📌 45+ Acts of Non-Compliance for Ordinary People
Welcome to How to Resist, a blueprint for resistance based on nonviolence, mutual aid, and community building for ordinary people who want to save democracy.
(Listen to the author’s letter by pressing the play button above.)
Dear Resisters,
Our regular Sunday series, Good News from the Resistance, is on vacation this week, but I wanted to share with you a topic that has been on my mind and give you something to think about in the meantime.
As many of you know, I’ve been covering the anti-Trump resistance in the United States since the inauguration, and I’ve had the privilege of observing the response to authoritarianism unfold in a uniquely American way. Our collective response is meeting the moment; sometimes with urgency, sometimes with fatigue, but lately, I’ve had the impression that we’re stuck in a kind of limbo.
I think it’s safe to say that we have mastered protest as a form of civil resistance. It’s clear now that we can muster hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of participants into the streets to visibly dissent and demand change; and this is something we are getting very good at.
A much smaller number of folks have stepped into the realm of civil disobedience, i.e., willfully and nonviolently violating laws and statutes in order to defy unjust laws or to draw attention to injustice.
But despite increasing federal overreach, civil servants being replaced by Trump loyalists, federal troops in American cities, the theft of American’s data, the gutting of the American research enterprise, the terrorizing of immigrant communities, the eroding of civil liberties, etc., etc., etc., I have the sense that a great majority of folks in the resistance are still…. waiting.
This is curious, but not entirely unexplainable. The resistance is still young, and our numbers draw on a lot of folks who are either new to civil resistance or coming back to it after a long time. I think, on the whole, we are still figuring out how to organize ourselves into more effective modes of participation. We are also faced with multiple, ever-changing threats that create an atmosphere of chaos and divide our efforts, and I think we are very aware that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and issues of fatigue, burnout, and conserving energy for the long haul are very real considerations. And to be quite honest, there are a lot of people whose lives are proceeding more or less as normal, despite what is happening to the most vulnerable among us.
So today, I want to offer a stepping stone. Collectively, we’ve become very good at saying, ‘I don’t like this, I don’t approve.’ But today I want to explore how we move into ‘I won’t do this. I will not participate and I withdraw my resources.’
The difference between those statements is the difference between dissent and refusal. In a correctly functioning democracy, dissent is a healthy part of the democratic process and should effect meaningful change. But what happens when those processes break down? When the administration is actively damaging our institutions of law and governance, when Congress is no longer representing the will of the people, and the normal channels of dissent (voting, petitions, protest) are no longer functioning as they should? What happens then?
We know from the history of nonviolent movements that at this juncture, the people have a choice. They can give up and forfeit their representative democracy, or they can move beyond dissent into something much harder to ignore.
So what is non-compliance?
Non-compliance is the deliberate refusal to cooperate with authoritarianism by withholding consent, withholding resources, disrupting normalization, and refusing to play along.
We don’t have to imagine what this might look like in America today because we already have plenty of examples of non-compliance in action. I’ve gathered examples of non-compliance that I have seen in the resistance thus far, and have focused on actions that refuse, deny, or counter. Non-compliance can mean many things and take a lot of different forms, and I’m sure all of you have seen examples in your own experience of people who have stood up and said, ‘No, I won’t be part of this.’ So let’s turn this list into a jumping-off point and use the comment space to share:
What does non-compliance mean for you?
What acts of non-compliance have you seen?
One of the strengths of non-compliance is its accessibility. You don’t need a permit, a megaphone, or a lawyer. You simply need the courage and the conviction to say NO.
I hope this conversation gives you some ideas, and Good News from the Resistance will be back at the end of August!
M-.
Support How to Resist
As a librarian writing in the service of democracy, I’m determined to keep How to Resist free to read and publicly available for everyone.
Producing How to Resist, however, is not free, and with fewer than 1% of readers supporting How to Resist with a paid subscription, we are still a long way from being fully funded.
If this work matters to you and you’re able to support it, please consider a paid subscription and help keep How to Resist going for as long as it’s needed.
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45 Examples of Non-Compliance for Ordinary Folks
Choosing not to engage with regime-aligned media (e.g., Fox News, CBS). Unsubscribing, blocking, or avoiding sharing content from these outlets and supporting independent journalism.
Refusing to call the police for nonviolent issues. Using community mediation, mutual aid networks, or restorative justice practices instead of involving law enforcement. (Example: Black Panthers’ community patrols and mutual aid programs, which provided alternatives to police intervention in Black neighborhoods)
Organizing resistance among colleagues. A book club or group chat can go a long way towards building solidarity in the workplace and help lay the foundation for future actions like work stoppages, strikes, or resignations.
Refusing to self-censor under threat or pressure, especially people in positions of privilege, authority, or leadership.
Refusing to comply in advance (as Timothy Snyder recommends)
Refusing to use euphemisms or dog whistles that mask injustice (here’s how!)
Hosting spaces where the truth of what is happening is verified, shared, and discussed.
Writing fiction or poetry that critiques authoritarianism. This moment will need its own George Orwells, Margaret Atwoods, and Kurt Vonneguts.
Refusing to participate in surveillance or data collection. Questioning what data is being gathered and why. Opting out.
Protecting academic freedom by resisting ideological mandates. Pushing back against curriculum changes that erase marginalized voices or promote propaganda.
Providing shelter or aid to targeted individuals. Offering housing, legal aid, or transportation to those facing deportation, surveillance, or violence.
Reporting ICE activity through apps like ICEBlock, a local rapid response group, or Reddit.
Sharing fact-checked news from independent sources, like FactCheck.org (also on Substack!)
Organizing neighborhood defense or safety networks. Forming local groups to monitor threats, share resources, and support vulnerable neighbors.
Delaying or obstructing harmful initiatives within institutions. Use bureaucratic tools such as slow paperwork, raise procedural concerns, or demand reviews, to stall unjust policies.
Reading and sharing the Simple Sabotage Field Manual from the Strategic Services (declassified in 2008, and available from Project Gutenberg)
Creating anonymous or pseudonymous accounts for activism.
Not sharing information with ICE, not allowing entry without a warrant, and educating others on their rights.
Investing in cooperatives or community-owned alternatives. Shifting spending to worker-owned businesses and local food co-ops.
Using encrypted messaging apps to avoid surveillance and protect privacy.
Creating community libraries, back-ups, or archives of materials that document the truth, collect stories, and make copies of valuable research.
Reading and sharing banned books, like the books on this list of 381 books banned from the Naval Academy.
Including marginalized histories in public discourse. Integrate Indigenous, Black, queer, disabled, and immigrant histories into lesson plans, syllabi, and public talks.
Refusing to participate in state-sponsored events (e.g., Trump’s military parade, the White House’s corporate-sponsored Easter Egg Roll).
Archiving threatened, deleted, censored, or removed government content, like the National Park Save Our Signs ProjectLearning skills focused on resistance, such as participating in the One Million Rising training from Indivisible.
Archiving government websites before they’re altered or disappear by capturing them on the Wayback Machine
Refusing to comply with unjust laws and practicing civil disobedience. America was built on civil disobedience from the Boston Tea Party to Rosa Parks, to the disability activists who were arrested while protesting the Reconciliation Bill. Engage in nonviolent resistance—sit-ins, blockades, or symbolic defiance, while being clear about demands, outcomes, and goals.
Supporting striking workers by donating to strike funds, amplifying their demands, and refusing to cross picket lines.
Leaking unethical practices (safely and legally). Use secure platforms or contact investigative journalists.
Knowing whistleblower protections and legal risks.
Organizing or participating in a strike. Coordinating with unions or grassroots groups, publicizing demands, and building community support.
Archiving deleted, censored, or removed federal data (like the Data Rescue Project)
Avoid businesses and companies that support Trump and Project 2025 (here’s a big list!)
Correcting misinformation when it’s heard (here’s how!)
Refusing to share personal data unnecessarily. Opting out of surveys, loyalty programs, and invasive workplace monitoring. Using privacy tools and educating others.
Declining to participate in loyalty pledges or oaths. Refusing symbolic gestures of allegiance that support authoritarianism and documenting refusals to build solidarity and courage.
Divesting from institutions that support authoritarianism. Moving money from big banks to credit unions, avoiding investing in companies that fund authoritarian policies, and supporting divestment campaigns.
Refuse to hide your views. Wear symbols of solidarity and your values (e.g., pins, shirts).
Boycott propaganda social media platforms (e.g., X, Truth Social). Deactivating or avoiding using platforms that spread disinformation or amplify authoritarian voices and encouraging others to do the same.
Believe and protect whistleblowers, victims, and those most affected.
Refusing to enforce discriminatory policies at work. Pushing back against unjust directives, documenting incidents, and supporting affected colleagues (using whistleblower protections if needed).
Starting a Substack, blog, zine, or podcast that challenges regime narratives and further amplifies the truth.
Declining to engage in performative patriotism. Sitting or kneeling during the national anthem or refusing to recite pledges.
Amplifying speakers who challenge regime narratives. Hosting public talks, panels, or webinars featuring activists, scholars, or journalists who offer critical perspectives.
Refusing to repeat or spread propaganda. Fact-checking before sharing, calling out misleading language, and avoiding echoing regime talking points– even to critique them.
Documenting our realities for evidence, to tell our stories, and for history.
Want more from How to Resist?
Check out these posts:
📌 Helping people leave MAGA
📌 Take Action: Bystander intervention
📌 Take Action: 30 Ways to Support People in Need of Shelter
Support How to Resist
As a librarian writing in the service of democracy, I’m determined to keep How to Resist free to read and publicly available for everyone.
Producing How to Resist, however, is not free, and with fewer than 1% of readers supporting How to Resist with a paid subscription, we are still a long way from being fully funded.
If this work matters to you and you’re able to support it, please consider a paid subscription and help keep How to Resist going for as long as it’s needed.
Prefer a one-time contribution? You can donate at ko-fi.com/howtoresist
Artists have a long, documented history of challenging social norms and expressing dissent. Use your art, regardless of the medium you work with, as a tool of resistance, rebellion, and/or revolution! Check out my photomontage and performance art here: https://robinliberte.substack.com/
As a retired teacher/librarian, I’m surprised that you didn’t mention volunteering in your communities’ schools. There’s no better way to find out what is or is not being taught in your children’s or your neighborhood schools. If the schools don’t allow classroom volunteers, I recommend the library. Librarians or whatever substitute the individual school has put in their place, always need help. It’s an excellent to find out what children can or cannot access through their school.