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Building Resistance in the Trump Era: A Comprehensive Guide

Andrew Bell

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Published in The Anti Inauguration: Building Resistance In The Trump Era

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The election of Donald Trump to the presidency in 2016 marked a seismic shift in American politics. His divisive rhetoric, policies, and attacks on democratic norms galvanized a broad and diverse coalition of opposition. This guide provides a comprehensive analysis of the strategies and tactics used to build resistance in the Trump era, exploring the challenges and opportunities faced by activists and organizers.

The first and most fundamental challenge facing resistance movements is building a broad and inclusive coalition. This requires reaching out to diverse constituencies, including marginalized communities, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and low-income families. It also requires finding common ground and building consensus around shared values and goals.

In the Trump era, several organizations and initiatives emerged to facilitate coalition-building. The Indivisible Guide, published in 2016, provided a blueprint for local organizing and activism. The Women's March on Washington in January 2017 brought together millions of people from all walks of life to protest Trump's presidency. The March for Our Lives, organized by survivors of the Parkland school shooting in 2018, mobilized young people and their allies to demand gun control.

The Anti-Inauguration: Building resistance in the Trump era

by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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These initiatives demonstrated the power of collective action and helped to galvanize opposition to Trump. However, building a sustainable resistance movement requires ongoing efforts to engage and mobilize people over the long term. This means investing in grassroots organizing, providing training and support for activists, and developing strategies for sustained mobilization.

Resistance to the Trump administration took many forms, from peaceful protests and civil disobedience to electoral challenges and legal battles. Activists and organizers employed a wide range of tactics to disrupt Trump's agenda, raise awareness of his policies, and hold him accountable.

Peaceful protests: Mass demonstrations, rallies, and marches were a common form of resistance in the Trump era. The Women's March on Washington, for example, drew an estimated 4.6 million participants, making it one of the largest protests in American history.
Civil disobedience: Activists engaged in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience to disrupt Trump's policies and draw attention to their cause. These actions included blocking roads, occupying government buildings, and refusing to comply with laws they considered unjust.
Electoral challenges: Opposition to Trump also took the form of electoral challenges. Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections, providing a check on Trump's agenda. In 2020, Trump lost his bid for reelection to former Vice President Joe Biden.
Legal battles: Activists and organizations filed numerous lawsuits to challenge Trump's policies, including his travel ban, environmental rollbacks, and separation of families at the border. Many of these lawsuits were successful in blocking or delaying Trump's agenda.

The choice of tactics depended on the specific goals of the resistance movement, the available resources, and the political context. Activists and organizers often combined different tactics to maximize their impact.

Building resistance in the Trump era presented numerous challenges. Trump's supporters were often vocal and passionate, and they defended his policies with fervor. The Republican-controlled Senate often blocked legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled House. Trump himself frequently attacked his opponents, using inflammatory rhetoric and spreading misinformation.

Despite these challenges, the resistance movement also found opportunities to advance its agenda. The Trump administration's attacks on democratic norms and human rights galvanized many people to action. The resistance movement also benefited from a growing awareness of the importance of social justice and a growing movement for racial equity.

The resistance movement in the Trump era offers valuable lessons for activists and organizers. First, it demonstrates the power of collective action. When people come together and work together, they can achieve significant change. Second, it highlights the importance of building broad and inclusive coalitions. By reaching out to diverse constituencies, the resistance movement was able to build a powerful and effective force. Third, it shows the value of using a variety of tactics. Different tactics can be effective in different situations, and it is important to adapt strategies to the specific challenges and opportunities at hand.

The resistance movement in the Trump era was a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Activists and organizers used a wide range of strategies and tactics to challenge Trump's policies, raise awareness of his abuses of power, and hold him accountable. Despite facing significant challenges, the resistance movement achieved significant successes, including blocking Trump's agenda, winning electoral victories, and raising awareness of important social justice issues. The lessons learned from the resistance movement will continue to inform activism and organizing for years to come.

The Anti-Inauguration: Building resistance in the Trump era

by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

4 out of 5