Indivisibles,

It’s time to talk about truth, organizing, and strategic nonviolence again. Anybody even a little acquainted with Indivisible knows we believe political violence is a threat to democracy, full stop. This is a core belief in no small part because we know authoritarian regimes use political violence to justify repression of the nonviolent opposition. 

The truth is Trump is an authoritarian, and it’s important that we say the truth. After a fringe extremist attacked the White House Correspondents’ dinner this weekend, Trump immediately tried to blame nonviolent, pro-democracy protests. He told 60 Minutes, “The reason you have people like that is you have people doing No Kings.” 

Well, as one of the millions of “people doing No Kings,” I call bullshit.

This is all right out of the authoritarian playbook. In a deeply researched piece looking for practical lessons on global democratic backsliding, Zack Beauchamp found that authoritarians succeed in consolidating power by preventing their opposition from raising the alarm about their efforts to consolidate power. Trump may be in mental decline, but he still understands that much. Democracy dies in darkness, so it’s the pro-democracy organizer’s job to keep the lights on.

The regime does not like that. Like clockwork, regime-aligned media kicked in over the weekend to blame Democrats and call for them to “tone down” the rhetoric. Even putting aside the hypocrisy and concern-trolling from Trump and his allies, the correct response to the tone police is to refuse to tone down the truth. Sugarcoating the truth only serves those who want us to believe lies.  

The only good way to take down an authoritarian is democratically. Here’s another truth: Every mass mobilization that Indivisible has helped organize -- from Hands Off a year ago to No Kings I, II, and III -- has been historically large, powerful, and joyfully nonviolent. We defend our constitutional rights by using our constitutional rights. Sometimes we use those rights to say uncomfortable truths loudly.

So here are some more truths: Trump is an authoritarian. He's a convicted rapist who's all over the Epstein files. His secret police force has murdered Americans. His regime serves billionaires and himself at the expense of everyone else. He violates the Constitution constantly, including recklessly starting a war with Iran. He's deeply unpopular. His own coalition is fracturing. And he's currently on track for an electoral blowout in midterm elections that he's openly threatening to sabotage.

Proclaim some truth with your community this Friday on May Day. Earlier this year, the heroes of Minnesota organized the “Day of Truth and Freedom” -- a day where the people of the Twin Cities flexed their economic power to raise the alarm against the occupying regime. Indivisible is backing the May Day Strong coalition for a similar, national effort this Friday. In many communities we’ll see schools closed down, workers off the job, and stores empty. This is a tactical escalation -- the kind of peaceful action we’ll have to supercharge if Trump tries to sabotage the midterms.

The more we insist on the truth, the more inevitable it becomes that members of this regime will have to face that truth one day. That day is coming, and the people doing No Kings are bringing it.

In solidarity,
Ezra Levin
Co-Executive Director, Indivisible

Your weekly to-dos

1. Join May Day Strong's Mass Call ahead of Friday’s day of action (Weds 8pm ET/5pm PT). You’ll hear from organizers mobilizing across the country about the importance of economic disruption as a tactic in fighting authoritarianism and how you can take part in the day of action this Friday (If you haven’t already, find a May Day event near you. There are already more than 3,000 events planned across the country.)
2. Tell your Republican representative: No more bankrolling ICE brutality. After keeping the DHS shut down for months because they refuse to enact reforms that Americans overwhelmingly want for ICE and Border Patrol, the GOP is trying to use a legislative process known as budget reconciliation to shovel as much as $140 billion more into the coffers of those agencies -- on top of the $170 billion they got in last year's Big Ugly Bill. The House could vote as soon as tomorrow to advance this package, so if you have a Republican representative, call them today to tell them you don’t want another penny of your taxpayer dollars funding these violent agencies.
3. Join Fight Back With Friends (Tues, 6:30pm ET/3:30pm PT) Fight Back With Friends is a monthly program that empowers you to connect family and friends with civic action. Tomorrow, we'll talk about how you can support folks in your circles to show up on May Day, with all the tools, tips, and scripts you'll need to be effective and make an economic impact across the country. And don't worry if you're new to Fight Back With Friends! We'll have a full training after we walk through the call to action to help you become familiar with the process.
   
4. Demand that your representative say NO to the regime's efforts to expand its domestic spying capabilities. Section 702 of the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is a War on Terrorism-era relic that skirts the Constitution to allow warrantless domestic surveillance by the federal government -- but it's set to expire, or be reauthorized, this week, possibly as early as tomorrow. Tell your representative: They can either greenlight AI-fueled warrantless mass surveillance, or uphold the Constitution. And after you've emailed your representative via the link above, please follow up with a call.
5. Tell your senators and representative: No ICE concentration camps, anywhere. The regime has been scouting and purchasing commercial warehouses to expand its network of ICE prison camps -- but local, state, and legal opposition has successfully stopped or slowed 13 such projects. As Saturday's Communities Not Cages day of action made crystal clear, Americans absolutely do not want to be a nation that warehouses humans, anywhere. Ever. Follow up on that amazing day by telling your Members of Congress to publicly oppose new warehouse-style camps and any public spending to build, renovate, or operate such facilities.

P.S. In the last five weeks, Indivisible has led or been a partner in leading three national days of action -- No Kings, Communities Not Cages, and May Day -- while also organizing around the Iran war, ICE accountability, and the regime's efforts to expand its domestic spying capabilities. If you can, please chip in to help your friendly pro-democracy organizers keep mobilizing against authoritarianism!

May Day: Rejecting business as usual on May 1

On Friday, Indivisible is joining with May Day Strong, labor groups, and allies for a day of nonviolent economic disruption: No work, no school, and no shopping. Not everyone will be able to skip a day's pay (or classes), and some spending might be unavoidable, but we're asking folks to stretch their comfort zones a little and do what they can -- and there are already over 3,000 May Day protests, rallies, and other events planned across the country that you can plug into. 

As Trump drags us further into illegal wars abroad and ICE terrorizes our communities here at home, we must reject business as usual. We refuse to pad billionaires’ pockets while the cost of gas, groceries, and healthcare rise. On May Day, we’re putting Trump, corporations, and billionaires on notice and reminding them that the real power in this country lies with the people.

There are two easy ways to get involved right now: First, sign the May Day pledge and commit to take collective action in whatever way you can -- calling out of work, walking out of school, or refusing to shop. Then, find a May Day event near you on Friday and join with your community to wield your power as workers, consumers, and students.

 IndivisiWIN of the Week

On Saturday, Indivisibles joined activists from across the pro-democracy movement at more than 200 Communities Not Cages Day of Action events, led by Detention Watch Network and Disappeared In America.

Some were first-timers, in the streets because they'd learned that the regime is converting a nearby warehouse into an ICE concentration camp; some were activated by No Kings Day and building on that momentum; and some rally every Saturday, rain or shine, and adopted Communities Not Cages as that week's theme.

When we dismantle Trump's detention and deportation agenda, it will be because we built community and coalitions -- with neighbors and strangers half-way across the country -- to demand an end to the criminalization of immigration, the dehumanization of immigrants, and the assault on due process.

Between now and then, Indivisibles will sometimes lead, and other times follow -- but like the members and groups who came out for Community Not Cages, we'll always be there, growing the movement, expanding its reach, and building the infrastructure for the future -- you know: After we win.

And that's why we'll win.

 Upcoming events for you

These nationwide events, calls, and training sessions are coming up soon. For even more Indivisible happenings, check our national calendar and get in touch with Indivisible groups near you!