University of Kwazulu-Natal

The Resistance Movement Against Trump Needs Organization Time

Bonisiwe Shabane
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the resistance movement against trump needs organization time

By Mark Engler, Paul Engler, originally published by Waging Nonviolence This article was originally published on Waging Nonviolence. For many of us, the immediate aftermath of Donald Trump’s decisive electoral victory has been a time of deep despair and mourning. There has been plenty of commentary trying to make sense of Trump’s win and the factors that led to it. But no analysis changes the fact that the outcome represents a serious blow to our most vulnerable communities, a sharp setback for causes of economic and social justice, and a profound challenge to whatever... We have lived through it before, and it feels even worse the second time around.

It is right that we take this as a moment to grieve. But even amidst our feelings of sorrow or hopelessness, we can recognize that political conditions are not static. As we step out of our grieving and look ahead, there are reasons to believe that a new social movement cycle to confront Trumpism can emerge. And in making this happen, we can draw on lessons from what has worked in the past and what we know can be effective in confronting autocrats. Our job will be to take advantage of the moments of opportunity that arise in coming months to hold the line against Trump’s authoritarianism — and also link them to a vision for creating... Here’s why we can expect a new wave of movements to arise.

This article was originally published on Pat Mitchell’s blog and weekly newsletter. Tuesday marks the 100th day of Donald Trump’s presidency, and many Americans are unhappy with him and his administration. According to a new Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll, “Trump’s approval rating is lower than for any past president at the 100-day mark in their first or second terms. … In broad strokes, the judgment of his presidency so far is that a majority think Trump has exceeded his authority, a majority say the economy is worse and about half say that U.S. leadership in the world has become weaker.” During Trump’s first term, public demonstrations of disapproval were rapid and massively visible.

The 2017 Women’s March, held the day after the inauguration, was the largest single-day protest in history (later surpassed by the George Floyd protests in 2020). This time around, it’s building in a different way. Researchers at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Crowd Counting Consortium note that 2025 protests “are far more numerous and frequent—while also shifting to more powerful forms of resistance,” such as commercial and labor boycotts. “In February 2025 alone, we have already tallied over 2,085 protests, which included major protests in support of federal workers, LGBTQ rights, immigrant rights, Palestinian self-determination, Ukraine and demonstrations against Tesla and Trump’s agenda... Now is the time for independent politics and solidarity without exception Five months into his misrule, President Trump is swinging a wrecking ball through the domestic and international order.

Faced with obstacles to his program, splits within his coalition, and popular opposition, he has only escalated his attacks with raids against migrant workers and a war on Iran. His unrelenting offensive has inflamed ever greater popular resistance. In Los Angeles, the multiracial, multinational working class, including key unions, built mass demonstrations and staged direct actions against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the police, and National Guard troops deployed by Trump. More than 5 million people poured into the streets at No Kings rallies against Trump’s narcissistic and shambolic military parade on his birthday. And, while he consolidated his base behind his war on Iran, half the population opposed it.

But Trump will not back down. Instead, he is intensifying his class war at home and unilateral imperialism abroad. Despite the emergence of mass popular resistance to Trump, the Democratic Party establishment persists in following James Carville’s possum strategy; they are determined to play dead in the hope that his regime will implode... It won’t. Since Donald Trump’s second term began on Jan. 20, 2025, his administration has aggressively launched a deluge of multipronged attacks on immigrants, transgender people, racial equity initiatives, federal workers, climate regulations, and more.

“It is a fire hose right now,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) told the Associated Press. “That’s what he does. He creates a ton of chaos so it’s hard to keep up with it.” In other words, overloading us so we don’t know where to begin is the point. But the good news is people are fighting back with every tool at their disposal, from trainings and legal challenges to walkouts and strikes.

Here is a non-comprehensive list of ways people across the United States are rising up against Trumpism. “Know Your Rights” trainings are one of the most effective ways to counter Trump’s promised ICE raids against undocumented people and those suspected to be undocumented. Large networks such as the National Day Laborer Organizing Network and smaller local groups such as Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities (EMAC) in Stockton, California, are educating local communities about what their rights are in... EMAC’s Anti-Deportation Tool Kit is available in numerous South East Asian languages as well as in Spanish. Groups such as the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice in Southern California are also using social media to spread awareness of people’s rights, share ways to report ICE raids on a hotline, and learn... The #Resistance (also known as the Resistance) is an American anti-authoritarian and liberal democratic hashtag and political label and used to protest the first and second presidencies of Donald Trump.[1][2][3][4][5]

Commencing on an unknown date shortly after the presidential election in November 2016, it initially included Democrats on Twitter and Facebook before expanding to include independents and Republicans who opposed Trump on various social... Generally, the #Resistance symbolizes solidarity against Donald Trump. Its hashtags have also been used alongside other policy-specific hashtags, targeting marginalized groups such as minorities and women. Though its height of popularity occurred during the days following Trump's first inauguration, it resurfaced during times of political controversy and animosity.[9] For instance, there was a notable spike in use throughout the week... In 2017, Françoise Mouly and her daughter Nadja Spiegelman released two issues of the comics paper Resist!, part of The Resistance movement, criticizing the Donald Trump administration. [11][12][13][14]

WASHINGTON, DC – People For the American Way today announced the launch of its new campaign, Resist Project 2025, a roadmap for immediate resistance to an incoming Trump administration and for a strong pro-democracy... The plan calls for assembling a unique coalition of young progressive officials, faith leaders and artists to take prominent roles in resistance and reform. Advocates can learn more about Resist Project 2025 here: Resist2025.org “Make no mistake, the election result is horrifying and we should not kid ourselves: Trump 47 will be worse than last time. He has signaled he intends to preside over a regime of fascism and bigotry on steroids, one that will be empowered by a MAGA Supreme Court. That means the resistance must start now,” said Svante Myrick, president of People For the American Way.

“We will fight every attack on our freedoms by Trump and his willing sycophants with every bit of energy, passion, skill and resources we have, and we’re inviting people to join us. We will work immediately to confirm all remaining Biden judicial nominees in the upcoming lame duck session, to help shore up our courts. We will commit immediately to standing against the abuses and corruption we know we will see in another Trump administration, but we won’t stop there. We envision fundamental changes in our democracy that we will begin working toward today, so 20 years from now we and our children and grandchildren will never again have to fear living under tyranny.” Ultimately, Resist Project 2025 envisions an America where all Americans have an equal say in elections that are fair and safe – where Americans from every state, not just “battleground states,” get a vote... It envisions an America where people have control over their own bodies.

Where courts administer justice to all, not just the wealthy and powerful. Where nobody lives in fear because of their color, faith, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, or political beliefs. Resist Project 2025 will be a new platform for mobilizing activists against Trump efforts to oppress and marginalize communities and to undermine our democracy. It will provide training and engagement opportunities as well as thought leadership and sustained activism on behalf of progressive values.

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The 2017 Women’s March, held the day after the inauguration, was the largest single-day protest in history (later surpassed by the George Floyd protests in 2020). This time around, it’s building in a different way. Researchers at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Crowd Counting Consortium note that 2025 protests “are far more numerous and frequent—while also shifting to more powerful forms of resistanc...

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