“We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on.”
-Albus Dumbledore/J.K. Rowling
By Andrea Loewen
@andreaxuaxua
A monthly round up of Resistance Research, including quotes, news, analysis, inspiration, and action items. Let’s break this regime down into actionable items and take it down, bit by bit.
This Month’s Action:
If you’re American:
Get in touch with Congress and the Supreme Court. These people are doing a bang-up job of protecting (at least some) human rights in the United States. People need encouragement. Write them and thank them for rejecting Trump’s various immigration bans and Trumpcare. Let them know that standing up for your rights matters.
If you’re not American:
The current action from the Women’s March on Washington group is to “Reflect & Resist”, and this is something all of us can do. Check out their page with a recommended reading and watching list, and then get together with some feminist allies (ideally some who don’t look or live like you) to discuss and learn from one another.
This Month’s Reading:
WTF List (Keeping Up With the News):
What the Fuck Just Happened Today: Still the best place for daily updates on the declarations, bills, and other actions made by the Whitehouse.
Native Rights March, Ignored: Both the Whitehouse and the mainstream media ignored this march for Native rights on Washington.
Trump Didn’t Mean Wiretapping When He Tweeted About Wiretapping
Sikh Man in Kent Told ‘go back home’ and Shot
Trump Signs Law to Promote Women in STEM: Just to confuse us all, Trump did something good. To be clear, this law was proposed by two female senators, and shows that empowering local representatives to bring your concerns forward can be effective.
Action Inspo and Instructionals:
Let these alternate guides and examples of resistance inspire you.
Rise Now: Another great one for Americans. Did you know that there is no baseline procedure in the USA for how to deal with rape victims and evidence surrounding a rape? Some rape victims even have to pay for their medical exam. Rise Now is working to change that. Select your state and see how you can help!
Life Lessons from a 74 Year-Old Political Activist: This woman has marched around the block.
How to Save Our Dysfunctional Democracy: Political scientist Michael Neblo suggests online town halls as one solution.
5 Important Insights about Successful Protest Movements: A brief analysis from the NY Times about movements that made a difference.
A Reluctant Activist’s Guide to Protest: A really fantastic instructional on effective protest movements.
The Visual Resistance: A collective of artists using their skills to “fight oppression in creative ways.”
Analysis, Opinion, and Enrichment
These will help you better understand how what’s feeding the madness and expose you to perspectives different from your own (regardless of their direct connection to Trump’s madness).
The Real Cost of Abolishing the NEA: Trump’s new budget cuts funding to many things, including the National Arts Endowment. Here’s some sweet background on what that really means.
Islam in America: What the Muslim women of Maryland want Americans to know.
What Customs and Border Officials Can and Can’t Do: There have been a lot of wonky things going on at the borders of the USA lately. Some of it is allowed, some isn’t. Know your rights.
How to Make Women’s HIstory Month More Intersectional: Women’s History Month is over, but the need to understand intersectional feminism never ends.
Welcome to the Anti-Racist Movement – Here is What You Missed: A tough-loving, angry, and honest piece about what a white feminist should expect when they join the anti-racist movement at this stage in the game. Tough, and empowering.
Andrea is a Vancouver-based writer, theatre producer and promoter, choreographer, and yoga instructor with a big dose of love for sci fi/fantasy, her cat, green tea, riding her bike no matter the weather, and using a robot to vacuum her floors so she doesn’t have to. She covers dance for Vancouver Presents, as well as writing for her own blog, The Receptionist and co-producing and co-hosting the podcast Life, Right? www.andrealoewen.com
