This weekend, I published a piece in The Guardian that discusses how activists participating in the Resistance to the second Trump Administration are getting more confrontational. In it, I discuss data collected from participants in the Free America Walkout on January 20th that shows how Resisters (yes, most participants in the walkout continued the trend we have seen throughout the Resistance of being predominantly highly educated, White women who are older) have become much more open to disruptive and confrontational tactics.
Here’s a figure showing responses from walkout participants regarding their support for activism to get more confrontational and their willingness to participate in confrontational action. The results are unequivocal.
Also this week, I launched my new podcast, The Apocalyptic Optimist, which features real talk about what’s broken and how to fix it. In the first episode, I speak with Rachel O’Leary Carmona and Tamika Middleton from the Women’s March and learn about how the group is responding to the growing support for more confrontational activism. You can watch the whole conversation here:
Like I say in my piece in The Guardian, the fact that Resistance 2.0 is getting more confrontational and organizations are working to support activists who are becoming more interested in civil disobedience and direct action gives me hope:
“Americans are finding their voices and their power to push back against burgeoning autocracy. We are also seeing activists building solidarity with friends and neighbors along the way. The expansion of tactics and evolution of thinking about how citizens can push back against government violence and anti-democratic suppression is a step in the right direction. It is a sign that the people are mobilizing and working together to save America.
This moment of resistance to the Trump regime opens up a window of opportunity for social change. Achieving that change will require every one of us participating in actions for justice and equity that may take us out of our comfort zone and stretch us in ways that help preserve democracy. As unfair as it may seem, neither a charismatic leader nor the Democratic party is ready to be the change we need; we are going to have to work together to save ourselves.”
Dana R Fisher 