Push the Pillars, Topple the Regime

How to Hold Community Resistance Gatherings

So that I could attend the Indivisible Red and Rural Caucus monthly call, I recorded my remarks to this evening’s Indivisible MHK meeting. Here’s the video and full text. — Phil Nel

Thank you for coming this evening! I know you are busy.

1: These are challenging times.

I expect you are tired. And maybe a bit anxious. Or sad. Or worried. And I want to begin by acknowledging that these are challenging times. And these challenges are much heavier, much harder, more profound for some of us than they are for others of us.

So, as we gather here this evening, and as you move through the world more generally, remember those invisible burdens that those around you may be shouldering — and grant them whatever grace you can. And, while you’re at it, be kind to yourself, too.

The exhaustion you’re feeling — physical, psychological, spiritual exhaustion — is part of the autocrat’s plan. They want to overwhelm us.

But we have plans, too. We have power, too.

2: You are not alone.

What the regime is doing is wildly unpopular. According to a recent Economist / YouGov poll, twice as many Americans strongly disapprove of the President’s second term than those who strongly approve of his second term.

Since the beginning of his term, that’s an 11-point increase of disapproval, and a 9-point decrease of approval.

There are only 13 US states where his approval is higher than his disapproval. Which means that, in 37 states, more disapprove. And which side do you think Kansas is on? Want to guess? 6.7% more disapprove, which is a rise of a percentage point.

Every single day — no exaggeration, every single day — new Indivisible groups are forming across this country. The resistance is rising.

The numbers are on the side of those of us who support democracy. And, to be clear, Indivisible is a lower-case d democratic movement — because a broad small-d democratic alliance is the only way to beat the autocrats and fascists. And that is what we are building. People who usually vote Republican but who recognize the threat that Trump poses to our republic. People to the left capital-D Democrats, too. Broad coalition. And…

3: We have a plan.

Because we cannot wait until the midterms to act. Because we are in a period of autocratic breakthrough — a period in which the autocrat tries to consolidate power and act with impunity. And because we, too, wish there were more people here tonight, more people protesting, more heroes like Hales Bales from Winfield, Kansas who drove all the way to Sarasota Florida in search of missing Senator Marshall. [embed video]

The plan is a nonviolent civil resistance movement that engages people across society, encouraging them to refuse to do what the regime expects, and to put pressure on the many pillars of society, encouraging them to refuse to do what the regime expects.

Because there are many pillars of society: Business, Labor, Faith, Education, Military, Police, and others. Workers can withhold their labor. Faith communities can refuse to allow their religion to be a tool of fascism. Civil servants can refuse to carry out illegal orders.

And people have been doing this. Remember the Tesla Takedowns. Sales and stock prices plummeted so drastically that Elon Musk had to go back to doing whatever it is ketamine-addicted, paranoid billionaires usually do. But there’s also Sarah Inama — the Idaho middle-school teacher who, earlier this year, refused her principal’s order to take down her “Everyone is welcome here” poster. Her community stood with her. Her students stood with her. And there are the law firms who did not obey Dear Leader’s demands that they pay his extortion money, but instead founded Demand Justice — calling out those law firms who did and vowing to uphold their oath of office.

So. What pillars are you part of? I want you to divide yourself into groups. Choose a pillar: Business, Labor, Faith, Education, Civil Service, Military/Police, Other. You may be part of more than one pillar, but — for the purpose of this exercise — choose one.

Take 15 minutes for conversation, and address these three questions:

1. How is your pillar upholding the regime?

2. In your pillar, what kind of defiance is already happening and what could more look like?

3. What kinds of defiance — protest, persuasion, non-cooperation, building alternatives — could you imagine in your workplace, congregation, union, or school?

Then, share two ideas back with the group.

At this point, there’s a discussion, and then…

4: Community Resistance Gathering! Let’s do this.

OK, now who is ready to have these conversations with others in the community?

This is the current Indivisible initiative. And it’s something we can do here.

Host a community gathering — of people with some kind of connection to each other. And discuss what you can do, and form a plan of action.

Holding a gathering like this lets people know that they are not alone. It lets people know that they have power. Because we do have power.

Our government does not have the right to tell us not to love our neighbors. We do love our neighbors. We want a society where all can be free and flourish. This is not complex. Cruelty is evil. Kindness is good.

And when we work together, we can fight for a society guided by kindness, a society in which the many can flourish.

Here is a quick-and-dirty guide on how to Hold a One Million Rising Community Resistance Gathering.

So. Let’s get to work.