We’re building a movement here, and movements must be visible. I have little doubt that as our movement grows to keep pace with the outrage, that symbols and logos will evolve organically to identify the resistance. Today, a safety pin on a jacket has come to stand for solidarity with maligned minority groups against bigotry. A few short weeks ago I would have thought it meant the individual was missing a button.
In Robert Reich’s 100 days of resistance, he lists a number of ideas to fight Trump (push for progressive causes at the local level, boycott Trump products, engage on social media, etc.) One of them was to sport bumper stickers, wristbands, or lapels to show others our numbers. I agree. The Gadsden flag was hi-jacked by the Tea Party movement in their misguided fight for corporate interests, but they had the right idea. A rattlesnake is a cool symbol—it just didn’t make any sense for them. (Take that….. president who’s trying to ensure I have access to healthcare?)
We now have an incoming president who wants to be the dictator that those mouth-breathers thought President Obama was going to be. On Friday, a tantrum-throwing man-baby, who has repeatedly threatened to shred the First Amendment if it interferes with his vindictive need for revenge, will assume office. (Talk about “Don’t Tread On Me”.)
This is a real fight, and I’m hopeful that we can have a flag and/or symbol that people will want to proudly display to show that trying to take our freedoms and rights is not going to be easy.
I’m putting the call out. Even if you aren't artistically inclined, describe your ideas in the comments. I am friends with a few liberal artists who might be inclined to flesh it out if it is inspiring enough. Yet being visible isn't just an artistic endeavor.
Visible also means speaking out.
Letters to the editor are the most widely read part of the newspapers, both in print and online. If a particular diary you wrote has gotten some traction, consider emailing a condensed version or just quote a few lines. Google the name of your local paper or favorite magazine and “Letter to the Editor", and boom: online submission form. Flood them for the next year.
Engage on social media. You don’t have to be "that guy" who has to respond to every political post or looks for fights, but please, when you see fake news--call it out! Also, if Trump does something awful that personally affects you (as he will us all eventually), please don’t be afraid to say so. As tempting as it is to defriend colleagues or family members who support Trump, they do listen to me and sometimes even admit they didn't think about the consequences of one his particularly horrible actions.
Finally, march. Don’t let anyone try and tell you that they are a waste of time. Marches have been, and will continue to be, vehicles for massive changes in this nation. The Women’s March on Washington is the day after inauguration, this Saturday, January 21. If you can't make it, go to a solidarity march in your city. (If there is none, then organize one!)
In 2-3 decades, I imagine people will be asking me what I did to fight the attempted tyranny of the Trump years. I don’t want to say I sat on my hands. The momentum is on our side for a reason. We have to seize it.
If you need some ideas for some cool signs to carry at a march (or stickers to throw on the car), I’ve been gathering some pretty cool smackdowns. Check out the poll below.
Feel free to use any of them, and if you have a better one, again….please put it in the comments! (I’ll try to update the page if there are some really good ones).
Action Plan:
#5. Call your Representative
#4. Start taking over the DNC
#3. Make Resistance Visible
#2. Donate to those who will suffer
#1 (D-Day) Vote in the midterms dammit