These times are beyond words.  The loss of so much that is sacred.  The seemingly irreparable political divides in our country and world. The brazen abuses of power by the state. And on top of it all, a pandemic virus that makes it dangerous to hold our loved ones dear; to grieve and cry and scheme and strategize and build and push and breath and simply be together.
 
Our political horizon is a frightening one.  It is as though we are watching the sea withdraw, knowing a tsunami is coming.  While we may not be able to prevent the tsunami entirely, we can at least prepare ourselves and our community as best as possible for what is anticipated.  Here are some resources to share around, pour time and energy into, form connections with, and learn from so that we may build political power in the face of a contested election, impending fascism, and a violent and overwhelming threat to all life.

Mobilize to Defend Democracy >> the election and Beyond

  • Protect the ResultsWe are building a coalition of voters ready to mobilize if Donald Trump refuses to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election. 
  • Vote Forward: Write letters to voters
  • No Regrets Guide to Taking Effective Action in the 2020 Election
  • Choose Democracy: sign the pledge and share out!

    Democracy is fragile. Elections work because the public agrees to honor the results. Similarly, coups work only if the public honors them. When the public refuses to accept the coup as legitimate, coups fall apart. Refusal looks like millions of people using nonviolent tools to delegitimize the coup by demonstrating, resisting orders, and shutting down the country until democracy prevails.

  • Seed the Vote: make calls into FL, PA and AZ on behalf of People of Color-led grassroots orgs. The calls will help those organizations build local and statewide power that will last beyond the election. They will be hosting multiple phonebanks each week between now and Election Day, some in the evenings, some on weekends, and will train you. Choose ‘Catalyst AF’ under ‘branch’ and to be added to the group when you sign up!
  • Care in Action text banking: Care in Action is dedicated to fighting for dignity and fairness for the millions of domestic workers in the United States, most of whom are women. With primaries coming up, it’s essential voters have the information they need to be able to cast a ballot safely, without risking their health.
  • Become an election defender with SURJ: take action and organize others in your community to fight voter suppression. There will be training and support along the way.
  • You can also phone bank with SURJ: Help us organize white people to beat Trump in Georgia! We’re calling white people every week to talk to them about voting, race, AND to organize them into our powerful work in the South. You don’t have to be from Georgia to make sure that we #SwingGALeft.

the BREATHE Act

Support the BREATHE Act, visionary 21st century Civil Rights legislation:

The BREATHE Act offers a radical reimagining of public safety, community care, and how we spend money as a society. We bring 4 simple ideas to the table:

  • Divest federal resources from incarceration and policing.
  • Invest in new, non-punitive, non-carceral approaches to community safety that lead states to shrink their criminal-legal systems and center the protection of Black lives—including Black mothers, Black trans people, and Black women.
  • Allocate new money to build healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities.
  • Hold political leaders to their promises and enhance the self-determination of all Black communities.

Resources

10 things you need to know to stop a coup

While keeping people focused on a strong, robust election process is a must, we also need to prepare for a coup.

Hold the Line: A Guide to Defending Democracy

Shut down DC: Timeline to a Meltdown

What if Trump Won’t Leave?

40 Ways to Fight Fascists

 

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