rights, climate control, health care, public education, social security, the first amendment, foreign relations, free press, and the values of most good and decent people everywhere. We must resist his actions to destroy the fabric of democracy and the security of our citizens. In an effort to do that, each week I share some acts of resistance and steps of activism you can take. Here are this week’s:
The Women’s Marches over the weekend were a wonderful morale-boost and gave so many of us hope that in our sheer numbers, we can, as a few signs said, “overcomb.” But we have to capitalize on the momentum and keep it going. Marching is the fun part; between the marches and the rallies — which absolutely need to continue — we have to do less glamorous and more tedious work, researching and reading and keeping abreast of what Trump administration is up to so that we can reach out to our representatives and fight against everything we take issue with. We have to continue donating to good causes and gearing up for midterm elections next year. One way you can do so is, as Anon from LA said:
“Look up your nearest swing district at https://swingleft.org/. Then think about how you can get involved by donating money, volunteering, using social media to promote the candidate, etc.”
Yesterday, 15 Democrats voted to confirm Mike Pompeo to lead the C.I.A., a man whose “record reveals extreme positions, including enthusiasm for sweeping new surveillance programs targeting Americans and an openness to sending our country backward with regard to torture.” If your Senators are on this list, ask why they just voted in favor of a man who favors torture, and tell them you will not tolerate similar voting when it’s time to confirm even scarier appointees, like Betsy DeVos, a woman with zero experience in public education (not even as a student or a parent) and thinks guns belong in schools to protect kids from grizzly bears and who has been appointed as secretary of education.
The vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education has been delayed til 10 a.m. Jan. 31. At least three of the Senators below need to be convinced in order to block DeVos’ nomination. Don’t email. Don’t tweet. Don’t complain on Facebook. Call them!
If you live in one of the states represented below, PLEASE call your Senator, If you don’t, pick any from the list and call them:
Susan Collins (ME) 207.622.8414..&..202.224.2523
Lamar Alexander (TN) 615.736.5129..&..202.224.4944
Lisa Murkowski (AK) 907.586.7277..&..202.224.6665
Johnny Isakson (GA) 770.661.0999..&..202.224.3643
Orrin Hatch (UT) 801.524.4380..&..202.224.5251
Richard Burr (NC) 336.631.5125..&..202.224.3154..&.. 910.251.1058..&..828.350.2437
Michael Enzi (WY) 202.224.3424
Dr. Bill Cassidy (LA) 202.224.5824
Pat Roberts (KS) 202.224.4774
Tim Scott (SC) 202.224.6121
Rand Paul (KY) 202.224.4343
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Jen January 24, 2017, 6:57 pm
Have you seen indivisbleguide.com? Worthwhile and important read on how to be more effective with activism written by formal congressional staffers.
Dear Wendy January 24, 2017, 7:41 pm
I have, yes! I’ll include a link in a future weekly activism post, thanks.
Vathena January 25, 2017, 11:09 am
I’m so pissed about all of this. But I love that social media is giving us a way to quickly organize and fight back. Did you guys see the @BadlandsNPS tweets about climate change yesterday? They were quickly deleted, but not before going viral, and now there’s a rogue NPS Twitter account (@AltNatParkSer) allegedly set up by NPS rangers on their own time. Love it!
I’ve also signed up for swing left and for my local Indivisible group on Facebook, and started a Facebook group for neighbors to share action items and organize. I have major phone anxiety, but overcame it to call my senators and representative today! I’m sending emails and signing petitions like it’s my job (literally, because I should be getting more actual work done…) and planning to send some snail mail as well (as per the Women’s March first 100 days action items). And now I’m totally going to this: scientistsmarchonwashington.com Resist!!
Dear Wendy January 25, 2017, 12:20 pm
Yes!
girltuesday January 25, 2017, 12:25 pm
Wendy or anybody else, would you mind posting another sample script so I can call one of the representatives?
AlwaysALurker January 25, 2017, 1:44 pm
Any recommendations for political activism for a non-US citizen that will soon be moving back to the US? I will definitely continue to support causes such as Planned Parenthood, local homeless and women’s shelters, and others – through donation and volunteer work. But, I would like to be more politically involved in preparation for full-fledged citizenship… if I ever get there considering today’s news. I will do my own search once I get back but just throwing it out there in case anyone had some ideas!
SpaceySteph January 25, 2017, 2:37 pm
Found another good resource today: 5calls.org.
You put in your zip code and it gives you a list of issues to call on, contact info, and a script. Pretty handy!