If you’re reading this, you’re concerned about our democracy’s slide into authoritarianism — and you want to do something about it. You’ve taken the first and most difficult step: committing to action. Now come the fun parts!

How To Use This Guide 

There is no one-size-fits all best way to to exercise your First Amendment rights of speech and association. Every successful social movement has employed a wide variety of tactics and adjusted repeatedly to respond to facts on the ground. If these suggestions speak to you, great! If not, that’s fine too. Use these suggestions as a starting point as you figure out your unique role in the movement. Don’t stress about it too much — opt for action over perseveration. 

1. Check in with your local library

Local libraries are the backbone of an informed democratic citizenry, and they provide crucial resources for underserved communities. But their funding is under attack by the administration, which has cut critical funds nationwide.

• Check in with your local library. See how they are doing in relation to funding cuts and if there are ways you can support them. Do they take book donations? Need volunteers? Even just a note of appreciation can go a long way! 
• See if there are teach-in or reading groups you can join or even lead. 
• Offer to help curate pro-democracy reading lists for various ages. Many libraries are open to suggestions for pro-democracy books to add to the collection — here are some recommendations from our team.

2. Fill the gaps left by government programs

• Taking care of one another is essential movement building. Check in on your food pantry and community kitchen — many of which have faced funding cuts — to see how you can help. 
• Does your community have a migrant solidarity network? They often have introvert-friendly ways to support migrant communities being targeted by the administration (e.g. sharing housing and job listings, moving furniture, preparing meals for folks in transition).

3. Be a committed praise giver

• When you see someone taking a stand for democracy, commit to offering positive feedback! When it’s an email to an elected official who stood up or a quick “Thank you!” to an influencer you follow who takes a stand they wouldn’t normally. Be the positive reinforcement you want to see in the world!

4. Support your neighbors and friends who may be more out there

• Offer to make signs, banners, t-shirts, handouts for people going to protests. Help with transportation. Provide water and snacks, sunscreen, or masks. Make sure your community knows their rights and have protest plans. Be available as people’s point of contact in case of emergency, and check in to make sure folks got home safely. 
• Beyond protests, pay attention to the different ways authoritarianism impacts the people in your life. Check in on your friends who may be affected by funding cuts, National Guard deployments, or militarized immigration enforcement.

5. Virtual organizing is still organizing

• Engaging in our democracy doesn’t require knocking on doors — or even phonebanking. Many organizations now rely on textbanking to share resources, information, and ideas — Mobilize is a helpful online platform to find projects looking for this kind of help.
• You can also do this on your own, outside of a formal organization. Use neighborhood listservs or online groups — not to spam with sad news stories, but to share specific meet-ups or actions that people can take (e.g., “our local council meeting is X day,” “we’re making signs for a protest tomorrow,” or “here’s an interesting article on how funding cuts may affect our library — anyone interested in checking in with them?”). Start a digital Banned Book Club. Really, it’s as easy as texting your friends “what are we gonna do about this?”

6. Use the power of your purse thoughtfully

• Look at where you’re spending your money (and your time) — which companies are profiting from your spending? How are they reacting to the administration’s authoritarian power grabs? Can you change your spending or scrolling habits? That might mean joining a consumer boycott of a major retailer that’s engaged in anticipatory obedience at the expense of core democratic rights, leaving social media platforms run by administration allies, or changing your setting so that those platforms can’t collect your data for advertising purposes.
• As important as it is to withhold your hard-earned dollars from anti-democratic actors, it’s even more important to use them to support your community. Shop local — go to your local farmers market, art fair, or corner store. Small local businesses are often cornerstones of communities and are being disproportionately affected by the administration’s inconsistent, unilaterally implemented economic policy and militarized immigration enforcement terrorizing their workforces and customer bases.