The Real Power of Protest: How We Fight Back and Win

Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams

There is nothing more toxic to tyranny than those willing to fight back. Across the country, every day Americans are exercising their First Amendment rights and raising their voice in protest against this dangerous administration and the right-wing autocrats who lead it. Emerging leaders are standing up for their values and running for office in their local communities. In this episode, Stacey talks about real pathways to meet the moment with action with two leaders who walk the walk: Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, whose grassroots training, The Resistance Lab, teaches proven strategic tools, used by civil rights leaders of the past, to mount effective resistance; and Amanda Litman, Co-Founder of Run for Something, which helps recruit and support young progressives running for elected office.

Learn & Do More:

1. Be Curious: Think about ways you can step up and be a leader even outside the scope of electoral politics. Check out Amanda Litman’s new book, When We’re In Charge. It’s full of practical tips on how to lead with principle and get stuff done, without burning out.
2. Solve problems: Join in-person or virtual efforts like The Resistance Lab or Run For Something that give you practical, actionable tools for activism and running for office. You can also keep an eye on upcoming protests in your city by going to Mobilize.us or googling “State of the People Tour.”
3. Do good: You can’t do this alone, so make sure you’re building your resistance community. You already have people in your circle who want to stand alongside you against the destruction of our national values. As you build out your toolbox, find ways to pass on your knowledge, bring people together, and encourage them to get involved so the movement spreads. And as Congresswoman Jayapal said, make sure to call your representatives, and call your friends (especially those living in Republican districts) and ask them to do the same.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.