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Indivisibles,

No Kings III now has a date: March 28. It’s going to be the largest
protest in American history, and the flagship event will be the largest in
Twin Cities history. 

But what’s the point of a protest, even an historically huge one? Last
week, we had our friend and social movement expert [ [link removed] ]Erica Chenoweth of
“3.5%” fame on What’s the Plan to discuss the logic of No Kings (you
should check out the new WTP podcast here -- like, share, etc, thanks). 

It’s easy to overplay or underplay the role of mass mobilizations. So
let’s review two strawman sides of the debate:

Argument A: Protests are the sole answer. Some folks think the “[ [link removed] ]3.5%
rule” means all we need is to get 11-12 million people to show up, and
suddenly fascism loses. Already with last year’s mobilization, Trump has
seen a string of electoral defeats, his poll numbers are in the toilet,
and his congressional coalition is fracturing. But as Chenoweth counsels:
That 3.5% has to be actively engaged in the work of opposition, before and
after national actions. One-day protests aren’t a magic solution to
fascism.

Argument B: Protests don’t work. Others discount protest entirely. Sure,
we saw protests hit historic levels last year. But then what have we seen
this year? Venezuela. Greenland. An amped-up secret police force murdering
people in the streets. If anything, the regime is escalating. As we
discussed with Chenoweth, while the regime is undeniably weakened,
weakened authoritarians lash out. We should expect more of that as the
walls close in on Trump -- it’s a sign of weakness, not strength.

Where does that leave us? 

Reality: Protests are a tactic. Think of organizing like this: goal,
strategy, tactics.  A campaign that starts with tactics is never gonna
accomplish much. A goal with no strategies or tactics is never gonna get
us where we want to go. So think in this order: goal, strategy, tactics.

* Our goal: Stop the fascist regime from consolidating its grip on
power.
* Our strategy: Organize overwhelming, nonviolent people power and
foster a culture of mass defiance.
* Our tactics: No Kings is one tactic, that fits into our strategy, and
aims to achieve our goal. Specifically, No Kings is designed to do
three things: 

 1. Model defiance on a national scale. Optimism in the face of fascism
is one of the most accessible forms of defiance. The regime’s plan is
to scare everyone into submission. But millions of people taking to
the streets calls the regime's bluff, and is a powerful display of
optimistic noncompliance.
 2. Create social proof that opposition is widespread. Humans are social
animals. We follow each other. A massive demonstration of popular
opposition helps reinforce that wherever you are, you’re not alone.
Courage is contagious, but it only spreads if people see it.
 3. Recruit folks who were not previously active. People-powered
movements depend on new people flooding into their local organizing
home. From ICE watch to mutual aid to advocacy to electoral work,
everyone starts somewhere, and each No Kings is the entry point for
millions to get involved beyond one day of protest. 

This is all important enough that Indivisible's throwing everything we
have into making No Kings III historically huge. I think that’s a good
investment of time, energy, and money. 

And I also know it's not enough. 

Where we’re headed. The people of the Twin Cities are showing us our
future. [ [link removed] ]The deep, daily neighborhood-by-neighborhood organizing is
breathtaking. It’s what it looks like when contagious courage becomes
endemic. 

There’s a big lesson there, and in [ [link removed] ]the regime’s sadistic response. This
regime doesn't intend to deescalate. It's going to ramp up attacks on our
communities while doing everything possible to subvert elections and hold
onto power. To defeat fascism, we're going to have to marry the breadth of
No Kings mobilizations with the depth of organizing we’re seeing in the
Twin Cities. 

Which is why I got downright emotional seeing the massive response to the
Eyes on ICE training Indivisible hosted with our No Kings Coalition
partners last week when 200,000 people showed up [ [link removed] ]to learn how to
observe and record ICE. Two days after Alex Pretti’s murder, and in
historic numbers, our neighbors are training to stand up for their rights,
just as Alex did, and just as Renee did, and just as countless Minnesotans
are doing now. 

We’re going to win. It’s going to take a lot more mobilizing and a lot
more training and a lot more organizing. But we’re going to win.

In solidarity,
Ezra Levin
Co-Executive Director, Indivisible

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Your weekly to-dos

 1. [ [link removed] ]Tell your Members of Congress: The DHS budget must halt ICE's
terror, and not hand it more money. Last week, the Senate blocked the
House’s Homeland Security appropriations bill that shoveled more money
into ICE and CBP while doing very little to stop these agencies’
abuses. Now, we have to keep up the pressure and demand that any bill
that replaces it enact ironclad policy accountability measures, and
doesn't add one penny more to ICE’s budget.
 2. [ [link removed] ]DC Indivisibles: Defend autonomy over our own budget:
Representative Brandon Gill (R-TX) and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) have
introduced bills in the House and Senate to block DC from using our
own local money to support children and families here in the district.
The Senate will be discussing the bill this week, so now’s the time to
make some noise. Visit the Free DC link above for info on a planning
call taking place tonight (Monday) and an in-person action on
Wednesday.
 4. [ [link removed] ]Join Tuesday's ICE OUT For Good Indivisible Phone Bank (3-5pm ET):
Senate Democrats met our first demand of no new DHS funding without
real restraints on ICE and CBP; now we need Republicans to listen to
their own constituents who are just as fed up with this brutal
lawlessness. Join us to call voters in key states and encourage them
to call their Republican senators about reining in ICE.
 5. [ [link removed] ]Join (and/or invite friends to join) Thursday's No Kings Coalition
Mass Call: Eyes on ICE (Feb. 5 8pm ET / 5pm PT): Learn how to
participate in ICE Watch efforts and nonviolently protect your
community from ICE and CBP thugs. If you attended the first training
last week -- the largest ICE Watch training ever -- invite two friends
to join this one. Let’s make it the new largest ICE Watch training
ever.

P.S. The Trump regime continues to escalate against our communities and
trample our rights, but Indivisibles remain on the frontlines of the fight
to defend our neighbors and our democracy. From nationwide nonviolent
mobilizations against ICE to gearing up for No Kings in March, our
defiance is everywhere, all the time. [ [link removed] ]If you can, please consider
chipping in to continue fueling our work.

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Haitian immigrants could be targeted by ICE this week

As of tomorrow, February 3, some 45,000 Haitian immigrants in central
Ohio, along with half a million across the country, will lose the
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) that's allowed them to live and work in
the US legally. TPS is granted to people arriving from crisis-affected
countries but the regime decided to pull the plug for several maliciously
targeted immigrant communities. And without TPS, every one of them will
instantly be at risk of deportation. 

The difference between Haitians in Ohio and those elsewhere is, of course,
that JD Vance and Trump himself spread a series of grotesque lies about
them in 2024, claims that – when asked if he'd "created" the story
-- [ [link removed] ]Vance said "Yes!", based on "accounts from constituents."

Now that community, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, and officials across the state
are bracing for a massive ICE and Border Patrol incursion. Organizers have
asked that we share ideas for how Indivisibles can support the Haitian
community in Ohio and elsewhere across the US. Here's what you can do to
help:

* [ [link removed] ]Support immigrant-led groups: Donate to and amplify organizations
like Haitian Bridge Alliance, a leader defending TPS.
* [ [link removed] ]Show up locally: Volunteer to accompany immigrants to court,
providing support, presence, and safety (After signing up, Haitian
Bridge Alliance will reach out if there are opportunities in your
area).
* Raise your voice publicly: Write an op-ed or letter to the editor
(LTE) to local media highlighting the urgency of protecting TPS and
the people it affects.  

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IndivisiWIN of the week

[15]Members of six Virginia Indivisible groups pose in the Capitol's
rotunda

 

On Wednesday January 28, six Indivisible groups from across Virginia
united for an ICE Out for Good Senate Day of Action to demand their
senators to vote no on any bill providing additional funding for DHS
unless it included [ [link removed] ]key demands to rein in ICE and Border Patrol.

"[Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner] say they're going to hold the line
on all of these things and try to negotiate for these measures," a
participant reported back. "They're right with us."

The groups then visited other senators' offices to deliver the ICE Out for
Good demands -- as well as a tally of just how many Indivisible chapters
and members each senator represents. Making sure they know we've got our
eyes on them – this is the way!

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Upcoming Events for you

These nationwide events, calls, and training sessions are coming up soon.
For even more Indivisible happenings, check our [ [link removed] ]national calendar and
get in touch with [ [link removed] ]Indivisible groups near you!

Happening This Week
 

[ [link removed] ]Tuesday: [ [link removed] ]ICE OUT For Good Indivisible Phone Bank (3-5pm ET)
Join us to call voters in key states and encourage them to call their
Republican senators to demand they rein in ICE’s terror tactics

[ [link removed] ]Thursday: “What’s the Plan?” with Leah + Ezra (3pm ET)
Our weekly interactive Q&A with our co-founders and executive directors
Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin. 

[ [link removed] ]Thursday: No Kings Coalition Mass Call: Eyes on ICE (8-9pm ET)
Learn how to participate in a local ICE watch and know your rights when
recording and monitoring law enforcement.

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