This is What Resistance Looks Like.

This is What Resistance Looks Like.

Just two days ago, Americans showed up in force across the country to express loud and clear their dissatisfaction with the direction Trump and Republicans are taking our country. Peaceful mass protest has been a foundation of American civic engagement since the founding of our republic. This is not “hating America”. This is LOVING AMERICA.

The unique times in which we find ourselves are serving as a catalyst for a mass movement against Trump. It is happening in unique ways, non-violent and within the bounds of the law. Elected officials are asserting their power to resist the MAGA incursion. So are everyday citizens participating in democratic institutions. Out of a sense of self-preservation, some of our institutions have disappointed us by kneeling to the unlawful demands of the Administration. But others have resisted – and more are doing so. Here are a few heart-warming examples.

Individual and Citizen Actions

By participating in P4D, you are among the millions across the country who are engaged in joint action – giving money, organizing and learning about and attending rallies, webinars, voter education – to say NO to Trump. Groups large (Indivisible, Democracy Forward, CREW, Focus for Democracy,, and Swing Left) and small (P4D, NOPE, 31st Street) have organized around issues, grassroots groups, and candidates to resist. On June 14, 2025, those groups converged with over 2,100 events across the country, attracting more than five million people, in the largest one-day protest in our nation’s history. The turnout on October 18 was even larger.

Grand jurors have done what they understood to be their civic duty despite threats of violence or retaliation. In Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, they refused to indict protesters because evidence was unpersuasive or frivolous.

Blue States Are Increasingly Embracing Their Sovereign Powers

Our federal system of government recognizes that the national and state governments share power. The Constitution provides that powers not specifically delegated to the federal government, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states. Historically, the southern states have been aggressive in pushing back against what they viewed as intrusive federal power. Now, northern and coastal states are recognizing they can push back as well.

Governors Pritzker (IL), Kotek (OR) and Newsome (CA) have stood up to the invasion of federal troops into their sovereign states. In response to CDC’s retreat from various activities to protect public health, fifteen Democratic governors formed the Governors Public Health Alliance to monitor disease outbreaks, provide public health policy guidance, prepare for pandemics, and buy vaccines and other supplies. It has been reported that 23 attorneys general from blue states meet almost daily to coordinate on existing and potential lawsuits against the Administration. They are working cooperatively to magnify their resources and impact. During the first Trump Administration, blue state attorneys general filed 130 multistate lawsuits, winning 83 percent of them.

State legislatures are exercising their sovereign authority where Trump seeks to impose policies they find objectionable or illegal. Already, eight states have enacted voting rights laws that exceed federal protections, while 22 allow for automatic voter registration. California has reaffirmed sanctuary state laws, and Oregon passed a law to block cooperation with federal orders restricting academic visas. Washington adopted protections against federal health surveillance policies involving reproductive rights. New Mexico limits state law enforcement participation in federal immigration operations. Minnesota protects LGBTQ rights. Vermont passed a law to avoid federal preemption in environmental cases.

By no means is this list complete. But the point is simple: governors, attorneys general, and legislatures in blue states are increasingly asserting their lawful authority to protect the values of their states against federal incursions.

Private Sector Institutions

Among the most discouraging examples of submissiveness to the dictates of Trump have been our various private sector institutions entrusted with great power in our society. A number of law firms, media companies, universities and big businesses have retreated when threatened with overwhelming and likely unlawful sanctions by the federal government. But even here, there are heroes emerging.

While venerable law firms like Paul Weiss and Skadden Arps collapsed at the threat of sanctions, other firms stood up. Perkins Coie, Wilmer Hale, Susman Godfrey, and Jenner & Block refused to be bullied, sued and ultimately forced the Administration to back off. Some bar associations are disbarring those who have violated their obligation to comply with state and bar ethics requirements.

Trump’s assault on our universities has been relentless. They have been threatened with the loss of billions in research grants that benefit all of us with new medical developments and basic science. Many believed they had little choice but to succumb. But recently, MIT and Brown told the Administration that it would not agree to a set of demands relating to tuition costs, enrollment of international students, LBGTQ rights, and an array of other topics in exchange for special access to federal funds. Earlier, Harvard sued to challenge Administration demands, and so far has prevailed.

Unfortunately, the media has mostly been willing to accede to Trump’s threats and bullying. There are too many examples of the media paying Trump vast sums to settle bogus lawsuits, reducing DEI programs, pressuring journalists to alter their criticisms of the Administration, and contributing to Trump events such as private dinners at Mar-a-Lago and White House meetings. Yet, there also are heroes. The New York Times has refused to settle billion dollar lawsuits or censor its reporters. Public pressure got ABC to reverse its firing of Jimmy Kimmel.

Most recently, almost all members of the Pentagon Press Association, including Fox News (Hegseth’s former employer), the Washington Post, the New York Times, and Reuters, refused to agree to a new Pentagon policy not to obtain or solicit any information, including unclassified information, whose release the Pentagon had not explicitly authorized. The Pentagon stated in the policy that it would withdraw the press credentials of those refusing to sign. Any such action would prompt serious First Amendment challenge.

Nearly three dozen U.S. airports, including the top ten busiest, have refused to show a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming the shutdown and travel delays on Democrats because it violates their policy against political messaging in their facilities.

What Next?

The varied and increasing instances of institutional resistance demonstrate that the goals of this corrupt and cruel Administration are not unstoppable. Polling is showing a weakening of support for Trump and his policies. Even some Republicans have had enough, with reports of discontent about the shutdown, health care costs, the deployment of National Guard troops, FCC misuse of power, and ICE tactics.

We don’t get a chance to vote this MAGA crowd out of office for some time. But we can greatly limit their room to maneuver by gaining Democratic control of the House in 2026. We also need to exercise the power of peaceful resistance – not only to send a message to Trump, his appointees, and other MAGA officials, but also to our own elected representatives to stand up and fight.

Find a way to join the resistance – see our listing of some current Opportunities below.

Contribute to those leading the judicial battles. Litigation is expensive but with the help of citizen contributions, over 400 lawsuits have been filed challenging Trump’s actions. We have identified four groups that have played significant roles in these important challenges. You can learn about these groups HERE and contribute to their efforts HERE.