🙏✊ Thank you for this essential blueprint for resistance!
Even if, like me - elderly and disabled, living in a 100% blue state - all you can manage is small monthly donations to the organizations leading the resistance (I would add the Southern Poverty Law Center, https://www.splcenter.org, to your estimable list), and subscriptions to the essential media, like your Substack!, speaking truth to power, along with the short emails and phone calls to political leaders, do that.
I may no longer be able to march, protest, carry a sign - as I did so many times in the '60's, '70's, '80's, longer - but I can contribute, subscribe, write, call, as my funds and energy allow.
Thank you, thank you, again, for always standing up to lead us through these dark times. Deep gratitude and a humble bow.
Apologies if you have seen this before, but one more thing we can do is to promote a way to fight back that was on substack a while back by Timothy Snyder (On Tyranny). And Robert Hubbell today.
The Democrats clearly must get louder to respond forcefully to the administration blitz. To do so, we can form form a Democratic People's Cabinet, our best folks fighting, calling out illegalities, and presenting an alternative vision. Please >repost< and sign this petition! Over 6K signers so far!
Sherilyn, please keep articles like this one coming as often as you can. It is comforting and helpful and encouraging and so very important. Thank you.
Wondering if there is a way for states to sue Musk. Or citizens through state laws. So Trump can’t just pardon or dismiss. And if Musk breaks state law then state law enforcement can arrest him (unlike if he doesn’t listen to federal judges, the enforcers, US Marshalls, are under Trump’s DOJ).
If musk heads to Illinois, such as to investigate our position as a sanctuary state, he will be arrested. Our Attorney Genera, Kwame Raoul, is energetic and active in all the law suits being filed.
There are State Attorney Generals in Democratic states who do a conference call daily to work on strategies. I contact my State AG regularly about my concerns. There are now more than 80 lawsuits filed against the musk/trump regime
I'm a member of the Princeton NJ Indivisible group, and it's been very encouraging watching Dem members of Congress' attitudes change as the week went on, as we pounded them with phone calls and visits. It sure would be nice if someone in Democratic "leadership" was prepared to *lead*, but as it is we at least have the genuine small-d democratic satisfaction of knowing *we're* the ones directing the change.
For the coming week, I do think we need to strategize about what to do when Trump & Musk disregard legal blocks on their work--which they WILL do. Do we need to press our Members of Congress to actually force entry into illegally-occupied buildings?
Should we encourage those MOCs who get death threats as a matter of course (all the women, I assume, most of the Black people probably) to publicly talk about it as one of those costs of public service they've gotten used to, to shame GOP members who are scared because they're getting death threats for the first time? To tell them look, yeah standing up for basic constitutional principles will probably draw death threats, so what? How many do AOC or Ilhan Omar get *every week*, whether they say anything or not? (my guess: a shocking number) If they're not too scared to talk, why are you?
Sherrilyn, what do you think Democrats, especially elected Dems, should be prepared to do when DOGE disobeys legal orders?
This was a great comprehensive article. I am working with Indivisible 845 in the Hudson Valley in NY. Pat Ryan, our representative had a call for interested constituents late Friday and he is looking for active support from constituents. This Wednesday he is having a town hall He is trying to get out a weekly alert to share with action items. It was comforting to see him getting engaged.
Pat Ryan would be a fabulous President. I've been donating to him since he first ran for Congress. I'm going to find out if I can receive his newsletter although I live in Illinois.
I have emailed him several times and signed up for the newsletter and I'm still having trouble getting it. However, this is the email address so you could write and say you are not a constituent but have been donating to his campaign - maybe you will have some success info@patryanforcongress.com. I think right now all the Senators and Representatives are overwhelmed. However, that's what they singed up for.
Ms. Ifill, THANK YOU for sharing the information on direct action! There is so much mis information out there that it is sometimes hard to tell which organizations are legitimate and which are scams. Also, thank you for telling us the hard truth about what it is going to take. I have been contacting my elected representatives to keep up the pressure and making donations to legal organizations like Democracy Forward.
Thank you for all this, and for the reminder to stay engaged - "this is what democracy looks like!" As a psychiatrist, I think it's important to develop insight. Power resists insight, and forces enactment - and as you note, they hope for violent enactment which they could put down violently as well. I just watched THE BIBI FILES - available for free or low donation online til Feb. 17. Important to get informed.
We have to stay connected and share the efforts we see of people pushing back. We need more BIG VOICES but regardless… there are more of us than them! STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. Do not concede in advance. What they are doing is illegal and many people will get hurt and be unhappy about this - democrat and republican. We have to be strong enough for this to be revealed.
Thank you for that bit of hope. You are correct--so appreciative for your voice. In our house, we are handing out red cards and going to demonstrations and organizational meetings. But we are afraid. And I do think it's a legitimate question to ask who can enforce decisions of the courts? Joyce Vance reports it would be Federal Marshall responsibility-- but they're under the direction of Pam Bondi.
🙏✊ Thank you for this essential blueprint for resistance!
Even if, like me - elderly and disabled, living in a 100% blue state - all you can manage is small monthly donations to the organizations leading the resistance (I would add the Southern Poverty Law Center, https://www.splcenter.org, to your estimable list), and subscriptions to the essential media, like your Substack!, speaking truth to power, along with the short emails and phone calls to political leaders, do that.
I may no longer be able to march, protest, carry a sign - as I did so many times in the '60's, '70's, '80's, longer - but I can contribute, subscribe, write, call, as my funds and energy allow.
Thank you, thank you, again, for always standing up to lead us through these dark times. Deep gratitude and a humble bow.
There is so much valuable information in this post. Thank you.
Apologies if you have seen this before, but one more thing we can do is to promote a way to fight back that was on substack a while back by Timothy Snyder (On Tyranny). And Robert Hubbell today.
The Democrats clearly must get louder to respond forcefully to the administration blitz. To do so, we can form form a Democratic People's Cabinet, our best folks fighting, calling out illegalities, and presenting an alternative vision. Please >repost< and sign this petition! Over 6K signers so far!
www.change.org/shadowcabinet
see https://snyder.substack.com/p/shadow-cabinet
https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/we-are-not-sheep-get-louder-take
Sherilyn, please keep articles like this one coming as often as you can. It is comforting and helpful and encouraging and so very important. Thank you.
Wondering if there is a way for states to sue Musk. Or citizens through state laws. So Trump can’t just pardon or dismiss. And if Musk breaks state law then state law enforcement can arrest him (unlike if he doesn’t listen to federal judges, the enforcers, US Marshalls, are under Trump’s DOJ).
If musk heads to Illinois, such as to investigate our position as a sanctuary state, he will be arrested. Our Attorney Genera, Kwame Raoul, is energetic and active in all the law suits being filed.
There are State Attorney Generals in Democratic states who do a conference call daily to work on strategies. I contact my State AG regularly about my concerns. There are now more than 80 lawsuits filed against the musk/trump regime
I'm a member of the Princeton NJ Indivisible group, and it's been very encouraging watching Dem members of Congress' attitudes change as the week went on, as we pounded them with phone calls and visits. It sure would be nice if someone in Democratic "leadership" was prepared to *lead*, but as it is we at least have the genuine small-d democratic satisfaction of knowing *we're* the ones directing the change.
For the coming week, I do think we need to strategize about what to do when Trump & Musk disregard legal blocks on their work--which they WILL do. Do we need to press our Members of Congress to actually force entry into illegally-occupied buildings?
Should we encourage those MOCs who get death threats as a matter of course (all the women, I assume, most of the Black people probably) to publicly talk about it as one of those costs of public service they've gotten used to, to shame GOP members who are scared because they're getting death threats for the first time? To tell them look, yeah standing up for basic constitutional principles will probably draw death threats, so what? How many do AOC or Ilhan Omar get *every week*, whether they say anything or not? (my guess: a shocking number) If they're not too scared to talk, why are you?
Sherrilyn, what do you think Democrats, especially elected Dems, should be prepared to do when DOGE disobeys legal orders?
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me
Very helpful! Thank you. It’s tough to not feel overwhelmed and defeated and still we must refuse and resist!
This was a great comprehensive article. I am working with Indivisible 845 in the Hudson Valley in NY. Pat Ryan, our representative had a call for interested constituents late Friday and he is looking for active support from constituents. This Wednesday he is having a town hall He is trying to get out a weekly alert to share with action items. It was comforting to see him getting engaged.
Pat Ryan would be a fabulous President. I've been donating to him since he first ran for Congress. I'm going to find out if I can receive his newsletter although I live in Illinois.
I have emailed him several times and signed up for the newsletter and I'm still having trouble getting it. However, this is the email address so you could write and say you are not a constituent but have been donating to his campaign - maybe you will have some success info@patryanforcongress.com. I think right now all the Senators and Representatives are overwhelmed. However, that's what they singed up for.
exactly what I need tonight . Thank you for your fiervceness and inspiration.
DemLab makes it easier for people to see how MAGA actions are hurting them individually and provides resources to understand and protect their rights.
American farmers ruined by Musk killing USAID: Check this map
https://thedemlabs.org/2025/02/08/american-farmers-ruined-by-musk-killing-usaid-check-this-map/
How many Americans may die as Trump cuts medical research funding to give tax cuts to billionaires? Check this map!
https://thedemlabs.org/2025/02/09/nih-funding-cut-to-pay-for-billionaire-tax-cut-covid-death-count/
Know your rights. Get a RED CARD! Conozca sus derechos. ¡Consigue una TARJETA ROJA!
https://thedemlabs.org/2025/02/09/know-your-rights-get-a-red-card-conozca-sus-derechos-consigue-una-tarjeta-roja/
Who exposed a list of CIA agents by unclassified email and put a target on their backs?
https://thedemlabs.org/2025/02/09/cia-names-exposed-by-unclassified-email/
Ms. Ifill, THANK YOU for sharing the information on direct action! There is so much mis information out there that it is sometimes hard to tell which organizations are legitimate and which are scams. Also, thank you for telling us the hard truth about what it is going to take. I have been contacting my elected representatives to keep up the pressure and making donations to legal organizations like Democracy Forward.
Thank you for all this, and for the reminder to stay engaged - "this is what democracy looks like!" As a psychiatrist, I think it's important to develop insight. Power resists insight, and forces enactment - and as you note, they hope for violent enactment which they could put down violently as well. I just watched THE BIBI FILES - available for free or low donation online til Feb. 17. Important to get informed.
Watch "The Bibi Files" online https://open.substack.com/pub/sunmoonlight/p/watch-the-bibi-files-online?r=97m4w&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
We can turn this around.
Thank you. So many great people doing important work. Another legal org to add to
the list: Public Justice https://www.publicjustice.net/
Please add support for Indivisible.org!
We have to stay connected and share the efforts we see of people pushing back. We need more BIG VOICES but regardless… there are more of us than them! STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. Do not concede in advance. What they are doing is illegal and many people will get hurt and be unhappy about this - democrat and republican. We have to be strong enough for this to be revealed.
Thank you for that bit of hope. You are correct--so appreciative for your voice. In our house, we are handing out red cards and going to demonstrations and organizational meetings. But we are afraid. And I do think it's a legitimate question to ask who can enforce decisions of the courts? Joyce Vance reports it would be Federal Marshall responsibility-- but they're under the direction of Pam Bondi.