Several social movement organizations and non-profits that support electoral democracy had done extensive in preparation for a Trump victory. Knowing that his administration would be a major threat to democracy in the United States, they knew that organizing to defend democracy would be critical in the period before Trump takes office.
For example, Movement for Black Lives mobilized with more than 200 other organizations to hold a mass call two days after the election, with speakers from some of the strongest opponents of Trump’s attempts to hold onto power in his first term, such as Center for Constitutional Rights; SEIU; Public Citizen; National Women's Law Center; United We Dream; Political Research Associates and the Center for Popular Democracy. As an outcome of that mass call, the group of organizations began inviting people into meetings to discuss how to respond to process the meaning of this blow to democracy on November 7. Many other organizations and coalitions have been doing similar work for the past month. So where to focus organizing efforts? What skills are needed for to defend democracy?
Fighting against authoritarian leaders has been widespread globally for many decades. Knowledge sharing based on experience in democratic movements has always been an important part of the process. With the rapid international communication systems and the internet, many organizations have provided guidance and research to those who seek it. Gene Sharp’s work at the Albert Einstein Institute has been widely used to weaken dictators and assert the power of ordinary people in Burma and many other locations. His pamphlet guide to nonviolent methods to topple dictators, From Dictatorship to Democracy, is available for free downloads, and a brief summary of his 198 Methods based on Sharp’s research is widely available. The International Center for Nonviolent Conflict draws on research by Peter Ackerman, Hardy Merriman, and Ivan Marovic to offer workshops, staff traiining, online courses, & other services.
Other sources for training and skills development are available for free from other organizations as well. WhatifTrumpWins.org is providing a series of skills workshops for the Trump era in such areas as de-escalation, mutual aid, action security, and strategy and vision. Waging Nonviolence is producing a series of conversations with experienced organizers in struggles against authoritarians, frontline reporting, and other resources. WagingNonviolence.org has argued that training large numbers of people is important in times of political upheaval, trainings that they and many other provide. Waging Nonviolence has also produced a carefully selected group of resources in response to the election of Donald Trump as president in the United States.
Training in specific skills useful in resisting authoritarian leaders and vigilantes are also available. EndPoliticalViolence.org has released a guide to protecting communities from intimidation, threats, and physical violence, and provides free trainings to individuals and organizations. Mijente is providing trainings on immigrant defense training on December 10, 13, and 16th and will continue to provide trainings as we get into 2025. And the Immigrant Defense Project has long provided guidance on community defense from ICE raids and resources for advocates and organizers. As with all social movements and resistance efforts, digital security is becoming increasingly central to effective organizing, as a recent UN report has suggested. So many organizations are including digital security skill development in their communications and action plans.
Different organizations and movements make decisions based on their goals for how to prepare for at least four years of the Trump administration. Collectively and individually we all have decisions to make about where to focus our energy and time, our resources and relations, and our hopes and our dreams.
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