Join Together to Defend Democracy with the Power of Nonviolent Change
A foiled coup attempt. A divided nation. Bitter polarization. We’ve come through this moment by the skin of our teeth. The first, dizzying week of 2021 is a reminder of the importance of our work.
Now, more than ever, we must recommit to the imperative of building a culture of active nonviolence, of dismantling injustice, and of building new systems that work for everyone.
Demand is rising for Trump’s resignation or removal (you can sign a petition here), but we already know Trumpism - and the underlying causes of it - remain. Moving forward, nonviolence has much to offer us in these troubling times.
Nonviolence gives us ways to dismantle white supremacy, the politics of hate, and the culture of violence. Nonviolence offers us skills to navigate the hard conversations that change hearts and minds. Nonviolence helps us de-escalate the threat of violence with peace teams. Nonviolence offers tools for social change. Nonviolence helps us re-humanize when animosity has dehumanized us all.
We strongly encourage you to build your nonviolent skills - and invite your friends and community to do the same. Take a peace team training. Enroll in one of our affordable 6-week courses on nonviolence. Bring a group of friends together to learn how to build nonviolent campaigns for making change. Make 2021 a year of powerful change by investing in the skills you need for the times we’re in. Find more exciting courses here>>
In 2021, your commitment to building a culture of active nonviolence is crucial. Our world needs you to build bridges, not walls. We need you to rise up for justice with deep compassion and powerful creativity. Your participation in strategic and effective nonviolent campaigns is critical for transforming the injustices too often lead to violent upheaval. The time is right to build a world that works for everyone.
Nonviolence stands at the heart of this effort.
(Jan 6) Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol Building in DC, breaching six lines of Capitol Police security, and eventually reaching the floor of the House of Representatives and the offices of Congress members. They disrupted the proceedings to certify the election results and forced the evacuation of Vice President Pence and Congress members. After inflaming the crowd earlier in the day, President Trump eventually told the insurrectionists to “go home”. At this moment, police are still trying to clear the unruly and sometimes violent Trump supporters.
Is this a coup? Choose Democracy posted: “This is … not a coordinated insurrection across large sectors and pillars of society. As near as we can assess, the political spectrum has condemned the violence and force. The police are doing their expected job in this situation. Other sectors of society do not show any moves supporting this coup attempt.”
Read their full statement below. In this worrying moment, here are some practical things we can all do:
Denounce this assault on democracy. Use social media, letters to the editors, sidewalk chalking, whatever you need.
Make sure you and your community are safe. You do not need to counterprotest in the streets to be effective in working to stop this.
Contact members of Congress. Express concern for their wellbeing and their staff. Demand that President Trump be arrested, impeached, and removed for aggravating this assault on Congress and democracy. See the Washington Post’s January 7, 2020 editorial calling for the president to be removed immediately.
Insist that the results of the election be certified and those who violently disrupted proceedings be arrested.
Prepare for a general strike (no work, no school, no shopping) if needed.
Break through fear. Reach out to others. Stay focused and centered.
Pace e Bene staff continues to follow this situation closely. We will post updates as soon as we know more. Our hearts are with you in this perilous moment for our country. It is a chilling reminder of why a culture of nonviolence is critically important for the functioning of democracy.
Full Statement from Choose Democracy at 3pm ET, January 6, 2021:
It is hard to comment thoughtfully in the midst of an out-of-control situation. We are currently watching an unruly mob, directly incited by POTUS, breach the exterior barriers and the interior of the Capitol and cause the shutdown of a constitutional proceeding and the immediate evacuation of the VP and Speaker. The stated goal of this incursion is to prevent and overturn the state-certified electoral results and at least 150 Republican House members have joined in formally contesting the results of the election.
This is also not a coordinated insurrection across large sectors and pillars of society. As near as we can assess, the political spectrum has condemned the violence and force. The police are doing their expected job in this situation. Other sectors of society do not show any moves supporting this coup attempt.
Notwithstanding all this, it still appears that this insurrection attempt will not alter the results, just forestall the inevitable and heap gasoline on the fire of discontent of Trumpers. This ugliness on the part of Trump-supporting fanatics is not a wholly unexpected, but fairly dramatic development. We have now entered a new chapter of fluidity in this situation, and we should all be on high alert for more surprises.
RESOURCES
We encourage you to also connect with these resources:
Nonviolence News’ 13 Nonviolent Actions To Defend Democracy
Watch “Elections Defense”, a webinar from our colleagues at Nonviolence International, featuring activists from Brazil, Serbia, the Philippines and Gambia sharing their stories of how they used people power to effectively confront oppressive regimes.
Coup-o-meter: Recent events that have contributed to the current state of the Coup-o-Meter
Stopping the Coup Guide Resources - a curated, non-inclusive but representative, collection of resources to support action in this time of political uncertainty during the 2020 election process in the USA.
Shutdown DC is organizing affinity groups and local actions
State by State Election Database - A centralized set of information on the major factors that describe our election processes that could affect the tempo of the 2020 election, as referenced by Erica Chenoweth.
Light Projection - Details on how to do light projection as a tactic can be found here, provided by the Backbone Campaign.
Business Statements to Protect Democracy - Check example 1, example 2, and example 3 for powerful business statements that you can look to when calling upon local business leaders to protect democracy.
Defend Election Integrity - Share this pledge with journalists you know and ask them to commit to transparent reporting.
Democracy Rising Social Media Toolkit- With additional messaging guidance, social media posts, and graphics.
The Street Medic Handbook - Refer to page 10 for the RIVAL activity you can review with your team to prepare for any upcoming protests/actions.
Online Handbook on Nonviolence and De-escalation Guidelines - This link was shared in a zoom chat by a fellow participant who has compiled a list of guides and resources around nonviolent action.
Got questions? Our friends at Beautiful Trouble have launched a Resistance Hotline. The Resistance Hotline provides trustworthy one-on-one support for action planning & training needs. Post your question and within 24 hours, one of their vetted, seasoned direct-action experts will respond to you. You can keep your question as vague (“How do we do a freeway banner drop to let folks know when the registration deadline is?”) or as specific (“Right Wing aggressors are planning to disturb voting at our local polls. How do we creatively de-escalate? Help!”) as you feel comfortable posting.
Call Now! 1-844-NVDA-NOW
Resistance Hotline on facebook
Email: resistancehotline@gmail.com
Secure platforms (Signal, Telegram) also available.
Great articles:
“Protests Won’t Be Enough to Stop a Coup: Resistance Requires a Lot More Strategy,” Judith Shulevitz (The Atlantic), October 31, 2020
“Three New Ways Civil Society is Protecting the US Election,” Ashley Quarcoo. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Article highlights the centrality of nonviolence to numerous efforts being organized to defend democracy. Includes a link to Pace e Bene trainings among others.
Summoning the Power of Active Nonviolence, Ken Butigan (Pace e Bene), October 29, 2020.
“How To Achieve Robust Discipline To Succeed: A Guide For Pro-Democracy Movements,” Maciej Bartkowski (International Center for Nonviolent Conflict), October 29, 2020.
“What Can You Do If Trump Stages a Coup? Citizens prepare to take on a would-be regime,” Lizzie Widdicombe, The New Yorker October 24, 2020. Includes an interview with George Lakey about Choose Democracy.
“How Far Might Trump Go?”, Thomas B. Edsall. New York Times, October 28, 2020. Comprehensive overview of post-election scenarios; includes focus on Hold The Line and Choose Democracy.
Daniel Hunter: 7 Tactics To Stop A Coup- a series of tactics with a plan to defend our democracy (Waging Nonviolence)
Maria J. Stephan: “Here is a proven formula for protecting the vote while keeping the peace - to prevent a stolen election we must win decisively at the polls and use disciplined nonviolent mass action to defend the legitimate result” (WagingNonviolence)
Stephen Zunes, “Is the US Prepared to Resist a Coup?”, October 26, 2020 (The Progressive). Other
Stephen Zunes, Civil Resistance Against Coups: A Comparative and Historical Perspective (International Center for Nonviolent Conflict)
Stephen Zunes, Resisting Stolen Elections: Lessons from the Philippines, Serbia, Ukraine, and Gambia (International Center for Nonviolent Conflict)
Bryan Farrell: “How to face right-wing violence while defending the election — a conversation with George Lakey” (Waging Nonviolence)
John Paul Lederach and Melanie Greenberg, “How the United States Can Step Back from the Brink” (Humanity United)
Stephanie Van Hook: Training for post-election violence scenarios: A conversation with Eli McCarthy of DC Peace Team, a group of nonviolence trainers preparing people to defend democracy and heal communities (Waging Nonviolence)
Tactics For the Elections
These types of nonviolent actions offer versatile and (relatively) safe approaches for taking action to protect the results of the elections. If you are worried about the pandemic, police repression, or alt-right violence, don't do nothing . . . use some of these!
These nonviolent actions are dispersed, meaning they don't require putting your body in front of police (or the pandemic). They emphasize acts of protest for sounding the alarm about any attempted coup. They also highlight acts of economic noncooperation through which we can put pressure on businesses and elites to withdraw support from Trump if he loses and refuses to leave office.
Cacerolazo (pots and pans banging)
Cutouts/Images as protesters in public spaces
General Strike
Shopping Strikes
call-in-sick strikes
stay-at-home strikes
covert refusal to serve
Divestments
Lunch hour protests
Phone marches
Chalking & Street Art
Strike in place, seize the factory/workplace
Teach-in
Boycotts
Walk-outs at work
Poster campaigns
Overpass banners
Radio teach-ins and talk-ins (coordinate your local radio station)
FB live talk-ins
Socially-distanced picketing
Upside down US flags, including at federal buildings and post offices
Symbolic lights in windows
Vigils
Pray-ins, magic banishments
Costumes
Motorcades and car caravans, driving below speed limit, honking
Suspension of sports activities and social events
Entertainment boycott (until constitutional crisis passes)
Rent withholding/Ad boycott of platforms/networks that don’t denounce coup
Corporate bank account closures
Industry, prisoners, craft, professional, establishment strikes
Slowdown strike
Working-to-rule strike
Cancelling holidays (Thanksgiving, Black Friday)
See even more actions on the 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action Sheet compiled be Gene Sharp.
We’re so proud of everyone, all the people and organizations, that are stepping up to show how people-power can protect the elections, and the results of those elections.
Any new resources we come across we will also be adding to this page. Check back often!
