Easy Actions You Can Take to Protect Democracy
Establish a Routine to Call Congress Regularly
You can contact your congressional representative and state senators by calling 202-224-3121. Click here for a tool to identify your representative or senators. If you’re looking for timely messages and don’t have one of your own, several organizations, including 5Calls, People Power United, and Common Cause, can provide guidance.
Attend Pro-Democracy Rallies
Over the past several months, national rallies against authoritarianism have been staged with names including “Hands Off,” “No Kings,” and “Workers Above Billionaires.” Future locations for your community can likely be found by contacting your local Indivisible group, as they are often the ones most likely to stage such a rally. Rallies can also be found by using the app Mobilize, which allows you to search for a variety of action events by type, date, and location. Rallies may include those at congressional offices or speaking out on specific issues, such as advocating for government benefits.
Attend a Rally Poster-Making Party
Poster parties are often organized by groups sponsoring upcoming rallies in the weeks ahead. And, like rallies, poster-making parties can be found by contacting your local Indivisible group or by using the Mobilize app. The added value of the poster parties is that you will also make contact with activists in your own community.
Join a Bridge Banner-Brigade
Activists in several communities stage regular protests by hanging pro-democracy banners on freeway overpasses. These efforts often involve hanging banners over several contiguous overpasses. A calendar for these events can be found by contacting local activist groups in your community or by using the Mobilize app.
Boycott Companies with an Authoritarian Spirit
Tesla, Amazon, and Target are routinely recognized as being authoritarian in spirit. Boycotting these companies can send a clear message that the people stand for democracy. You can also use the app Goods Unite Us to see the political affiliation of thousands of companies.
Learn What’s Happening Locally
Authoritarians are taking control of government at many levels, notably at local school boards and city councils. Because many voters overlook local government activity, this control takeover leads to erosion of our democracy and outcomes that are inconsistent with our values and the community's common good. Attend these public board and council meetings to learn what your elected officials stand for and what policies they promote so that you are prepared to communicate these issues to your friends and neighbors when it is time to vote.
Wear Pro-Democracy Clothing
Your 'democracy' t-shirt can be a great selling point, not only at your monthly street rally but also when you're doing your weekly shopping at the community market. Shop for your pro-democracy wear here.
Write Personal Letters or Postcards
Several groups, including The Center for Common Ground and Vote Forward Election Protection, support card and letter writing to get out the vote. Many other such efforts can also be found in the app Mobilize, with search options that let you look up “postcards” in your community. Many have also worked with RepresentUS and the Environmental Voter Project, which support letter-writing and phone banking.
Volunteer for Voter Registration
The event calendar in the Mobilize app supports searches specifically for voter registration events in a particular location. Various voter registration drives can also be found by contacting your local League of Women Voters (LWV).
Add a Pro-Democracy Message to Your Email Footer
Pro Democracy messages you might post in your email footer include “Truth Matters” or “Attend Upcoming Democracy …” After posting, all those to whom you write will receive your special message. Short messages are clearly best.