Take Action Now
Resistance is built through consistent action. Here's what you can do — today, this week, and going forward.
This Week's Priority Updated Every Monday
Immigration Enforcement — Calls Needed Now
What's happening: Congress is considering legislation that expands ICE's authority, enables mass deportations, and criminalizes humanitarian aid to immigrants. Votes are coming.
Why it matters: This would tear apart families, deport people who've lived here for decades, and make it a crime to help someone in need. Once passed, it's nearly impossible to reverse.
What to do: Call your senators and representative. Every call is logged. Every call counts. Use the script below.
Call Script — Copy & Use
"Hi, my name is [YOUR FULL NAME] and I'm a constituent calling from [YOUR CITY], zip code [YOUR ZIP CODE].
I'm calling to urge [SENATOR/REP NAME] to vote NO on legislation enabling mass deportations and criminalizing aid to immigrants.
This would:
• Enable deportations without due process
• Criminalize giving food or water to someone in need
• Separate families and traumatize children
• Waste taxpayer money on enforcement rather than solutions
I am asking [NAME] to vote NO, publicly oppose mass deportation, and support immigration reform that keeps families together.
I will be watching how [he/she/they] votes. Can you tell me their current position?"
How to Make Calls That Actually Work
Phone calls are the single most effective way to influence an elected official. Emails get auto-replied. Tweets get ignored. Calls get logged by a real person and reported up the chain. Here's how to do it right.
- Find your representatives. Google "[your state] senator" and "[your city/district] representative." You need their direct office numbers — not a general contact page. senate.gov has all senators.
- Know the specific bill or issue. Vague concern ("I'm worried about immigration") is easy to dismiss. Naming a specific bill number and its specific harm is 10x more effective.
- Call during business hours. 9am–5pm local time. Morning calls are usually the least busy.
- Be brief and clear. You have 2–3 minutes. State your name, city, zip code, what you want, and why. Then stop talking.
- Be polite but firm. The staffer answering is not your enemy. But don't hedge. "I strongly urge a NO vote" is better than "I'm a little concerned."
- Ask for their position. "What is the Senator's current position on this bill?" If they won't answer, note that. If they give a position, note that too.
- Call again next week. One call is a data point. Repeated calls from the same constituent become a pattern that gets attention.
Your Weekly Action Calendar
Small, consistent actions compound. This isn't a checklist — it's a rhythm. Pick what works for your life and make it a habit.
Fund the Fight
Donate to organizations doing direct work. Even $5 adds up. Bail funds, immigrant defense organizations, and mutual aid networks are chronically underfunded.
Lock Down Your Digital Life
Update one password. Enable 2FA on one account. Help a friend do the same. Digital security isn't optional for activists — it's survival.
- Install Signal if you haven't already
- Set up Bitwarden password manager
- Read one guide from EFF Surveillance Self-Defense
Show Up Locally
Attend a meeting, town hall, or community event. Local organizing is where real change happens — and it's where people are always needed.
- Indivisible — find local groups
- Mobilize — upcoming events near you
Share & Spread
Send this week's call script, a know-your-rights guide, or a resource link to someone in your network. Information spreads through trust.
- Share this week's priority call script
- Send a know-your-rights card to a friend
- Post about an action you took (if safe to do so)
Learn, Rest, or Both
Read something deep. Attend a training. Or — equally important — rest. Burnout destroys movements. You are not a machine.
- Read a book from the History page reading list
- Watch a documentary or video essay
- Do something that has nothing to do with activism
Actions by Time Available
You don't need hours. You need a plan for whatever you've actually got.
5 Minutes — Right Now
- Call one representative. Use the script above. Name the bill. Ask their position.
- Sign a petition from a reputable organization (ACLU, Amnesty, etc.).
- Text Resistbot — automated outreach to your elected officials.
- Donate $5 to a bail fund, abortion fund, or mutual aid network.
- Share a resource link with someone who needs it.
30 Minutes — This Afternoon
- Call 5–10 representatives about the week's priority issue. Log responses.
- Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about a current issue.
- Set up Signal and move your activist group chats there.
- Join an online call or webinar from an organization you support.
- Research a local mutual aid group and figure out how to plug in.
- Set up a password manager (Bitwarden, 10 minutes, game-changing).
2+ Hours — A Real Commitment
- Attend a protest or rally. Know your rights beforehand. Bring water. Look out for each other.
- Volunteer at a mutual aid site — food bank, legal aid, community kitchen.
- Take legal observer training from the National Lawyers Guild. Learn to document police conduct at protests.
- Host a know-your-rights workshop in your community. Templates and guides are available.
- Canvas for a candidate or ballot measure that matters to you. Door-knocking works.
- Organize a fundraiser for organizations doing direct aid work.
Step-by-Step How-To Guides
How to Organize a Know-Your-Rights Workshop
- Pick your audience. Who needs this most in your community? Immigrants? Trans people? Protesters? Students? Tailor the content.
- Find a space. Community center, library meeting room, church hall, or even a living room. Free or cheap is fine.
- Get materials. The ACLU has free printable know-your-rights cards. The National Lawyers Guild has guides for specific situations.
- Invite a speaker if possible. A local attorney or legal observer can add credibility and answer questions you can't.
- Promote it. Flyers, social media, community boards, word of mouth. Two weeks of lead time is good.
- Run it. Keep it under 90 minutes. Q&A at the end. Collect emails (with permission) for follow-up.
- Follow up. Send attendees the resources discussed. Check in after any relevant events happen.
How to Start a Mutual Aid Network
- Identify needs in your community. Talk to neighbors. What do people actually need? Food? Rides? Childcare? Translation? Don't guess — ask.
- Start small. A group chat. A shared spreadsheet. A flyer on the community board. You don't need a website or a nonprofit status.
- Recruit 3–5 people. Not an army. A core group that meets regularly and coordinates.
- Set up communication. Use Signal for security. Use a shared doc for tracking who needs what and who can help.
- Make it reciprocal. Mutual aid is not charity. Everyone gives and everyone receives. Emphasize this from the start.
- Publicize locally. Flyers, local Facebook/Nextdoor, community organizations. Word of mouth is the most powerful tool.
- Sustain it. Meet regularly. Celebrate wins. Prevent burnout by rotating responsibilities.
How to Safely Attend a Protest
- Know your rights beforehand. Read the ACLU guide. You have the right to protest in public spaces. Police cannot arrest you for peaceful protest.
- Tell someone where you'll be. And when you expect to be back. Use Signal to coordinate with your group.
- Dress for it. Comfortable shoes. Water. Sun protection or rain gear. Wear clothes you don't mind losing.
- Memorize a lawyer's number. Write it on your arm in waterproof ink. If arrested, do not sign anything. Say: "I am exercising my First Amendment rights. I want a lawyer."
- Don't go alone if possible. Buddy system. Know where your buddy is at all times.
- Protect your phone. Police can demand to see it in some situations. Lock it. Use a VPN. Delete anything sensitive before you go.
- Know your exit. Know two ways out of the area. If things escalate, leave. Staying is not always the brave choice — sometimes it's the reckless one.
How to Report a Hate Crime or Incident
- Get to safety first. Always. Your physical safety comes before documentation.
- Document everything you can. Photos, videos, screenshots. Date, time, location. Names or descriptions of perpetrators if possible.
- File a police report. Even if you don't expect action, a report creates an official record. Keep your copy.
- Report to the FBI. Hate crimes are federal offenses. File at tips.fbi.gov.
- Contact the ADL or SPLC. They track hate incidents nationally and can provide support and context.
- Connect with legal help. The ACLU or local civil rights organizations may be able to assist.
- Take care of yourself. Hate crimes cause trauma. Reach out to support services. You are not overreacting.
Making Your Actions Count
Do
- Be specific — name the bill, the harm, the community affected
- Be persistent — call every week, not just once
- Coordinate — join organized campaigns rather than going solo
- Follow up — track responses, escalate when needed
- Sustain yourself — rest, celebrate wins, ask for help
- Protect your digital footprint — Signal, VPNs, password managers
- Support organizations doing direct work — donate, volunteer, amplify
Don't
- Be vague — "I'm concerned" gets you nowhere
- Give up after one try — they are counting on you getting tired
- Go alone — collective action is exponentially more powerful
- Burn out — pace yourself. This is a marathon, not a sprint
- Dox carelessly — get it right or don't do it. Mistakes hurt real people
- Ignore digital security — assume you are being watched
- Wait for someone else — if you see it, do it
Start Right Now
Pick one thing from this page. Do it today. Come back tomorrow and do another.