WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE POST-ELECTION?
Submitted by Connie James
November 9, 2016 was, for many of us, a stunning reality check, because we were forced to accept that Donald Trump was elected as the President of the United States. Most of us felt helpless and hopeless as if it were the end of the world.
However, as strong Democrats, we knew that we must stand up, unite, and execute a plan to fight against Trump’s oppressive policies.
President Barack Obama said in his final speech to the American people: “The best way to not feel helpless is to get up and do something!” His words were a wake-up call for us to take actions and exercise our rights to peaceful protest as American people. On January 21, 2017, an estimated 5 million people united and marched in Washington DC, cites across USA and countries around the world for the Women’s March (see photos here). The impact of the March energized us and showed the power of the people to protest and let the Trump administration know that we will fight for the rights of all people.
“The best way to not feel helpless is to get up and do something!”- President Barack Obama
Below are useful resources available to us to make a difference:
Check out 5 Calls. It is a site where you can turn your passive participation into active resistance. Facebook likes and Twitter retweets can’t create the change you want to see. Calling your government officials or their staff on the phone can. Spend 5 minutes, make 5 calls. Calling is the most effective way to influence your representative. Read more about why calling works.
5Calls.org provides phone numbers and scripts, so calling is quick and easy. 5Calls uses your location to find your local representatives so your calls have more impact. This helpful resource provides a week-by-week action-packed guide through these next two years. 5Calls.org
Get ready for 2018 elections. Swing Left is an organizing tool that provides information for the nearest swing district to you. Let’s turn these districts left or blue. Check it out! SwingLeft.org
For what-to-do on the state level, a new initiative called “Georgia Resists”, is an outgrowth of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus–with the markings of Stacey Abrams. GeorgiaResists.com.
On March 15th, each of us are asked to mail Donald Trump a postcard that publicly expresses our opposition to him. And we, in vast numbers, from all corners of the world, will overwhelm the man with his unpopularity and failure. If each of us writes even a single postcard and we put them all in the mail on the same day, March 15th, well: you do the math. No alternative fact or Russian translation will explain away our record-breaking, officially-verifiable, warehouse-filling flood of fury. Prepare for March 15th, 2017, write one postcard. Write a dozen! Take a picture and post it on social media tagged with #TheIdesOfTrump! Spread the word! Everyone on Earth should let this maniac know how he’s doing. On March 15th, mail your messages to: President (for now) Donald J. Trump, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500.