❤️ Good News from the Resistance: April 27-May 3rd, 2025
Courage is contagious.
Welcome to How to Resist, an instruction manual for resistance based on nonviolence, mutual aid, and community building for ordinary people who want to save democracy.
Good News from the Resistance is a weekly news round-up published every Sunday. Subscribe to receive future newsletters!
May Day protests held in all 50 states and abroad
On International Workers' Day, tens of thousands of protesters across the U.S. rallied against President Trump's "war on working people." Thousands of anti-Trump demonstrations and pro-labor rallies were held on Thursday and continued over the weekend. 1 2
Columbia Student Who Was Arrested at Citizenship Interview Is Freed
Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and lawful permanent resident, has been released from federal detention. Upon his release, he remarked, “To President Trump and his cabinet: I am not afraid of you.”3
Elite Universities Form Private Collective to Resist Trump Administration
‘The Collective’ currently consists of 10 schools, including Ivies and leading private research universities, mostly in blue states, who are coming together to strategize against funding cuts, academic independence, and free speech.4
Trump’s 100-day approval rating a historic low compared to predecessors
Polling by ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos, CNN/SSRS, CBS News/YouGov, NBC News, and Fox News all confirm a historically low 100-day approval rating, breaking the record against his own 100-day approval rating in 2017.5
‘Time to resist’: Protesters etch Trump portrait in sand next to Trump golf course in Scotland
Protestors in Scotland have etched a massive ‘Time to Resist: Fight the Billionaire Takeover’ message into the sand outside of Trump’s Turnberry golf resort. The piece measured 180’x131’ (55m×40m).6 7
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Sen. Cory Booker host a sit-in on Capitol steps over the GOP budget plan
Democratic House leader and New Jersey senator live-streamed their 11+ hour sit-in protest on the steps of the US Capitol over the proposed Republican budget.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker implores Democrats to fight Trump in fiery speech
In a speech to New Hampshire Democrats, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker implored Democrats to forcefully resist the Trump administration while chastising democratic leaders for having acted too timidly for too long. “Never before in my life have I called for mass disruption. But I am now. These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace,”8
Two liberal prime ministers, poised for defeat 6 months ago, were elected in Canada and Australia due to Trump backlash
Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney of Canada’s Liberal Party, who 6 months ago trailed populist Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, pledged Tuesday to confront US President Donald Trump with the "overwhelming positive force."9
In a stunning turnaround, Australia’s left-center government was re-elected Saturday after an election cycle dominated by Trump. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese won a second term (the first second term of an Australian prime minister in over 20 years) and his Labor Party secured a hefty increase in their parliamentary majority.10
Thousands protest President Trump outside Michigan rally
More than 3,000 people lined up with signs, megaphones, pride flags, and dozens of upside-down flags outside of Trump’s ‘100 days’ rally in Warren, Michigan.11
Protesters hold counter-event to Trump's University of Alabama speech
Hundreds of protesters and former Texas Rep Beto O’Rourke gathered at Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa to protest Trump’s commencement address. 12
Civil rights activists hold a week-long campaign to support African American History and Culture Museum and
A coalition of civil rights leaders held a week-long campaign this week to rally around the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Activities included a joint statement, a series of education opportunities, a virtual event attended by 1,500 people, a coffee meetup, sign-making sessions, and a Black history challenge13.
Jalen Hurt and several other Philadelphia Eagles reject invitation to the White House
Quarterback Jalen Hurt one of 11 Philadelphia Eagles to say ‘no thanks’ to a White House visit following Super Bowl win, claim “scheduling conflict.”14
Supreme Court Justice speaks out against attacks on the Judiciary
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson speaks out against attacks on the judiciary, saying, “The threats and harassment are attacks on our democracy, on our system of government. And they ultimately risk undermining our Constitution and the rule of law.” She urged fellow judges to show “raw courage […] to keep going, keep doing what is right for our country, and I do believe that history will vindicate your service.”15
Legal heavy-hitter forms new law firm to defend law firms under attack
Abbe Lowell, a legal veteran with 40 years of experience defending high-profile clients (Hunter Biden, NY AG Letitia James, members of Congress), starts new firm to ‘zealously represent’ law firms that have been attacked by Trump.16
Lawyers take to the streets to protest Trump’s attacks on the judiciary
Hundreds of lawyers dressed in suits and carrying pocket constitutions gathered across the country for the National Law Day of Action to protest attacks on the constitution, violations of due process, and attacks on law firms and judges.17
Fighting back in the Courts
An unprecedented 220+ lawsuits have been filed against the Trump administration in the past 100 days
Trump and his administration have faced an average of more than 2 lawsuits a day challenging nearly every element of his agenda and causing major legal setbacks and delays.
Unions, cities, nonprofits challenge constitutionality of Trump’s government reorganization
A coalition of nearly two dozen unions, local governments and nonprofit groups sued the Trump administration, alleging that it’s in the midst of a broad, unconstitutional and secretive reorganization of the federal government.”18 19
US states sue to block Trump from dismantling AmeriCorps
24 Democratic-led states plus the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit on Tuesday alleging the Trump administration had effectively dismantled AmeriCorps by abruptly canceling grants and cutting 85% of the workforce of the federal agency.20
Fired public broadcasting officials sue Trump administration to block terminations
Three officials have been terminated from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the nonprofit that oversees the funding for public television and radio, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the Trump administration.21
Head Start groups sue Trump administration over efforts to ‘dismantle’ early childhood development program
A lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to “dismantle” Head Start programs in Illinois and across the country has been filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Head Start groups, arguing the federal actions are unconstitutional and have left Head Start operators in a position where they “do not know whether they will suddenly be forced to close in a day, a week or a month.”22
Fired NCUA board members sue Trump
Two former National Credit Union Administration board members fired by President Donald Trump this month are suing him and a handful of other government officials, court documents show.23
Corporation for Public Broadcasting Sues White House to Block Board Firings
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting sued the Trump administration on Tuesday, accusing it of illegally trying to fire three members of the company’s board.24
San Francisco, Chicago, Baltimore sue Trump administration over cuts to federal workforce
A coalition of local governments from across the country, along with labor unions and other groups, are suing the Trump administration to challenge cuts made by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and other agencies.25
Trump’s HHS sued again over cuts to public health grants
A group of municipalities and a large labor union sued the HHS last week over the Trump administration’s plan to eliminate more than $11 billion in public health grants.26
Judge orders Trump administration to restore $12 million for pro-democracy Radio Free Europe
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to restore $12 million that Congress appropriated for Radio Free Europe, a pro-democracy media outlet at risk of going dark for the first time in 75 years.27
Trump’s Dept. of Agriculture backs down over trans athletes in Maine
USDA backs down in lawsuit against Maine over transgender student athletes. Governor Janet Mills, “I stood in the White House and when confronted by the president of the United States, I told him I’d see him in court. Well we did see him in court, and we won.”28
Judge blocks executive order targeting Perkins Cole law firm
A federal judge ordered the nullification of an executive order which targeted Perkins Cole, a law firm that in the past worked with Trump rivals such as Hillary Clinton, stating the executive order constituted “unconsitutional retaliation”29
Judge strikes down use of the Alien Enemies Act
In a 36-page ruling, the Trump-appointed federal judge permanently barred the Trump administration from invoking the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans from the Southern District of Texas.30
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https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/nyregion/national-law-day-courthouse-protests.html
Just want to say, “ Canada and Australia we want you to know we are taking it on the chin here in America so you could stay liberal. You’re welcome ☺️