So this is what life is going to be like for the next four years, huh?

There are reasons to keep going forward. There is hope.
It's hard to keep believing that. Today, every single time my phone buzzed, I flinched in terror, knowing there was another story about Donald. He reinstated the global gag rule for women seeking healthcare. He's trying to build the wall. He wants to declare martial law in Chicago. He's attacking sanctuary cities. He wants to build the Dakota Access Pipeline.
I'm terrified. I see fear everywhere too--on my Facebook feed, on my Twitter timeline, in the eyes of my loved ones, in the eyes of strangers on the street.
And Democrats in Congress are shaken. Only Senator Gilibrand voted against all of Donald's Cabinet picks. Senator Sanders (he's not a Democrat, but he's a progressive so I'm including him) praised Donald's executive action ending the TPP. Divisions between the left and moderate wing of the party are growing.
Resistance to Donald is crucial and it falls in the hands of us, the power behind the Democratic Party, to fight back, in every possible way. But you all knew that.
I've got some more websites for you, gentle readers. Please take care of yourself too. Have a cookie, pet a dog, let yourself cry--this isn't a sprint, it's a marathon.
Both of these websites offer information on resistance and getting in touch with your elected officials. Make sure to bookmark them.
Indivisible Guide
5 Calls

Resist.

Grab Bag Post

Hey, gentle readers! I’ve got a big post coming up about sanctuary cities, but there’s so much going on this week that I thought I’d put together a “grab bag post” about Maryland and the new administration in the White House.

First: I’ve gotten some questions on swing districts. If you’d like to know about the closest swing district near you and how you can get involved in making it blue, check out this nifty website. It’s designed to get wonderful activists like you involved in taking back the house. As elections get closer, there will probably be some carpooling groups that I’ll share.

Stay Woke has designed an official resistance manual. It’s comprehensive and a good jumping off point for anyone who wants to learn more about standing up to fascists. It’s been endorsed by Deray McKesson.

Check out here. It’s got a list of all the legislation that the 115th Congress has introduced. Some of it looks fine--I’d love some Muhammad Ali coins myself. However, some bills, like H.R.586, which seeks to establish that life begins at the moment the sperm and egg collide in the woman’s uterus, are big red flags. Make a list of bills to keep an eye on.

The protesting crackdown is happening, and it is terrifying. While this isn’t in Maryland, it fits a larger pattern, and poses a threat to resistance movements across the country. Support social justice groups that are blocking this bill, call the ACLU and make sure they’re ready to take it on and watch your local legislature.  This ties directly into the next news item.

The Dakota Access Pipeline is back. Donald’s new administration wants to push it through. Since the building of the pipeline was stopped in early December, we’ve seen multiple oil spills from similar pipelines and it is highly likely that the pipeline builders are going to once again take aggressive tactics against the Standing Rock protesters. The bills mentioned above further suggest this. Here are some links you can use to support the resistance in South Dakota. Listen to the people there. Donate. Remember, online petitions have maybe 1% impact.

Finally, an answer to this week’s burning question--Is it okay to punch nazis?

Yes. Whenever possible.