Necessity is the mother of invention. And, with the systematic defunding or outright elimination of many organizations that millions of Americans rely on for their very survival, many grassroots organizations are fighting back during the time of Trump. Numerous groups have sprung up since the election with the singular goal of protecting the rights the Trump administration and Republican-controlled Congress threaten to dismantle.
Here's quick recap to get you up to speed: During his his two months in office Trump hasn't wasted any time making good on his promise to threaten rights for immigrants, the LGBTQIA community, and women. He and his administration have also targeted the Affordable Healthcare Act, after-school food programs, Meals on Wheels, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Planned Parenthood.
But there's hope, too: Every day, people are fighting back by mobilizing in support of the resistance to help immigrants and their families, protect reproductive rights, encourage Millennials to run for office, combat racial injustice, preserve freedom of the press, and more.
At a February United Talent Agency rally — designed to express the creative community’s support for freedom of speech, artistic expression, and to stand against policies of exclusion and division — actor and director Jodie Foster encouraged people to take a stand. “This year is a very different year, and it’s time to show up. It’s time to engage,” she told the crowd, according to an article on Deadline. “As the very, very dead Frederick Douglass one said, ‘Anytime is a good time for illumination,’ and this is the time for illumination. I believe this time is filled with light.”
These organizations are doing just that to fight back during the time of Trump.
1Run For Something
Run for Something is busy recruiting and supporting talented, passionate Millennials who will advocate for progressive values now and for the next 30 years, with the ultimate goal of building a progressive bench.
"We’ll take a chance on people the usual institutions might never encounter. We’ll help people run for offices like state legislatures, mayorships, city council seats, and more," they state on their website. We’ll do whatever it takes to get more under-35 year-olds on the ballot."
2Indivisible Guide
The Indivisible Guide began as a resource for Trump resisters after the election, and has been downloaded more than a million times. The group has two goals:
1. Demystifying congressional advocacy by offering tools and tips for organizing locally, how to be an advocate in various situations, and how to contact members of Congress.
2. Supporting the community of local groups putting the Indivisible Guide into action by providing tools to help groups organize events, communicate with each other, and share best practices and resources.
3Grassroots Leadership
Grassroots Leadership, based in Austin, Tex., is a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization that works to end prison profiteering, mass incarceration, deportation, and criminalization. The group spearheads myriad immigration and criminal justice campaigns.
4Sister District Project
Aa network of local teams that support strategically important, winnable races across the country, the Sister District Project harnesses the energy of volunteers in deeply blue (or red) places, and channels it to where it can make a real impact.
The group's mission is to allow people to transcend the lines drawn by partisan politicians and bring communities together based on the issues and values they share. The project targets significant local, state, and national elections that could swing blue (or need help staying blue) and provides them with volunteers in close geographic proximity who can channel their energy toward the goal of winning specific, important elections.
5People's Action
People’s Action emerged in 2016 as a self-described powerful new force for democracy, and economic fairness. "From family farms to big cities, from coast to coast, we’re fighting for community over greed, justice over racism, and people, and planet over big corporations," they state on their website.
The group supports myriad campaigns to support climate justice, family economic security, healthcare, the caring economy, decriminalization, and more. They also have a #ResistTrumpTuesdays social media campaign.
Support People's Action here.
6United Resistance
Dozens of organizations banded together to launch a campaign called United Resistance, pledging to "stand together in support of racial, social, environmental, economic justice for all, and against Islamophobia, xenophobia, racism, homophobia, sexism, and all those forces which would tear apart a democracy of, by, and for all the people."
The group's motto is: "Together we will fight for one another. Together we are unstoppable."
Support dozens of Trump-resistance organizations by visiting United Resistance.
7Knock Every Door
Knock Every Door is launching nationwide, volunteer-led canvasses to organize communities against Trump. You can sign up to canvass where you live, and invite your friends to get involved. The group is especially interested in volunteers who live in a county that flipped from Obama in 2012 to Trump in 2016.
Support Knock Every Door here.
8Swing Left
Control of the House in 2018 will be decided by a handful of swing districts, and Swing Left helps you find and commit to supporting progressives in your closest swing district so that you can help ensure the left takes back the House in 2018.
Support Swing Left here.
9Code Pink
A a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement, Code Pink works to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect your tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs, and other life-affirming programs.
Support Code Pink here.
10Face2Face: A Trump Resistance Movement
Face2Face: A Trump Resistance Movement's mission it to "strategically resist the Presidency of Donald J. Trump, to analyze, and resist legislative and executive actions which threaten rights protected by the constitution, and to monitor and communicate with regard to administration activities, giving members concrete methods of action."
The group helps members establish a local volunteer network, inform its members of upcoming legislative and executive actions on a weekly basis, and promotes responsible civics and civility to advocate and persuade citizens to join resistance efforts.
Support Face2Face here.
