For the days you’re busy or tired—but you still want to save democracy
9 minutes On Monday morning, a friend invited me and my kids to a read-in at the Texas Capitol to protest a ridiculous bill that would ban books and take away our freedom to read.
Or to be more accurate, my friend’s 5-year-old asked her to invite us. Even after her mom explained it was last-minute and we probably wouldn’t be able to make it, this sweet child insisted she ask anyway and said: “You never know, Mom!” 🥹
But the protest was at noon that same day, so my gut reaction was: I can’t.
My to-do list was never-ending, I felt like a zombie because my youngest had woken up several times the night before, and I’d been looking forward to a quiet day at home.
So I said no.
But I couldn’t shake the mental image of this adorable small human marching into the state capitol building with her mom to defend our freedom to read. 🇺🇸
I told my kids she’d invited us to the event, and I suggested that in solidarity, we host an at-home read-in of banned children’s books at noon.
They were game, but my 12-year-old said: “Can we just go to the Capitol instead?”
That’s how they got me.
Letting down one adorable child was bad enough—but two? 😬
My hair was greasy, my t-shirt was wrinkled, and I’d have to forgo my second cup of coffee.
But I said: “Okay, let’s go.”
Even so, I still didn’t want to.
I grumbled to myself as I rushed around the house, getting myself and everyone else ready.
I have so much to do! This wasn’t on my list! I’ll have to find parking downtown!
But the moment I walked into the Capitol and saw all the kids and families who’d come together to read books in protest, my hesitations washed away. 💖
Because all those folks took time out of their day to show up for democracy. We filled the area outside the legislative chambers as well as both sides of the wide staircase next to it. In fact, we had so many people that we kept getting told off by security for not leaving enough of a walkway.
👉 That day gave me two big “aha” moments.
The first is an ongoing life lesson for me as an introverted hermit whose default happy place is home + jammies + coffee in hand, but the second is a new one:
- Choose connection. When it feels like our democracy is crumbling around us and you worry that you’re powerless to stop it, you’ll never regret saying “yes” to an invitation from a friend. Everyone is tired, everyone is busy, everyone hates parking downtown. But when someone asks you to join them at a rally, read-in, or letter-writing party, they’re reaching a hand out—so choose connection.
- Keep asking. Research shows that 75 percent of people who want to take action to defend democracy haven’t yet because they haven’t been asked to. So if you’re going to an event or participating in an action, ask a friend to join you. If you’ve asked them to join you at previous events and they said no, ask again.
Because as a tiny but mighty person once said, “You never know, Mom!”
Get this in your inbox: When you join Molly’s Army here, every week, you’ll get simple, doable steps we can take to save our democracy even when we’re busy and overwhelmed by the firehose of bad news.
What’s inside
Inside our latest update, you’ll find these sections:
- Do this + feel better: 3 things you can do right now. Taking any action (even if it’s tiny!) will help dispel feelings of hopelessness and overwhelm.
- Get a shot of motivation: A quote that resonated this week.
- Hey, look! We did this: A quick run-down of what folks in our little group of rabble-rousers have been doing to help.
- Your turn: What small actions have you taken lately? Let me know so we can celebrate with you!
Do this + feel better
Here are 3 things you can do right now. As a bonus, taking any action (even if it’s tiny!) will help dispel feelings of hopelessness and overwhelm…
1. Find out what will actually work
If termites were eating at the foundation of your home, you wouldn’t ignore the problem and hope it goes away. You’d get an expert to tell you how to fix it—someone who’s dealt with that exact problem before and been successful.
Likewise, we aren’t the first democracy to defend against a fascist power grab from a wannabe dictator. One of the best things we can do in this moment is learn what’s already been effective at stopping other democracies from backsliding into authoritarianism. 🎯
Rep. Pramila Jayapal worked with experts who have studied democratic backsliding around the world and the most effective resistance movements, and she put together a series of practical trainings called The Resistance Lab.
👉 Join the first session of The Resistance Lab here:
- What: The Resistance Lab: Virtual Organizing Training 1.0
- Date: Sunday, June 1
- Time: 1 pm Central (click to see in your time zone)
- Where: Virtual, so you can attend from anywhere
- RSVP: Go here
Here’s a snippet from the event description:
Our goals are to help people understand how democracies fall and the most effective resistance movements that have challenged authoritarians and dictators; to turn anger, fear, and frustration into action in the short-term while also preparing for a coordinated resistance movement for the longer term; and to build community across the country that can help grow our movement. At the end of the day, we want to get people strike-ready and street-ready and make sure we protect our people, our freedoms, and our democracy.
With Trump and his MAGA billionaires doubling down on their attacks on the economic livelihoods of people to thrive and on our democracy, we can’t afford to sit this moment out. This is about building real power together. And it starts with you.
2. Step outside on Thursday
A democracy-defending group of everyday folks called The Beacon started an event called “Thursdays at 7, Shine the Light,” and Americans all around the country are joining in.
Here’s why they’re doing it:
Authoritarianism feeds on silence, isolation, and fear. That’s why we launched The Beacon, a project born from the urgent wisdom of those who study how authoritarianism rises—and how everyday people can stop it. Their expert advice for this moment is consistent and urgent. It’s time to do three things.
Show up in public. Get people out of their homes and into the streets to make resistance visible and boldly affirm what we believe in.
Build local connections. Strengthen community ties in neighborhoods, local governments, and institutions. Real change grows from the ground up.
Keep joy alive. Together, we laugh, have fun, and strengthen our muscles of not giving up and not giving in.
No one can do everything, but everyone can do something…
Every Thursday from 7:00-7:30 p.m., your local time, we create signs that express our rejection of the hate and cruelty of the current administration. We take our signs out into our neighborhoods, whether we live in a small town or a metropolis, and make our voices heard.
This weekly, neighborhood-based action harnesses the power of visibility and community. When people see others take a stand, they’re inspired to join. It’s one of the simplest, most effective ways everyday people can stand up to authoritarianism: together.
👉 Invite a neighbor to step outside with you next Thursday:
- What: Thursdays at 7, Shine the Light
- Date: Every Thursday
- Time: 7 pm your local time
- Where: In your neighborhood—in front of your home, on a street corner, at a local park, or anywhere
- RSVP: No RSVP necessary, but you can fill out this form to join a WhatsApp group for folks participating in this event
Even if all you do is grab a camping chair and sit on your street corner with a neighbor, catching up while you hold a sign, you’ll be showing up in a powerful way. 💪
More from the organizers:
It may begin with just a few of your neighbors, but that act often inspires others to join. And for those who participate, it’s more than a protest. It’s a deeply moving act of connection and courage.
Movements grow because people say yes to each other, to showing up, to trying something new. Movements grow when we invite our neighbors in, when we take a step that might feel scary, but ends up easing the despair and grief so many of us feel in this time.
Along the way, we discover something powerful: it feels good to be with people who are willing to be a little brave, a little honest, and even a little funny in these uncertain times.
3. Check in with a friend
As a Molly’s Army member, you already know the power of taking one tiny action. Because after you sign up for a training, make a phone call to your rep, or forward this weekly message to a friend, you feel better. ❤️🩹
Taking action, no matter how small, reminds you that you have agency, even now.
But a lot of people are struggling right now. They feel overwhelmed by the bad news and powerless to stop what’s happening.
👉 This week, intentionally check in with a friend to let them know they’re not alone.
Instead of a quick “how are you?” that’ll get an automatic “fine,” try something a little different:
- Text them and say: “Hey, how are you coping with everything going on in the news right now?”
- Invite them to meet you for coffee or a walk around a local park. Then ask how they’re doing.
- Write a note (old school!) and say that with everything going on in the news, you’ve been reflecting on how important our connections to each other are. Tell them something you appreciate about them, and let them know your door is open if they want to talk about what’s happening.
- Make a batch of cookies and ask if you can drop some off so you don’t eat all 36 cookies yourself. Say, “If now isn’t a great time, I can leave the cookies at your front door. But if you’re available for a few minutes, I’d love to catch up. Also, no need to invite me inside if your house is as much of a mess as mine is!”
Get a shot of motivation
A quote that resonated this week:
“Good psychology is good social change. Authoritarian power is derived from fear of repression, isolation from each other and exhaustion at the utter chaos. We’re already feeling it. Thus, for us to be of any use in a Trump world, we have to pay grave attention to our inner states, so we don’t perpetuate the autocrat’s goals of fear, isolation, exhaustion or constant disorientation.”
— Daniel Hunter, founder of Choose Democracy, in 10 ways to be prepared and grounded now that Trump has won
Hey, look! We did this
Here’s a quick run-down of what folks in our group have been doing to help lately:
- Corie signed up for a protest for the first time ever. 💃🏼
- Corie and Austin contacted their city council members to express concerns about automated license plate readers. ✅
- Several folks turned out for our Tiny Action Incubator event on Zoom, including Ashley, Dana, Jamie, Katherine, Lisa, Natasha, Wendy, Zina, and more. 👭
- Katherine plans to host a sign-making party for a future rally. 🎨
- Dana started a neighborhood group and is recruiting folks to turn out for the June 14 nationwide day of defiance. They’re all going to ride the same bus to the rally. 💅
- Carolyn hosted a decorating party to make 1,000 “no kings” crowns for the June 14 event. 🤩
- Jill and Jamie showed up for the Hands Off Higher Ed rally at the Texas State Capitol. 👏
- Jamie went to a postcard-writing party with a local Indivisible group. Jamie says: “Research has shown that postcard campaigns boost voter turnout by 2-3 percent.” 💌
- Bridget, Katie, and Pat made plans to watch the documentary Bringing Down a Dictator. 🍿
- Wendy wrote a letter to the editor at the Austin Chronicle, and it got published. 🥳
Your turn
What small actions have you taken lately? Please drop a comment below (or email me) and let me know what you’ve been up to so we can celebrate with you. 🥳
