America Resists! February 8-14, 2026
Your weekly dose of good news from the resistance 💌
Welcome to America Resists!
America Resists! is a new series from How to Resist that connects the dots between what happened in the resistance this week and what ordinary folks can do next to help save democracy, protect the vulnerable, build community, and create the future we want.
Published every Sunday, America Resists! explores the resistance as a living ecosystem in which people from all walks of life use their courage and whatever tools are available to them to fight the rise of American fascism.
This week, we’ll look at stories of resistance from high school students, indigenous communities, LGBTQIA+ communities, artists, labor unions, Jewish clergy, legislators, judges, and even a few Republican defectors.
This new series will replace Good News from the Resistance but will continue to bring you weekly resistance news stories, as well as connect you to organizations and opportunities for nonviolent resistance, mutual aid, and community building.
I hope this new series will give you hope, agency, and the knowledge that you are part of something profound and historic.
It’s been a pleasure writing for you this past year, and as we approach 50,000 subscribers(!!), I want to say thank you for being here and for continuing to make this newsletter possible. ❤️
Now let’s get to work!
M-.
PS. Apologies if you received an earlier email with a paid-only version of this post. There was a Substack outage on Thursday. While trying to recover a draft of this post, I accidentally published it early, and by default, it was set to paid subscribers only. How to Resist will never be published behind a paywall!
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America Resists ICE
Avelo Airlines Forced to Stop ICE Deportation Flights
Avelo Airlines announced it will stop participating in ICE deportation flights after facing growing public pressure and political controversy over its role in transporting detained immigrants. The airline’s decision follows months of protests by organizations like the National Coalition to Stop Avelo, union pressure, and investigative reporting that exposed Avelo aircraft being used for ICE operations, sometimes with branding removed to obscure their involvement.
Separately, Daedalus Aviation withdrew its bid to lease hangar space at Wilmington Airport, Delaware, after sustained public pressure from activists, state lawmakers, and the Delaware Stop Avelo Coalition, who opposed the company’s role in ICE deportation operations. The reversal followed weeks of organizing, widespread outrage over ICE violence, and direct calls from Delaware and New Jersey leaders to block the proposal.
What can I do about deportation flights? ICE continues to seek contracts with airlines for deportation flights and airports for access to facilities. Identify potential contracts with airlines/airports, contact airlines/airports to oppose participation in ICE operations, share factual information about ICE’s corporate partners. Join local groups protesting deportation flights, and support airline workers’ unions. Grassroots organizing, protests, pressure on elected officials, union participation, and investigative journalism was what made this a success!
Activists Rally to Stop New ICE Detention Center
Protesters gather in Leavenworth, KS to oppose a proposed ICE detention facility on Feb. 10, 2026.(KCTV5/Betsy Webster)
More than 100 people rallied in Leavenworth, WA to oppose CoreCivic’s plan to reopen a former private prison as an ICE detention center, urging city commissioners to reject the proposal. Organized by Boots on the Ground Midwest, the protest represents growing local resistance to ICE expansion and concerns about CoreCivic’s history of understaffing, unsafe conditions, and attempts to circumvent local oversight.
How can I help shut down ICE facilities in my area? Learn about CoreCivic’s history, the harms of private immigration detention, and how detention facilities have been successfully shut down. Identify detention facilities near you and join your local immigrant‑rights groups or abolition group. Call your representatives and tell them to stop allowing camps in your state (here’s your script!).
Austin Residents Push City Leaders to Stand Up to ICE
A community meeting at Govalle Elementary held by the Austin Police Department and other city officials to discuss immigration enforcement.
More than 200 Austin residents filled a community meeting to demand that police and city officials resist deportation policies and strengthen protections for immigrant communities. Immigrant advocates, including the Austin Sanctuary Network, urged leaders to adopt stronger limits on ICE involvement after multiple residents were detained following routine police calls.
What can I do in my town? Contact city officials and demand procedures limiting police officer‑initiated ICE contact. Attend city council and community meetings and speak in favor of stronger protections for immigrants and reduced cooperation with ICE.
Protest at Portland Mayor’s House Demands Action Against ICE Facility Violations
Dozens of activists with Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (PDXCD) marched to Mayor Keith Wilson’s home to demand action on repeated land use violations at the city’s ICE facility and to push for revocation of its permit. The group, backed by local labor unions, said the mayor has ignored more than 1,000 emails and other outreach efforts but agreed to meet only after the protest at his home was announced. Their efforts aim to restrict the facility’s operations and hold federal agents accountable for the use of force at protests.
What can I do to fight ICE facilities? Support or join Portland Contra Las Deportaciones or your local immigrant‑rights groups, document land-use violations (example), contact local officials to demand enforcement of land‑use violations and revocation of facility permits, or participate in protests calling for limits on ICE operations. Sustained public pressure, email campaigns, partnering with labor unions, and protesting at an elected official’s house was what worked here!
Indigenous Resistance
Indigenous Patrols Mobilize to Protect Minneapolis Communities from ICE
Indigenous-led groups, including the American Indian Movement (AIM), Many Shields Warrior Society, and the Indigenous Protector Movement, have organized community patrols in Minneapolis to counter escalating ICE raids under Operation Metro Surge. Participants are coordinating supply hubs, monitoring neighborhoods, and offering direct support to residents who fear detainment. These efforts are a continuation of decades of Indigenous resistance strategies that have expanded in response to ICE violence.
What can I do? Support local Indigenous-led safety patrols with supplies, donations, or volunteer time. Share verified information about ICE activity to help communities stay alert. Support Native-led cultural and community hubs. Join the American Indian Movement (AIM), the Many Shields Warrior Society, or the Indigenous Protector Movement. Create your own community safety patrols in areas of ICE activity.
Indigenous Activists Occupy Land in Minneapolis to Challenge ICE and Demand Land Back
Indigenous activists with First Nations United, Niskíthe Prayer Camp, and the American Indian Movement Twin Cities have established a tipi encampment at near Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, asserting treaty rights and demanding the land be returned to Dakota stewardship. The occupation includes cultural teachings, calls for intertribal unity, and opposition to ICE’s nearby operations, with organizers insisting they will remain despite police pressure and frigid temperatures.
This is awesome! How can I help? Join and support Indigenous‑led land‑back movements and demonstrations. Contact state and federal officials to advocate for returning land to native communities. Join or support First Nations United, Niskíthe Prayer Camp, and the American Indian Movement Twin Cities. Learn about Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages where you live.
LGBTQ+ Resistance
LGBTQ+ Community Mobilizes to Restore Stonewall Pride Flag
The pride flag was re-raised at the Stonewall National Monument in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, on 12 February, 2026, after its removal by the National Park Service earlier this week. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP via Getty Images)
Around 200 community members gathered at the Stonewall National Monument to protest the Trump administration’s removal of the site’s large pride flag, calling out the move as an attempt to erase LGBTQ+ history. The demonstration, co-organized by Gays Against Guns NY and Rise and Resist, drew swift public pressure that prompted city officials to announce plans to re‑raise the flag. Protesters emphasized that the monument belongs to the community and vowed continued resistance against federal efforts to erase LGBTQ+ history.
What can I do? Attend or help organize local LGBTQ+ solidarity protests. Fly or wear your own pride flag. Contact local and federal representatives to oppose policies erasing LGBTQ+ history. Join or support queer and trans-led organizations like The Trevor Project, GLSEN, It Gets Better, SAGE, and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute
Faith as Resistance
Jewish Clergy Train for Activism, Protest ICE Headquarters
Members of the Jewish faith protest outside ICE headquarters in D.C. on Wednesday. (Michelle Boorstein/The Washington Post)
More than 140 rabbis and cantors gathered in Washington, D.C., for a three‑day training hosted by T’ruah, preparing faith leaders to take visible roles resisting Trump’s immigration crackdown and other authoritarian actions. Clergy learned practical organizing skills, studied historical models of religious resistance, and concluded the training with a protest outside ICE headquarters.
How can I do something like this with my faith community? Look for organizations that train communities in nonviolent resistance and connect them with your church/synagoge/mosque. Build local networks with faith leaders, neighbors, and immigrant‑rights groups to prepare for ICE activity. Frame actions in principles of faith and wear symbols of faith.
Student and Youth-led Resistance
Nationwide Student Walkouts Continue
Thousands of students across the country, from California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Washington, Ohio, Kansas, Illinois, and beyond, walked out of class again this week to protest the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement and a series of deadly ICE operations. Many demonstrations drew hundreds to more than a thousand participants, with youth organizers emphasizing solidarity with immigrant families, speaking out against fear in their communities, and refusing to stay silent despite state threats of punishment. Grassroots community organizations, local churches, parents, and residents showed support, turning the walkouts into a broad, intergenerational resistance movement.
I want to do this at my school! Check out the National Youth Rights Association Guide to Organizing a Protest, Walkout, or Boycott, which will walk you through planning sit-ins, silent protests, walkouts, rallies, strikes, picketing, and boycotts. Successful walk-outs have the support of parents and community groups. Look for local grassroots organizations you can partner with for the event and also for long-term community organizing!
Students and Community Groups Join Forces to Build Local Resistance Networks
Manhattan University’s JustPeace Club and Northwest Bronx Indivisible held a “Brainstorming the Resistance” session to plan actions against Trump administration policies, including ICE raids, threats to democracy, and rollbacks of environmental protections. Students, longtime organizers, and community members worked in committees focused on justice, immigration, democracy, and environmental issues.
How can I adopt this strategy? Connect your local organization or student group with one another. Build intergenerational collaboration between students and locals. Organize targeted local resistance efforts and share skills across generations.
Youth Lead Anniversary Rally Against Executive Overreach
More than 350 people, many of them high school students and young adults, rallied at the Washington State Capitol to mark one year of nationwide 50501 movement protests challenging Trump’s executive overreach and aggressive ICE enforcement activities. Led by Evergreen Resistance, demonstrators marched, held teach‑ins, and emphasized voter registration and long‑term civic engagement as essential tools for resisting antidemocratic policies.
How do I do something like this? Join or support local 50501‑aligned groups. Register to vote and help others register by volunteering with Rock the Vote, League of Women Voters, Vote Riders, or other get-out-the-vote organizations. Connect with student and youth-led organizing efforts and bring them into community actions with concrete outcomes.
Organized Labor & Economic Resistance
Unions Nationwide Escalate “ICE Out” Actions
Unions across the country are intensifying calls to remove ICE from their communities following the deaths of Renee Good and union member Alex Pretti, with thousands joining “Labor Says ICE Out!” marches backed by more than two dozen labor organizations. National Nurses United, The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) American Postal Workers Union (APWU), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), and others are coordinating rallies, vigils, and workplace actions while pushing for accountability and an end to ICE raids in union workplaces and public spaces.
In a union? Join union‑led “ICE Out” demonstrations in your area, contact local and national union leaders to encourage continued anti‑ICE resolutions, share information about workplace organizing against ICE raids, coordinate a ‘week of actions,’ educate members about their rights, host nonpartisan civic workshops, and support access to the ballot, including transportation or paid time to vote.
New Nationwide Boycott Urges Americans to “Unsubscribe”
A new anti‑ICE campaign is calling on Americans to boycott major tech platforms for the month of February by unsubscribing from services like ChatGPT, Prime Video, and Microsoft Office, arguing that economic pressure on CEOs close to Trump could influence immigration policy.
How to participate: Unsubscribe from major tech platforms participating in partnerships or advisory roles with the Trump administration. Check out up-to-date lists of companies that support Trump, such as Big Beautiful Boycott.
Share boycott information through community networks and friends. Support small businesses.
Community Care as Resistance
Minnesota Communities Build Secret Food Networks
As “Operation Metro Surge” spread fear across Minneapolis and nearby suburbs, schools, churches, barbershops, volunteers, and mutual‑aid groups created decentralized food‑distribution networks to ensure immigrant families can eat without risking ICE encounters. Organizations like the Sanneh Foundation, Second Harvest Heartland, Dios Habla Hoy, and Juntos Podemos have expanded relief efforts dramatically, some by more than 100 percent, as teachers, pastors, and neighbors deliver groceries, toiletries, and support directly to homes while evading surveillance and intimidation by federal agents.
What can I do to help? Support or volunteer with local mutual‑aid groups in Minneapolis, or in your local community. Donate food, diapers, toiletries, or funds to community‑run distribution hubs. Assist with transportation or accompaniment for families afraid to travel. Covert delivery routes and safety protocols to avoid ICE interference were key to the success of this network!
Art as Resistance
Artists Exhibit Protest Art in St. Paul
Nearly 50 anti‑ICE protest posters are on display in a sold-out pop‑up exhibition at Can Can Wonderland, Minneapolis, organized by the grassroots art collective Art You Heart, with contributions from local studios, printmakers, and muralists. The show, assembled in just two weeks, highlights community resistance to federal immigration crackdowns and will culminate in a public event featuring live painting, snow‑sculpture projections, and proceeds donated to immigrant‑support charities.
Not just art for art’s sake! Proceeds from ticket sales and poster purchases directly support Minnesota immigrant‑rights groups. The show sold out and has sparked plans for additional shows and a wider call for national protest art.
Street Art Challenges ICE Presence at the Olympics
In Rome, activist‑artist Laika and others have installed anti‑ICE protest art after U.S. officials announced that ICE personnel would be included in the American Olympic security detail. The works, depicting ICE violence, altered Olympic rings, and imagery condemning recent ICE‑related killings in Minneapolis—reflect widespread Italian outrage and solidarity with communities resisting Trump’s immigration policies.
Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show Becomes a Defining Cultural Moment
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show last Sunday was a love letter to Puerto Rican culture and featured pointed political messaging, including his ongoing criticism of Trump’s immigration agenda and his public call of “ICE out” a week earlier at the Grammys. His performance, almost entirely in Spanish and joined by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, was a joyful, unapologetic affirmation of Latino identity and solidarity with communities harmed by federal immigration crackdowns.
Legislative Resistance & Republican Defectors
ALL Federalized National Guard Troops Withdrawn from U.S. Cities
State and local officials successfully challenged the Trump administration’s efforts to federalize and deploy more than 5,500 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, leading to the quiet withdrawal of all Title 10 forces by the end of January. A series of court rulings, including a Supreme Court order limiting the president’s authority, combined with sustained public and legal resistance, made the deployments largely ineffective and forced the administration to scale back broader plans for expanded domestic military force.
What made this a success? Sustained public pressure, court rulings, and state and local leaders’ unified refusal to authorize or cooperate with federalized troops.
House Republicans Join Democrats to Push Back Against Trump’s Tariffs
Six Republicans joined Democrats in a House vote to roll back President Trump’s tariffs on Canada, marking a rare bipartisan challenge to his trade agenda. Although largely symbolic, the move nevertheless highlights growing resistance among Congressional Republicans to Trump policies that are raising costs for Americans and bypassing congressional authority over tariffs.
This should be more than symbolic! I agree. Contact your House and Senate representatives to urge continued oversight of presidential tariff powers (here’s a script).
Democrats Vow to Block Trump’s Attempts to Interfere in Midterm Elections
Top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries vowed that Democrats will stop Trump from “nationalizing” or “stealing” the midterms, after Trump urged Republicans to “take over the voting” despite having no constitutional authority over election administration. Jeffries and other Democratic leaders cited their past efforts to counter Trump‑aligned attempts to federalize the National Guard, manipulate redistricting, and sow doubt through lawsuits and raids targeting local election offices.
What can I do protect the 2026 elections? Support local and state organizations protecting voting rights and election workers. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to act against election interference (here’s your script!). Share accurate information about how U.S. elections are administered to combat disinformation. Volunteer as a poll worker or election observer in upcoming elections. Register to vote and help others register by volunteering with Rock the Vote, League of Women Voters, Vote Riders, or other get-out-the-vote organizations.
Republican Challenges Pam Bondi Over Epstein Files
Rep. Thomas Massie broke with fellow Republicans by confronting Attorney General Pam Bondi during a House Judiciary hearing, accusing her office of improperly redacting Epstein case files and exposing victims’ names while shielding powerful associates. Massie, now a vocal critic of Trump, pressed Bondi on accountability, prompting her to attack him personally as the exchange underscored growing fractures within the GOP over transparency and political loyalty.
I’m also mad about the Epstein files! Contact your members of Congress to demand proper handling of sensitive victim information and support organizations advocating for transparency and accountability in federal investigations, such as Transparency International U.S., Project on Government Oversight, and American Oversight. Call your representatives and demand they vote to impeach Pam Bondi (script) and demand the full release of the Epstein files and public hearings (script).
Republican Governors Reject Trump’s Partisan Invitation
The National Governors Association (NGA) canceled its planned meeting with President Trump after the White House invited only Republican governors, a move that violated the group’s bipartisan mission. NGA leadership insisted on unity and nonpartisan problem‑solving, refusing to participate in what they called a partisan event and urging governors to remain focused on shared responsibilities rather than political division.
I want to see more of this! Support organizations that promote bipartisan governance and democratic norms. Contact state leaders to encourage participation in nonpartisan problem‑solving forums. Promote and engage in civic dialogue that pushes back against polarization.
Republicans Push Back Against Trump’s Plan to Nationalize Elections
In a rare public break from President Trump, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman rejected Trump’s call to federalize U.S. elections, insisting that election administration must remain under state control. Their opposition—joined by other Republican officials—signals growing resistance to Trump’s push for expanded federal authority over elections and his attempts to consolidate power.
What can I do to stop the SAVE Act? Contact your members of Congress and urge them to act against election interference (here’s your script!).
International Resistance
Irish Advocates Demand an End to Support for ICE Deportation Flights
Human rights groups in Ireland are condemning the government for allowing ICE deportation flights to refuel at Shannon Airport, arguing the practice violates Ireland’s stated commitments to human rights.
Paris-Based Organizers Rally Against ICE and Trump
Indivisible Paris, Democrats Abroad Paris, and Paris Against Trump are mobilizing U.S. expats and allies for a protest and vigil at Place de la Bastille to oppose ICE abuses and broader attacks on democracy under President Trump. The action calls for Congress to abolish ICE and hold its agents accountable, aligning international solidarity with resistance efforts happening across the U.S. and centering grassroots organizing abroad.
What’s Happening Next Week?
Events: February 15-21, 2026
There are 1,270+ protests, vigils, rallies, social gatherings, banner drops, pickets, silent protests, pop-ups, honk & wave, bridge protests, knitting protests, postcard writing, sit-ins, boycotts, marches, Women in Black, Moral Mondays, Visibility Brigade, Tesla Takedowns, and other events scheduled across the country for the week of February 14-20, 2026 (list | map)
Nothing going on near you? Follow local organizations on social media, check out virtual opportunities below, or grab some friends and find something meaningful to do in your community!
Virtual Opportunities
Virtual events, meetings, petitions, and trainings can be found on mobilize.us
Feb 17th National Day of Action: Impeach, Convict, Remove, and Defund ICE
FLARE USA, Citizens’ Impeachment, and 50501 Movement are hosting a National Day of Action of in-district lobbying on February 17, 2026, for the impeachment of President Trump and the complete abolishment of ICE. Representatives will be in their districts; it’s time to catch them at home.
Grassroots pro-democracy organizations (e.g., local chapters of Indivisible, Hands Off, 50501), progressive primary candidates, and other concerned citizens will join together in leading constituents into the local/in-district offices of all 435 US House Representatives to demand impeachment and the abolishment of ICE.
Please see the Attendee Guide for goals, demands, talking points, scripts, and FAQs.
Want more from How to Resist?
Check out these posts:
📌 45 Acts of Non-Compliance for Ordinary People
📌 35+ Ways America is Resisting ICE (that go beyond protest)
📌 Take Action: Bystander intervention
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.
Currently, fewer than 1% of readers support How to Resist with a paid subscription. 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
Don’t forget that you can protest every day by wearing a paperclip 📎 Millions are wearing them as the symbol of resistance 🙏❤️📎www.thepaperclipresistance.com
Liberty and freedom from Fascism!