Wednesday, February 8, 2017

The resistance (next steps)

In recent days, many of us (including me!) have been demanding that Democrats on Capitol Hill stiffen their spines—and throw as much sand in the gears of Donald Trump's agenda as possible.

Dear fellow MoveOn member,

In recent days, many of us (including me!) have been demanding that Democrats on Capitol Hill stiffen their spines—and throw as much sand in the gears of Donald Trump's agenda as possible.

Some of us are lining up outside of senators' offices. Some of us are packing senators' and representatives' town hall meetings. Many of us are flooding Congress with petition signatures, postcards, and other messages—and jamming congressional phone lines. (If you've tried calling recently, then you know just how flooded they are!)

And you know something? We are really getting through. We are being heard, loud and clear.

But to make sure that enough Senate Democrats stand strong on the most important fights—such as control of the Supreme Court, health care, women's rights, and civil rights—we all need to keep growing and intensifying this effort.

That's why MoveOn's team has mounted an ongoing, long-term effort to stiffen the spines of lackluster congressional Democrats and turbocharge the efforts of those at the state and local levels who are rising—courageously, creatively, doggedly—in opposition to Trump's unprecedented attack on our nation.

That means organizing peaceful rallies. Conference calls with tens of thousands of people. Recruiting for protests organized by others to grow their size and scope. Flooding Congress with more calls and petition signatures. Supporting state challenges and lawsuits going after Trump's worst policies. And getting creative to earn media attention and get our message heard across the country. MoveOn's doing it all.

Will you chip in $15 a month to help MoveOn stiffen the spines of Democratic lawmakers in Washington?

Yes, I'll chip in monthly.

No, I'm sorry, I can't chip in monthly.

As I recently mentioned, when it comes to leading the ongoing fight to strengthen the spines of Democrats, MoveOn is one of the most effective organizations I can think of. MoveOn has successfully pushed Democrats to boldly resist Republican extremism for nearly two decades. For example, under George W. Bush, MoveOn helped organize Democrats to block Republicans from privatizing Social Security and to stand strong against the Iraq War during a time when many Democrats were being too timid.

Rising to that level again will require substantial resources. But for our constitutional democracy to survive a Trump presidency intact, MoveOn must do more than ever before. Which is why I'm asking:

Will you chip in $15 a month to support MoveOn's critical, nonstop work to help stiffen the spines of Democratic lawmakers in Washington and block the worst of Donald Trump's agenda?

Yes, I'll chip in monthly.

No, I'm sorry, I can't chip in monthly.

What we're doing is working. "I'm prepared to shatter precedent in order to make it clear that we are not going to stand for what Trump is doing," Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut recently said. "The protests and the actions from Democratic senators are mirrors of each other ... We are rising to what is a truly exceptional moment."1

After an estimated 3,000 protesters gathered outside Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer's Brooklyn apartment last week, Schumer said that Democrats would filibuster Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch.2

We still have a very long way to go, of course. We've got to make sure that all Democrats get the resistance message. (And, it goes without saying, but just to say it: We need to keep the heat on Republicans—who've done SO much damage to our country by enabling Trump's rise.)

That takes building a movement, one person at a time. And it means showing up, again and again.

  • It means calling your members of Congress, not just once, but as much as you can.
  • It means showing up for as many peaceful protests as you can and getting your friends, family, and neighbors to show up too.
  • It means signing petitions on important issues—and maybe even starting and delivering your own petition.
  • It means not counting on others to do what we know must be done, but joining—and even organizing—ourselves.
  • And it means providing substantial, ongoing resources to build a movement. Not just once, but again and again.

Will you give monthly to MoveOn and help MoveOn build a movement that shows up every single time? Your ongoing support will help MoveOn stiffen the spines of Democrats, stand up to Republicans, and grow the movement that we must build in the months and years ahead.

Yes, I'll  chip in $15 a month and help build the resistance movement.

No, I'm sorry, I can't chip in monthly.

I recently read that it may take only 3.5% of the population to topple a dictator.3 Now, to be clear, Trump isn't acting quite like a dictator ... yet. I'm not yet sure how far he will go. But I do know that if we wait and see, it could be too late. Which is why we all need to grow our movement—and invest in critical organizing infrastructure—right now.

Our resistance is already having an impact. We need to keep at it and do even more. With your help, MoveOn can grow the resistance, month after month, year after year—and rise to this enormous challenge. It's critical, hard work. Together, I know we can do it.

Will you chip in $15 a month to MoveOn and support the resistance movement, as we build it together?

Yes, I'm in! I'll chip in monthly.

No, I'm sorry, I can't donate monthly right now.

Thank you for what you've helped accomplish already, and for all you will do.

–Robert Reich

P.S. One way that I spoke out recently against too-timid Democrats was by creating a video with MoveOn—which has now been seen millions of times.

Click here to watch it.

And then, if you can, click here to chip in monthly to support more efforts like it.

Sources:

1. "Democrats, pushed by grass-root protests, unifying Trump opposition," USA Today, February 1, 2017
http://act.moveon.org/go/8030?t=13&akid=177752.10220574.7l4ZSd

2. "Progressives are Demanding Obstruction and Senators are Listening," NBC News, February 1, 2017
http://act.moveon.org/go/8121?t=15&akid=177752.10220574.7l4ZSd

3. "It may only take 3.5% of the population to topple a dictator - with civil resistance," The Guardian, February 1, 2017
https://act.moveon.org/go/8075?t=17&akid=177752.10220574.7l4ZSd

Want to support MoveOn's work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump's agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation's pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. Will you help out?

Yes, I'll chip in $15 a month.

No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.


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