How Do We Organize When Democracy Is Under Attack?

Lately, it feels like every time we turn around, something else is being taken away—rights, protections, even our ability to access critical information. And it’s happening fast. The recent rollback of explicit bans on segregated facilities in federal contracts is just one example of how policies that once protected equity and inclusion are being quietly stripped away.

The most alarming part? Most people don’t even realize it's happening.

That’s by design. The people rolling back these protections don’t want us to be aware. They don’t want us to fight back. They want us tired, overwhelmed, and disconnected from each other so we feel like we can’t do anything about it.

But we can do something. The question is: how do we organize in a time when suppression is so intentional and widespread?

Waking Up to What’s Happening.

I had my own wake-up call recently when I found out—after the fact—about the March

on Washington for Veterans on March 14, 2025. I didn’t hear about it in any major news outlets. I didn’t see it circulating widely on social media. And yet, it was a movement that I would have wanted to know about.

As a veteran, that hit hard. I spent nine years in the U.S. Army. My father was a veteran. Two of my sons are veterans. I have nieces and nephews who have served. This isn’t just a passing identity for me—it’s part of my family, my legacy. And to find out that a major event for veterans happened without me even knowing? It shook me.

It made me realize that I am not connected enough. That’s hard to admit because I do this work—I work in equity, inclusion, and justice. I pay attention to what’s happening. And yet, I missed this. That tells me something important: the way we access information, the way we stay engaged, and the way we organize has to change.

Instead of responding with apathy—saying things like, "Well, there’s nothing I can do about it"—I felt something shift. It lit a fire under me. It made me want to figure out how I can be more engaged, even if it’s just on a micro level. Because my biggest concern isn’t losing clients or business. My biggest concern is the desecration of our democracy.

If we lose that, we lose everything—including the work we’re fighting for.

How Do We Organize in This Climate?

We can’t rely on the same old ways of organizing. The people rolling back our rights are better funded, have more media control, and are using divide-and-conquer tactics to keep us fragmented.

We have to be smarter, more strategic, and more connected than ever before.

Here’s what that looks like:

1. Build Small, Trusted Networks

We don’t have to wait for big movements to get organized. Some of the most effective resistance starts small:

• Talk to your friends, family, coworkers—bring these conversations into everyday spaces.

• Build local networks where you can share real information (e.g., community organizing groups, local activist circles).

• If you’re part of a faith community, workplace, or local organization, use those spaces to connect and educate people.

2. Find Alternative Sources of Information

Mainstream media isn’t always going to cover what matters most. We have to be intentional about where we get our information:

• Subscribe to independent and grassroots news sources (e.g., Democracy Now, The Marshall Project, Colorlines, Prismreports).

• Create or join private message groups (on Signal, Proton Mail, WhatsApp, etc.) to ensure critical information is being shared.

• Follow organizers and activists who are sharing real-time updates on what’s happening.

  
  

3. Take Micro-Actions That Build Power

Not everyone can quit their job to become a full-time activist. But every single person can do something.

• Speak up in conversations—don’t let harmful policies become normalized.

• Contact your local and state representatives—even if it feels small, pressure adds up.

• Support mutual aid efforts—help neighbors, donate, volunteer, and build community strength.

• Challenge misinformation—when you see lies being spread, correct them.

4. Prioritize Emotional & Physical Well-Being

They want us exhausted. They want us to burn out. They want us to feel powerless. We have to resist that, too.

• Take breaks. Rest is not a luxury; it’s part of the fight.

• Stay connected to people who fuel you—laughter, joy, and community are radical acts.

• Protect yourself online and in public—learn digital security and protest safety strategies.

5. Think Long-Term

Those rolling back our rights are playing the long game. We need to do the same.

• Get involved in local politics—state and city policies matter a lot. 

  Build coalitions across differences—focus on shared goals rather than small disagreements.

• Develop plans not just for resistance, but for what comes next—how do we build something better?

Final Thoughts: We Have More Power Than We Think

It’s easy to feel like nothing we do matters. That’s part of the strategy being used against us.

But history tells a different story. Every major civil rights victory—from ending segregation to legalizing same-sex marriage—happened because ordinary people refused to accept oppression as normal. They organized. They resisted. And they won.

We are at a moment where we have to make a choice: Do we give up? Or do we find new ways to fight back?

I know what I’m choosing.

The question is—what are you going to do?

by kjwilliams