Courage, resistance, and humor
Vignettes from the resistance, stories of courage and humor, of everyday people and their work to keep democracy alive.
Since the disgusting displays of verbal and physical violence this regime relies on for its appearance of power are much in the news this week, I want to focus in another direction.
Courage, resistance, and humor all abound in this moment. You might not see them represented as often as the dark behavior of our so-called leaders, but they are out there and growing.
First, let me bring your attention to the AFL-CIO’s “Department of People Who Work for a Living.” Launched in response to the truly horrible DOGE, this coalition of unions and workers is mobilizing to protect and give voice to the thousands of federal workers impacted by slash-and-burn reductions.
We were out in force last week as working people participated in more than 104 actions in 31 states and Washington, D.C. Some unions and working people planned rallies, others scheduled meetings with their members of Congress, and some attended town halls to speak out.
https://deptofpeoplewhowork.org/?
Speaking of DOGE, critical employees in the agency swallowed up by it (the US Digital Service) have resigned rather than help it with its misinformation campaign about public workers, and its criminally negligent dismantling of programs and agencies.
https://apnews.com/article/doge-elon-musk-federal-government-resignations-usds-6b7e9b7022e6d89d69305e9510f2
Let’s all celebrate freedom of the press by supporting the Associated Press, which refuses to go along with the administration’s gaslighting on the Gulf of Mexico. The administration is blocking the AP’s access to press conferences. (Who called the right-wing the “guardians of free speech?” Oh, that’s right, only themselves.)
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/ap-sues-3-trump-administration-212222873.html?
On Friday, an as-yet undetermined number of people in the U.S. and Canada participated in a 24-hour “economic blackout,” during which time they refused to spend or shop at major retailers in protest against their support of and capitulation to the administration. Coming up, grass-roots organizers are calling for a week-long boycott of Amazon and Amazon-owned companies from March 7-14. The power of consumer spending directed in alignment with values is immense.
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/27/nx-s1-5311972/economic-blackout-february-28-explainer
And last week, fake video circulated at HUD showing the purchased president kissing the feet of the billionaire who bought him: a delicious use of satire to point out the emperor has no clothes.
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/24/trump-musk-video-hud-building
These are just a few vignettes from the resistance, stories of courage and humor, of everyday people and their work to keep democracy alive. Join them - tools like 5 Calls and ResistBot make it easy to keep the pressure on our Congressional representatives and Senators to stand up against the dismantling of the checks and balances in our Constitution. Stop buying from large corporations that enrich oligarchs. Share facts with neighbors, friends, and co-workers.
Our stories of goodness will outweigh the vile assaults on democracy, eventually, if we are persistent.
Take good care, be safe and well, you are needed now more than ever.
