BRATTLEBORO-Following is a collection of national and local actions, initiatives, and resources aimed at preserving democracy and upholding the Constitution of the United States for readers across the political spectrum who are concerned about the federal government.
Nationwide
• Build Resistance describes itself as "a resource hub and movement megaphone - amplifying actions, resources, and victories that protect democracy, equality, and human rights." The organization is closely aligned with 50501, which launched nationwide protests on Feb. 5 and 17. The website shares word of actions planned and offers toolkits, databases, guides, trainings.
• Choose Democracy recommends specific actions in response to the seminal question: "What can I do to fight this coup?" Among them: coalescing through affinity groups, potlucks, and study groups and pressuring a pillar of support - military, media, corporations - to defect. In addition, there are suggestions for engaging in a long-term project, for protecting others, for defending civic institutions, for disrupting and disobeying.
• 50501 "Fifty protests, fifty states, one movement." (See Build Resistance above.)
• Indivisible is a grassroots movement of thousands of local groups (including both Vermont and Brattleboro chapters) with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild democracy, and "defeat the Trump agenda." Every Thursday, Indivisible co-founders Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg host a videoconference to "help wade through the week's news, answer questions, and provide timely calls to action."
• The People's Union USA and The People Union are key initiators of Friday, Feb. 28's economic blackout day intended to stand up against scores of corporations that have ended DEI programs.
A list of the corporations supporting Project 2025, the blueprint for a great number of the Trump administration's massive and sudden changes to the status quo, can be found at bit.ly/804-proj2025.
• Resist Project 2025, from People for the American Way, is a "roadmap for immediate resistance to the Trump administration and for a strong pro-democracy movement."
• People Power United holds that "a well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny" and promotes "impact through action" resisting "every form of discrimination that seeks to divide and harm" us. A "what you can do" link leads to action hubs such as a grassroots lobbying team, a social media team, events, and a letter- and postcard-writing campaign.
• The Political Revolution "advances politics in America through progressive grassroots activism [...] to transform our government so it represents all our citizens, not just the wealthy few." This site has many listings for events and actions.
• Race Forward offers "systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues [that] helps people take effective action toward racial equity."
Bridging the divide
• The Fulcrum is "a platform where insiders and outsiders to politics are informed, meet, talk, and act to repair our democracy and make it live and work in our everyday lives." The organization's core principles include bridging and common ground, civic engagement and education, and rule of law.
• Principles First is an organization for people whose politics traditionally range from center-right to right, "who share a love of American democracy and concern for the direction of our existing conservative leadership" and who are "building an alternative to the partisan doom-loop." The group offers 15 principles that offer a great deal of political common ground.
Other sites worth checking out
• American Civil Liberties Union
• Move On
• Resistance.org/Antiextremism.org
Locally
• Brattleboro Indivisible VT was launched last month and aims to create "actionable impact during two-hour in-person monthly meetings. We share the responsibility of leadership, research and execution among all members." To join, send a request to [email protected].
• Windham County Action Network (WeCAN). See main story.
• Faith communities - and the Brattleboro Interfaith Leadership Alliance - have been forming individual actions and responses. More information may appear on these pages down the line.
• Post Oil Solutions is a group dedicated to "creating more cooperative, self-sufficient communities." Their goal is to "learn about and develop sustainable practices in our homes, neighborhoods, and larger communities, so as to begin creating the infrastructure in our region necessary for a post oil society."
•Third Act is a national group started by Middlebury-based environmentalist, author, and scholar Bill McKibben and is made up of elders with a mission to safeguard democracy and the environment for future generations.
Contacts in Congress
Contact information for Vermont's Congressional delegation:
• U.S. Rep. Rebecca Balint: in Washington, D.C., 202-225-4115; in Brattleboro, 802-652-2450; by email, [email protected]. To sign up for her updates: balint.house.gov/forms/emailsignup.
• Sen. Peter Welch: in Washington, 202-224-4242; in Burlington, 802-863-2525; by email (and to sign up for online updates) fill out the form on welch.senate.gov.
• Sen. Bernie Sanders: in Washington: 202-224-5141; in Burlington, 802-448-2048; by email, [email protected]. To sign up for online updates: sanders.senate.gov/contact/newsletter-signup.
This News item by Annie Landenberger was written for The Commons.