Heidi Li FeldmanGood evening, friends. I just got a phone call from a young friend of mine, currently serving as mayor of a small town in California (he’s on the town council, members rotate through the mayoral position.) He called because he’s feeling demoralized, naturally enough. So much of what he hoped he’d be working on during the next few years is now threatened As we conversed, I told him how I was thinking of my own public service, scholarship, and activism in light of a fascist elected to the WH. 1/
Then, I turned to possible parallels for him. My main thought was that if ever there were a time to be in public service, now is it. The need for service from local electeds is going to be huge. It might not take the form my friend hoped or planned. But it will damn sure be important. Then, I started asking about how my friend communicates with local officials from nearby towns and whether they have clear channels of communication with the governor. 2/
We went back and forth for a little while and by the end of the conversation we were both a bit energized. Obviously, it would be more agreeable if we could have happily discussed local policies that could be pursued were the federal government not on the verge of being a force for repression and authoritarianism. But what became clear is that now, more than ever, creative brainstorming is key. 3/
Small town mayors, municipal council members, county boards of supervisors - they have resources and some degree of power. They can, right now, set up formal channels of communication across municipal lines and to state legislators and governors as well as with their own constituents and local civic leaders. These channels will be useful when rapid responses to Trump executive action become necessary. 4/
Early in our conversation, I paraphrased Sherrilyn Iffil, telling my young friend that we have to work from where we are, with what we have. By the end of the conversation, he and I were doing just that, in the conversation itself, as well as in beginning to come up with a few possible concrete next steps for him. As for me, offering him my ear and my ideas was itself a concrete step in the face of the political disaster we in the U.S. now face. 5/
We don’t and can’t know all the ways in which we will have chances to take concrete action to deal with the Trump regime. But this conversation with my young friend showed how chances will arise. We must stay available to our friends and allies, thinking together, thinking creatively. It will be through millions of small, concrete steps that we will get through this time and, perhaps, eventually, some day put the country as a whole on better path. 6/
Postscript: I am considering doing what I did with my friend more broadly. If you or someone you know is a liberal or progressive local or state officeholder who might be looking for a sounding board, to brainstorm about what can be done in the face of the Trump regime, dm me or, if you want more privacy, email me at heidili59 at proton dot me. 7/7
James Bazán@heidilifeldman many organizations are reviewing and reviving responses to the first Trump presidency. Immigrant rights groups were forced to react the first time, and are using that experience to prepare to act this time.
That is true of those groups that have been attacked at the state level under the Roberts Court.
Michaels & Nolls offer interesting strategies for the larger struggle in "Vigilante Nation" (2024), but local groups are gearing up now.
That is true of those groups that have been attacked at the state level under the Roberts Court.
Michaels & Nolls offer interesting strategies for the larger struggle in "Vigilante Nation" (2024), but local groups are gearing up now.
@JamesBazan I worked closely with many grassroots resistance organizations during the first Trump term, even initiated some actions on their behalf.
Nazani@heidilifeldman A concrete thing we can do now is to download & store offline any & all information the regime will find inconvenient. You can bet the Wayback Machine will be hit again, Wikipedia entries changed, & of course anything related to climate change.