💌 Good News from the Resistance: June 22-28, 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,
Two things have been on my mind this week, and both seem to hold up a mirror to our current moment in America.
First, the words of Frederick Douglass, the great American abolitionist, statesman, and former enslaved person:
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”
The second is the youth-led demonstrations currently happening across Kenya to protest corrupt government leadership, economic hardship, and police brutality against protesters— most notably the shooting of a street hawker by police and the suspicious death of a blogger while in police custody. Thousands of young Kenyans have taken to the streets on the anniversary of demonstrations last year in which 60 people were killed and 70 people abducted by security forces, 26 of whom are still missing.1 2 3 4
There’s a lesson here in these two things, and one I think we should heed as we find ourselves spiraling ever deeper into Donald Trump’s bungled, narcissistic version of authoritarianism: Injustice doesn’t just happen. It tests the boundaries of what we will accept. And right now, we are being asked to accept some pretty messed-up stuff (e.g., the Supreme Court limiting nationwide injunctions, a budget bill that will strip protections for the most vulnerable Americans, unidentified masked agents grabbing people off the street and at courthouses, deportation to third countries, etc, etc, etc.)
The lesson from Kenya is that we still have considerable room to maneuver— through protest, through organizing, through legal challenges, through acts of nonviolent civil resistance and civil disobedience. But that window is not guaranteed to stay open. Deploying of the National Guard to American cities and the border, the Insurrection Act and declaration of martial law are not alarmist fever dreams; they are very real possibilities. What we have here is an opportunity, before we get to that point, to say unequivocally, we will not stand for this.
What we cannot do—and what we absolutely must not do—is stop. Stopping is permission. As Douglass reminds us, it’s the quiet submission that tells power exactly how far it can go.
So let’s get loud, before it’s too late.
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.
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A Thousand Fires Everywhere
33 Disabled Seniors Arrested During Capitol Protest Against Medicaid Cuts
In a powerful act of civil disobedience, senior citizens in wheelchairs were zip-tied and arrested by Capitol Police during a protest against proposed Medicaid cuts in the Senate Office Building. Organized by groups including the Debt Collective, SEIU, and Planned Parenthood, the demonstration opposed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which would slash social safety net programs to fund tax breaks and ICE. Protesters held banners reading “Don’t Kill Us, Save Medicaid” and chanted against the bill before 33 were arrested. The protest drew widespread condemnation of the treatment of disabled persons and highlighted growing grassroots resistance to policies threatening essential public services.5 6
Catholic Sisters Rally Against Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP
Catholic women from over 60 congregations gathered outside the U.S. Capitol to protest President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which proposes deep cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. The “Sisters Speak Out” demonstration called on lawmakers to reject policies that would harm low-income and immigrant communities. Advocates, including Sister Eilis McCulloh and Sister Mary Haddad, emphasized the moral responsibility to protect vulnerable populations and warned that the bill would replace care with bureaucracy and worsen health outcomes.7
Nationwide Protests Condemn U.S. Strikes on Iran, Demand End to Military Escalation
Anti-war protests were held in cities across the U.S., including Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, in response to President Trump’s airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Organized by groups like the ANSWER Coalition and the National Iranian American Council, demonstrators denounced the strikes as violations of international law and likened them to the Iraq War’s false WMD claims. Protesters called for an end to U.S. and Israeli aggression, labeling the attacks as war crimes and demanding a shift in federal spending from military action to domestic needs like healthcare and education.8
Chicago Protesters Demand Accountability for Iran Strikes
In response to President Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Chicago activists gathered at Federal Plaza to express skepticism and reaffirm their opposition to U.S. military involvement. Organized by the US-Palestinian Community Network, the protest drew around 200 people who condemned recent U.S. bombings of Iranian nuclear sites and ongoing military aid to Israel, particularly in Gaza. Despite the ceasefire news, demonstrators emphasized the need for continued pressure, citing distrust in Trump’s claims and the broader context of prolonged conflict. The protest concluded with a march to Trump Tower.9
Atlanta Protesters Condemn U.S. Strikes on Iran, Urge De-escalation
In downtown Atlanta, demonstrators gathered to protest recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, warning against further military escalation and U.S. involvement in the region. The protest reflects growing public resistance to unilateral military actions and calls for greater accountability in foreign policy decisions.10
New Orleans Activists Protest U.S. Bombing of Iran, Call for End to Military Involvement
In New Orleans, activists gathered outside the Hale Boggs Federal Building to protest the Trump administration’s airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and broader U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts. Organized by a coalition including Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Students for a Democratic Society, the protest condemned the strikes as reckless and rooted in a history of failed U.S. interventions. Speakers drew parallels to the Iraq War and criticized the administration’s domestic spending cuts under the Department of Government Efficiency. Protesters called for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel and urged a foreign policy grounded in diplomacy and non-intervention.11
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Survivors Condemn Trump’s Nuclear Strike Comparison
Survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, along with advocacy groups in Japan, have condemned President Trump’s recent remarks comparing U.S. airstrikes on Iran to the atomic bombings of 1945. Speaking at the NATO summit, Trump claimed both actions were effective in ending wars, a statement that survivors say trivializes the catastrophic human toll of nuclear warfare. As the 80th anniversary of the bombings approaches, critics argue that such rhetoric undermines global norms against the use of force and disrespects the memory of those who suffered its consequences.12
6 Arrested While Protesting Palantir’s Role in ICE Deportations
Six protesters were arrested outside Palantir Technologies’ New York office during a demonstration organized by Planet Over Profit and Mijente, opposing the company’s contracts with ICE and its role in developing deportation and surveillance software for the Trump administration. Protesters blocked building access and held signs reading “ICE Runs on Palantir,” calling attention to the firm’s $30 million contract to build ImmigrationOS, a platform designed to streamline deportations. Activists condemned Palantir’s broader involvement in surveillance and military operations, aiming to raise public awareness and mobilize resistance against the company’s expanding role in federal enforcement.13
Philosopher Resigns in Protest of Military Censorship Mandates
Pauline M. Shanks Kaurin, a military ethics philosopher, resigned from her role at the Naval War College in protest of a Trump executive order banning the teaching of so-called “divisive concepts,” including discussions of race, gender, and critiques of America’s founding documents. The order, enforced by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, led to institutional pressure to self-censor and eliminate academic freedom. Shanks Kaurin, who has spent decades examining the ethics of obedience and military conduct, viewed the new restrictions as incompatible with honest scholarship and moral inquiry. Her resignation is a principled act of resistance against the politicization of military education and the suppression of critical thought.14
CDC Scientists Protest RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vaccine Agenda and Defunding of Global Vaccine Alliance
CDC employees gathered in Atlanta to protest against the Trump administration’s escalating anti-vaccine policies, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to withdraw U.S. funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The move, based on unsubstantiated claims, threatens global immunization efforts that have saved millions of lives. Protesters also condemned the administration’s reshaping of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel with unqualified, anti-vaccine appointees.15
Senators Stage Pride Concert to Reclaim Kennedy Center from Trump’s Cultural Agenda
In a symbolic act of resistance, five Democratic senators hosted a Pride Month concert at the Kennedy Center to protest President Trump’s takeover of the institution and his administration’s rollback of LGBTQ+ visibility in the arts. Featuring Broadway performers and directed by “Hamilton” producer Jeffrey Seller, the event celebrated queer culture and resilience through music and performance. Seller, who canceled a future “Hamilton” run at the venue, called the concert a form of “guerrilla theater” and political protest. The show concluded with a reworked version of “One Day More” from Les Misérables, critiquing Trump’s cultural policies while affirming the presence and power of LGBTQ+ communities in the arts.16
Harvard Alumni Urge University to Reject Trump Administration Deal Threatening Academic Freedom
In response to reports of a potential deal between Harvard University and the Trump administration, the alumni group Crimson Courage issued an open letter urging the university to resist political pressure and uphold academic freedom. The administration had threatened to revoke $9 billion in funding unless Harvard restructured its leadership, admissions, and hiring practices. Harvard has largely succeeded in court, securing a preliminary injunction to protect international students. Crimson Courage, backed by 12,000 alumni and numerous civil rights organizations, warned that compromising with the administration would undermine Harvard’s global standing and moral integrity.17
Second Anonymous Sculpture Appears on the National Mall
A new guerrilla art installation appeared on the National Mall featuring a gold-painted television looping silent clips of President Trump dancing, including one alongside Jeffrey Epstein. The anonymous creators, believed to be behind previous anti-Trump sculptures, framed the piece as a defense of free speech and artistic expression. The installation, permitted through Sunday, follows a previous statue titled “Dictator Approved” that drew a dismissive response from the White House. The work serves as a creative form of protest, using satire to critique Trump’s policies while reaffirming the role of public art in political resistance.18
CNN and New York Times Reject Trump’s Retraction Demands Over Iran Bombing Coverage
CNN and The New York Times have refused demands from President Trump to retract reports that contradicted his claims about the effectiveness of U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Trump’s legal team alleged the stories were defamatory and unpatriotic, but both outlets stood by their reporting, which cited early U.S. intelligence assessments indicating the strikes only temporarily set back Iran’s nuclear program, saying, “There will be no apologies.” The Times emphasized that their reporting aligned with Trump’s own public statements acknowledging inconclusive intelligence.19
UVA Community Protests Trump Administration’s Ouster of President Jim Ryan
Hundreds of students, faculty, and alumni gathered at the University of Virginia’s Rotunda to protest the forced resignation of President Jim Ryan, who stepped down under pressure from the Trump administration following a DOJ investigation into the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Demonstrators condemned the move as federal overreach and a violation of academic independence. Faculty passed a resolution supporting Ryan’s leadership and denouncing the administration’s interference. While Ryan cited the need to protect students and staff from federal retaliation, protesters emphasized the broader threat to university autonomy and democratic principles.20
9 Arrested During Protest of Supreme Court Ruling Upholding Ban on Youth Gender-Affirming Care
Nine transgender activists were arrested outside the U.S. Supreme Court after protesting the Court’s 6-3 decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti, which upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Organized by the Gender Liberation Movement, the demonstration included symbolic HRT administration and a street blockade with trans flag banners. Activists condemned the ruling as discriminatory and harmful, citing broad medical consensus on the necessity of such care. Justice Sotomayor’s dissent warned the decision undermines equal protection and enables legislative discrimination. Protesters vowed continued resistance to protect trans youth and their right to healthcare.21
Fighting Back in the Courts
20 States Sue Trump Administration Over Unlawful Grant Cancellations
Attorneys general from twenty Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia, along with Pennsylvania’s governor, have filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s use of a 2020 regulation to cancel billions in federal grants. The rule, adopted by the Office of Management and Budget, allows agencies to terminate grants that no longer align with shifting agency priorities—a tactic the administration has used to defund programs related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and climate resilience. The lawsuit argues that this oversteps executive authority and violates Congress’s constitutional control over federal spending. A recent court ruling in Boston already found similar grant terminations by the NIH unlawful, bolstering the states’ case.22
Coalition Sues Trump Administration Over Termination of Environmental Justice Grants
A nationwide coalition of nonprofits, Tribes, and local governments has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for unlawfully terminating the EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Grant programs, which were mandated by Congress under the Inflation Reduction Act. Represented by legal advocacy groups including Earthjustice and the Southern Environmental Law Center, the plaintiffs argue that the abrupt cancellation of $3 billion in grants undermines critical community-led projects aimed at reducing pollution, enhancing climate resilience, and addressing long-standing environmental injustices. The lawsuit seeks to reinstate the grants and restore support for vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by environmental harm, asserting that the administration’s actions violate federal law and the constitutional separation of powers.23
Senate Parliamentarian Blocks GOP Plan to Shift Food Stamp Costs to States
In a major setback for President Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill, the Senate parliamentarian ruled that a key Republican proposal to shift food stamp costs to states violates Senate rules. The plan, part of broader efforts to offset $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, would have cut SNAP benefits for millions and imposed new burdens on states. The ruling, along with others rejecting provisions targeting immigrants and environmental protections, signals mounting legal and procedural challenges to the bill. Democrats and anti-poverty advocates welcomed the decision, calling it a defense of essential nutrition aid for vulnerable Americans.24
Migrant Family Sues Over Courthouse Arrests in First Legal Challenge Involving Children
A Honduran mother and her two young children have filed a lawsuit challenging their arrest by ICE agents outside a Los Angeles immigration court, marking the first known legal challenge involving children against the Trump administration’s courthouse arrest policy. The family, who entered the U.S. legally using the CBP One app, were detained despite complying with all government requirements. The suit argues their detention violates constitutional protections against unreasonable seizure and denial of due process. The 6-year-old son, a leukemia patient, missed critical medical care due to the arrest, prompting urgent calls for their release from the Dilley detention center.25
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 so tired... but I'm not giving up. Thank you and sharing as always🙏💜🕯
ADDITIONAL ANTI-TRUMP PEACEFUL RESISTANCE RESOURCES and ways to end the reign of the tRump and his administration from hell.
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Kill the Big Beautiful Bill!
America's Robert Reich on what to know about the Big Beautiful Bill. https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/what-you-need-to-share-about-the?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=113nffpk
Senator Bernie Sanders on defeating the Big Beautiful Bill.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=qwiMfyXy8Ec&si=G7-3WNQkwETPzC1t
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A great source for supporting the Anti-tRump Resistance and easy way to send letters to your representatives.
https://open.substack.com/pub/dworkin/p/how-were-fighting-trump?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=113nff
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Tell your representatives to Kill the Bill. Demand Change! Call The Capital Switchboard Now at 202-224-3121 or
You can also use the 5calls.org Civil Action website if you need help:
~ finding your local representatives and their office numbers
~ 5calls provide you with a list of current political issues and civil rights you may be at risk of losing
~ they also provide a script to help you express your concerns for the issues that concern you the most.
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Why Everyone should sign and support The General Strike US Card. https://onemommy.substack.com/p/the-general-strike?r=113nff
Why non-strikers should sign the GeneralStrikeUS.com Card and how you can support the strikers.
https://onemommy.substack.com/p/general-strike-supporters?r=113nff
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If you would like to earn more money, have affordable housing, education, medical, child and elder care watch Senator Sanders YouTube videos or check out BernieSanders.com and join the movement.
https://youtube.com/@berniesanders?si=jCC5Fyls5bP01TD3
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Read - It's Up To Us! (to end the reign of the tRump) https://onemommy.substack.com/p/its-up-to-us?r=113nff
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Join the Resistance, Attend a Protest, Help Support Movement Organizations, Volunteer and Build a Group in Your Community.
FiftyFifty.One
Indivisible.org
BernieSanders.com
GeneralStrikeUS.com
PeoplePowerUnited.org
ThePeoplesUnionUSA.com
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We the People are the last line of defense and must unite to hold that line!
https://substack.com/@heavenlight/note/c-130244428?r=113nff
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My Weirdo Friend , Our Weirdo Friend asked me to share this EMERGENCY BROADCAST about the current state of our union. Please share this far and wide.
https://open.substack.com/pub/muppetgender/p/this-is-an-emergency-broadcast?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=113nff
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How to spot a state sanctioned kidnapping and what to do about it.
https://open.substack.com/pub/ladylibertie/p/how-to-spot-a-state-sanctioned-kidnappingand?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=113nff
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For pertinent information on How We Win This please read -
https://open.substack.com/pub/muppetgender/p/how-we-win-this?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=113nff
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USA is on Human Rights Watch List!
https://onemommy.substack.com/p/usa-on-human-rights-watchlist?r=113nff
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"She Won" A series of articles about election fraud in 2024, by Substack Publisher, This Will Hold
https://open.substack.com/pub/thiswillhold?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=113nff
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The 3.5% Rule
Studies show that 3.5% of the population (11 million in America) exhibit SUSTAINED RESISTANCE to effectively enact change. Learn more about the 3.5% rule here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=x4syl-hZ9_I&si=jAbBx2kcLf72MZD4)
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Watch this beautiful emotional message from our Former Presidents.
https://youtube.com/shorts/xXd20VDrLII?si=N9RlllSrQvaPcMnU
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Please forward, share or talk about this message with your family, friends, colleagues, even strangers if given the opportunity. Post or repost it on your social media accounts! Substack protesters share this message outside of this political category and get it out to everyone else. It's going to take ALL of us to bring down the tRump, the billionaire oligarchs (who hog the money you earn) and the Republican Administration from Hell!
Spread the Word! If permitted here are some e-posters to share...