Dear John,
As Americans mark Independence Day today, three recent developments have revealed the growing sophistication and persistence of grassroots resistance to Donald Trump's second-term authoritarian project - and given me hope that democracy will prevail. From packed town halls to mass protests and creative legal strategies, these movements demonstrate the true depth of democratic erosion but also the resilience of civil society in responding to it.
** 1. THE TOWN HALL UPRISING
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For me, the most striking development has been an unprecedented surge in ordinary citizens demanding face-to-face accountability from their representatives. Across the country, town halls have drawn crowds of 300-400 people, with majorities expressing fierce opposition to Trump administration policies. The phenomenon reached such intensity that in March, Republican leadership advised House members to abandon in-person town halls altogether due to the "wave of angry backlash."
When representatives began avoiding these traditional democratic forums, citizens weren’t deterred. They simply organised "empty chair" town halls, placing photographs of absent representatives on stage whilst proceeding to voice their concerns anyway. From New York to Montana to Alaska, these events have allowed constituents to discuss Social Security cuts, Medicare reductions, and Trump's approach to Russia despite their representatives' cowardly absence.
This represents a significant evolution from Trump's first term. Unlike the more organised protests of 2017-2021, this movement appears genuinely organic, emerging from constituent anger rather than coordinated campaigns. The fact that Republican leadership felt compelled to advise members to avoid these foundational elements of democratic representation reveals the depth of public opposition.
** 2. THE ‘NO KINGS’ MOVEMENT
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On 14 June - Flag Day (when Americans honour the national flag as a symbol of freedom, unity, and patriotism) and Trump's 79th birthday - millions of Americans participated in what organisers called the largest coordinated protests since the start of his second administration. The "No Kings" protests occurred in over 2,000 locations across all 50 states, deliberately timed to counter Trump's military parade marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
The protests adopted the slogan "No thrones. No crowns. No Kings" to explicitly reject Trump’s authoritarian overreach. Whilst confrontations occurred in Los Angeles, where Trump had deployed the National Guard against the governor's wishes, most protests remained peaceful, with participants waving American flags and carrying signs critical of administration policies.
The geographic spread - from major cities to small towns - indicates that opposition to Trump's authoritarian tendencies has penetrated beyond traditional Democrat strongholds. The involvement of mainstream organisations including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), trade unions, and over 150 progressive groups indicated a broad coalition of resistance rather than a radical fringe movement.
** 3. CREATIVE LEGAL RESISTANCE
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Perhaps most significantly, civil society has demonstrated remarkable adaptability following a concerning Supreme Court ruling in June. The Court's 6-3 decision in *Trump v. CASA, Inc.* eliminated federal judges' ability to issue universal injunctions - previously a key tool for halting unconstitutional executive actions nationwide.
Within hours of the ruling, civil rights organisations pivoted with impressive speed and creativity. The ACLU and other groups immediately refiled their lawsuits as class actions in Maryland and New Hampshire, attempting to achieve the same broad protection through different legal mechanisms. Legal experts began developing multiple workarounds: coordinated lawsuits across different jurisdictions, three-judge panels for certain challenges, and use of state courts where different rules might apply.
This intelligent and rapid response demonstrates that whilst the Court has made resistance more difficult, civil society had anticipated such setbacks and prepared contingency strategies. The fact that multiple pathways for resistance remain open suggests that whilst executive power has expanded, it has not achieved complete immunity from judicial oversight.
** IMPLICATIONS FOR UK DEMOCRACY
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These developments offer crucial lessons for those of us here in the UK engaged in defending democracy. The sophistication of American resistance - right through from grassroots organising to high-level legal strategy - shows that when democratic institutions are threatened, ordinary people WILL innovate and persist even when traditional avenues are closed off.
Open Britain supporters know more than anyone that the UK faces its own democratic challenges: the distorting effects of first-past-the-post, dark money flowing through legal loopholes, and disinformation undermining public discourse. The American experience demonstrates both the fragility of democratic norms and the potential for creative resistance when those norms come under assault.
As the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections has documented, trust in British politics has reached historic lows, with fundamental reforms urgently needed to restore legitimacy. The American resistance movements show that whilst authoritarian pressures can close traditional democratic channels, they also catalyse new forms of civic engagement and accountability. That is why we continue to build links with our friends in US democracy campaigns.
For British democrats, the lesson is clear: defending democracy requires both institutional reform and sustained grassroots mobilisation. The creativity and persistence demonstrated across the Atlantic provide both warning and inspiration for Open Britain’s work ahead.
Happy Independence Day!
Mark Kieran
CEO, Open Britain
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