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Editor’s Note From Rivera Sun
Trump is not invincible. As he and Musk move like a wrecking ball through the US federal government, we’re also seeing rising resistance … and wracking up some wins. Federal judges blocked (at least temporarily) the federal funding freeze, DOGE from altering US Treasury data, attacks on birthright citizenship, orders to move trans women prisoners to men’s wards, and Trump/Musk’s buyout deal deadline for federal workers. Trump was forced to back off his extreme tariffs and settle for minor concessions during a 30-day pause. Know Your Rights trainings are making it ‘very difficult‘ for ICE to arrest migrants, according to the ‘Border Czar’. Locals in Tulare, CA, prevented Trump’s lies from causing a literal flood of emergency water that would have done nothing to stop the Palisades Fires anyway.
This is what widespread resistance looks like. He may be attacking all of us, but that means we’ve got him surrounded on all sides. There were A Day Without An Immigrant strikes and work closures in 120 cities in 40 states. AltNatParkService‘s network of federal workers has swelled to 100,000. 50501 protests brought out hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of people in at least 44 cities. Democrats held an all-night filibuster to try to block Vought’s confirmation as head of the White House budget office. Unions rallied at the US Labor Department. Thousands blocked a major freeway in Los Angeles protesting deportations; similar protests were held in San Diego, Dallas, and Olympia. Meanwhile, Los Angeles students have walked out of class for 5 days straight to protest against ICE raids.
More than 1000 people protested at the US Treasury. Hundreds, including Democrat lawmakers joined the blockade and demonstration outside the shuttered USAID offices. The USDA Inspector General refused to resign and was kicked out of the building. Data scientists restored a climate justice tool Trump took down. New York State’s Attorney General instructed hospitals to defy Trump’s ban on gender-affirming care. Michigan’s governor expanded anti-hate laws to include attacks on LGBTQ+ persons. School districts in Maryland, Virginia, California, and Ohio openly defied Trump’s orders about transgender inclusion. Olympia, WA, declared itself a Sanctuary City for Trans and Queer persons. Supporters made up for a 100,000 funding gap for Twin Cities Pride after they rejected Target’s sponsorship due to its anti-DEI moves. Everyone from airline pilots to Star Trek’s George Takei is making a point to use the Gulf of Mexico’s name. California revived its initiative to leave the United States and become its own nation. Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, and Honduras are coordinating resistance to Trump’s deportations and immigration policies.
These stories should change the way you see the state of the nation in the United States. Yes, we’re in trouble. But we’re also taking action in far too many ways to mention. Keep sharing these stories with friends and joining in.
In more Nonviolence News (because it’s not all about US), 1,000 people with Defend Our Juries in the United Kingdom marched and held a sit-in demonstration against repressive jail sentences for activists. In Serbia, students campaigning for an overhaul of the government to end corruption have built the largest student movement since Otpor ousted the dictator Milosevic in 2000. Thousands of people in the Philippines are demanding the impeachment of Vice President Sarah Duterte (daughter of the former president) over misuse of millions in public funds. Palestinians credit sumud or ‘steadfastness’ with securing the release of 110 people from Israeli prisons. In Britain, Palestine Action took action at 15 Allianz sites over the insurance industry’s role in weapons manufacturing for Israel. South Africa models held a fashion show protest for Palestinians, carrying signs that read Stop the Genocide. In Liberia, workers are on strike at the world’s largest rubber plantation. Thailand made hormone therapy free for Trans People. In Argentina, citizens responded to President Milei and Trump’s attacks on trans and LGBTQIA+ persons with 100 cities holding anti-racist, anti-fascist “Make Argentina Gay Again” actions including marches, rallies, dances on truck beds, giant rainbow flags and more.
And here’s a little more good news to boost your spirits: the Seine River in France, once declared biologically dead, is now teeming with fish. Lexington, KY, cut homicide rates by 50% in two years. Congestion pricing for NYC also lowered traffic accidents by 55%. India’s tiger population has doubled in the last decade. Strike threats won $30/hour wages for Costco workers and prevented job cuts for UAW workers at Stellantis. Activists bought a former coal mine to prevent it from becoming a prison site and are planning to rewild it for bison grazing.
The best story of the week? Sometimes, justice is sweet. After the alt-right Proud Boys vandalized a Black church, the judge gave control of their trademark to the Black church. Now, the white supremacists cannot sell any merchandise with its name or symbols without the church’s consent.
You’ll find more stories in our Nonviolence News Research Archive, including calls-to-action on how to flood snitch lines and DOGE’s new hiring site. You’ll also find some very interesting and informative deep reads in the Knowledge Section on how Nigeria has resisted state repression, activist storytelling, dealing with authoritarian creep, and how schools are preparing for a fresh onslaught from the US federal government.
In solidarity,
Rivera Sun
PS Donations from readers like you help me take time off from other work projects to scan dozens of journals each week AND keep an eye on social posts from around the world.
This week, a special project was rounding up photos from 44+ cities that held protests against Trump & Musk. No other news journal had accomplished this as we put out this week’s Nonviolence News. Here’s what we collected:
Thousands Join 50501 Protests Against Musk & Trump In 44+ Cities: The flash protests organized via social media brought out hundreds to thousands in dozens of cities across the United States, including in Boston, MA; Philadelphia, PA; Lansing, MI; Columbus, OH; Austin, TX; Jefferson, MI, Missoula, MT; Helena, MT; Aurora, CO; Chicago, IL; Hartford, CT; Baton Rouge, LA; Augusta, ME; Hartford, CT; Tucson, AZ; Indianapolis, IN; Springfield, IL; Carson City, NV; Little Rock, AR; Tallahassee, FL; Tampa, FL; Atlanta, GA; Colombia, MO; Salt Lake City, UT; Providence, RI; Los Angeles, CA: Richmond, VA; Dallas, TX; Charlotte, NC; Montpelier, VT; Albany, NY; Syracuse, NY; Phoenix, AZ; Harrisburg, PA; Sacramento, CA; Trenton, NJ; Iowa City, IA; Minneapolis, MN; Madison, WI; Juneau, AK; Washington, DC; Salem, OR; Portland, OR.
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