💌 Good News from the Resistance, July 13-19, 2025
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,
This week, on the fifth anniversary of civil rights icon John Lewis’s death, tens of thousands across all 50 states participated in over 1,500 “Good Trouble Lives On” protests to resist the Trump administration’s attacks on civil rights, immigrants, and social programs.
Organized by dozens of advocacy groups, the coordinated actions included marches, vigils, and voter registration drives. Protesters invoked Lewis’s legacy of nonviolent resistance, calling for the protection of voting rights, an end to ICE raids, and accountability for Trump-era policies.
John Lewis’ story is one of courage. He taught us that change is possible through persistent, principled, and peaceful action, even in the face of overwhelming resistance. But he also taught us that nonviolence is not passive; it requires action, which is at times difficult, inconvenient, uncomfortable, and scary.
This week, Indivisible, a leading organizing group, launched “One Million Rising,” a national initiative to train a million people in non-cooperation, community organizing, and campaign design. The first session, The Moment and Your Mission, is available on YouTube, and I hope you’ll join me virtually for Session 2: How to Make it Happen on July 30th and Session 3: What Now? on August 13th.
We know we have the numbers. And as last month’s No Kings Day protests and this week’s Good Trouble protests have aply illustrated, we have people who are willing to show up. Now we need to organize, mobilize, and as John Lewis says, “Get in the way. Make good trouble.”
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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‘Good Trouble Lives On’ Protests Across America
Washington, D.C.
Madison, Wisconsin
Portland, Oregon
Denver, Colorado
Atlanta, Georgia
New York City, NY
Houston, Texas
El Cajol, California
Phoenix, Arizona
Wilmington, North Carolina
Stockton, California
Juneau, Alaska
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Fort Myers, Florida
Indianapolis, Indiana
A Thousand Fires Everywhere
Alabama Protesters Confront Trump-Backed Cuts to Health and Food Aid
In Birmingham, Alabama, local clergy, advocates, and residents gathered outside Rep. Gary Palmer’s office to protest the Trump administration’s recently signed reconciliation bill, which is expected to strip tens of thousands of Alabamians of Medicaid and SNAP benefits. Organized by the Alabama Poor People’s Campaign as part of a coordinated regional effort led by Bishop William Barber, the demonstration highlighted the human cost of the legislation through personal testimony and public witness. Protesters attempted to deliver a list of harms caused by the bill—including denial of healthcare, food insecurity, and immigrant family separation—but were met with a closed office door. Their action underscores growing grassroots resistance to policies that disproportionately harm low-income and marginalized communities.1
“Alabama’s poor and low-income population make up 47% of the electorate in this state. To our lawmakers, they are invisible people,” she said. “Our lawmakers are disconnected from the realities of people needing health care and food assistance. It is shameful that they willingly push the sick, the hungry, the elderly and the disabled into suffering and possibly death.” Rev. Carolyn Foster of Greater Birmingham Ministries
Spokane Activists Arrested in Federal Crackdown on ICE Protest
Federal agents arrested at least nine Spokane residents, including community leaders and human rights advocates, for their roles in a June 11 protest at the city’s ICE facility. Those detained include former city council president Ben Stuckart and members of Spokane Community Against Racism (SCAR), some of whom had not been previously charged. The arrests, carried out by U.S. Marshals, have drawn sharp criticism from local officials, including Mayor Lisa Brown and City Council Member Paul Dillon, who condemned the federal government’s actions as politically motivated and unconstitutional. Advocates are calling for charges to be dropped and are organizing in response, framing the arrests as part of a broader pattern of federal retaliation against peaceful dissent and immigrant solidarity.2 3
Los Angeles Organizers Shift to Long-Term Resistance Against ICE Raids
In response to ongoing ICE raids and a heavy federal presence in Los Angeles, local activists, labor unions, and immigrant rights groups have transitioned from mass protests to sustained, strategic resistance. Volunteers now monitor ICE activity at Home Depots, lead know-your-rights workshops, and organize neighborhood patrols and food deliveries for families in hiding. A citywide strike is planned for August 12, and the ACLU has filed a lawsuit alleging constitutional violations in recent mass detentions. Media outlets and influencers have also joined the movement, amplifying immigrant voices and challenging anti-immigrant narratives. Despite federal crackdowns and military deployments, organizers remain committed to defending immigrant communities and building a broad, resilient coalition.4
Fighting Back in the Courts
States Challenge Trump Admin’s Freeze on Billions in Education Funding
In response to the Trump administration’s abrupt freeze of over $6 billion in federal education grants, a coalition of 24 states and the District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit demanding the immediate release of the funds. The grants, which support programs like migrant education, teacher training, and services for English language learners, were halted just weeks before the school year begins. Lawmakers from both parties, including Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and over 100 House Democrats, have condemned the freeze, citing its disruptive impact on school budgets and contracts. This legal action follows a similar lawsuit by 16 states over the administration’s earlier decision to cut $1 billion in school mental health funding, signaling growing resistance to policies undermining public education.56
Democratic States Sue Trump Over Cuts to Disaster Preparedness Funds
Twenty Democratic attorneys general have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to reinstate $4.5 billion in canceled FEMA disaster mitigation grants. The suit argues that the administration unlawfully ended the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which funded state projects to prevent damage from floods, wildfires, and other disasters. The plaintiffs also challenge the legality of FEMA’s acting administrator, David Richardson, citing his lack of emergency management experience and bypass of Senate confirmation. This legal action is part of a broader resistance to Trump-era policies that undermine public safety and state autonomy in disaster preparedness.7 8
Want more from How to Resist?
Check out these series:
Take Action: Mutual aid and community-building ideas you can try today
Tools of Resistance: Tactics of nonviolent resistance, past and present
Better Political Conversations: Strategies for engaging across divides without compromising your values or your relationships
Good News from the Resistance: Sunday morning news roundup of good news
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
I'm fuckin’ mad as hell and doing my best to make everyone else mad as hell too! This is real folks, this is how the Holocaust began. Führer tRump has launched the initial stages of genocide. He has or is -
Diminishing Women's rights.
Eliminating food services for children and the elderly.
Disrupting our voters rights
Annihilating our judicial system and blatantly disregarding direct court orders.
Threatening judges and has begun arresting them and other government officials.
Releasing white verified criminals like, the January 6th insurrectionists and now there is talk about pardoning the cop that killed George Floyd.
He is deporting, detaining and disappearing innocent mothers and children, abducting students and kidnapping men of color without due process including legal green card holders and US citizens - babies!
Is building concentration like camps on American soil.
Tanking our economy and the world's while we tax-payers spend multi-millions for his weekly golf vacations and private entertainment.
Turning our allies into enemies and visa versa.
Dismantling our government.
Eliminating our civil liberties.
Discrediting our news and educational outlets or silencing them.
Threatening to control our streaming services.
Defunding the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, Medicare - there was never even “a concept of a plan.“
Ending medical services for every one except the very rich, including services for child and elder care.
Abolishing and defunding our educational system and threatening our universities.
Erasing our history and banning our books.
Eliminating our science and medical research programs.
Eviscerating our weather and climate research. Say good-by to national weather alerts and FEMA disaster relief!
Learn about the General Strike US: https://onemommy.substack.com/p/the-general-strike?r=113nff
General Strike US Supporters - How Non-Strikers can help! https://onemommy.substack.com/p/general-strike-supporters?r=113nff
Sign up here: GeneralStrikeUS.com
Please feel free to research and verify this information while you still can!
The only hope we have is ourselves. We the People need to peacefully reunite to overthrow the administration from hell! Consistently protest to demand change and stop the madness. Gather your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers and join the Resistance.
Enough is enough with the Democrats vs Republicans. They have all betrayed us. We need a new political party run by representatives of the people. Not the Musk Rat's American party!
If you want to earn more money and have access to affordable housing, education, medical, child and elder care watch Senator Sanders YouTube videos or check out BernieSanders.com. Senator Sanders has a plan that benefit every American even the MAGAts. For the sake of our families and our savings accounts give the man a chance to lead us out of this madness.
Check Mobilize.us regularly to find or post a resistance movement or protest event near you.
"We are no longer Democrats or Republicans. We are either patriots fighting the regime or we are complicit in its tyranny. There is no middle ground." ~America's Professor, Robert Reich
If you are not terrified you should be. Read the article below.
https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/the-start-of-week-14?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=113nff
This is the kind of news that makes my soul put on its marching shoes.
“Good Trouble Lives On” isn’t just a slogan. It’s resurrection through resistance. From ICE raids to education cuts, the empire keeps swinging, but every vigil, every lawsuit, every grandma holding a sign on the corner is proof that love hasn’t given up.
John Lewis didn’t fight so we could retreat into cynicism. He fought so we’d remember the power of showing up—scared, scrappy, and singing anyway.
The prophets wore sneakers this week. And they brought receipts.
Keep the fire lit.