Fighting Fascism: Support Those Doing the Good Work

By Jessie Seigel / April 2, 2025

This Saturday, April 5, there will be peaceful protests all around the nation, coordinated by Indivisible and other organizations representing a plethora of varied concerns, but a unified message: "Hands off our democracy!" 

It is good to see so many citizens of this country finally wake up, stand up, and use their first amendment right under the Constitution to speak out against the Trump regime's tyranny.

However, although rallies and protests are a necessary part of the battle to retrieve our democracy, they alone will not be sufficient. And simply managing to get more Democrats elected to Congress in 2026 will also not be enough if Donald Trump and his cronies complete their illegal power-grab--which could occur within the next several months if the courts will not or cannot stop it. 

Those who would prevent or reverse this must not merely be reactive but proactive. We must back political leaders who will not only find creative ways to oppose and obstruct Trump's attacks on democracy but anticipate the moves of Trump's Project 2025 backers in order to thwart them. The anticipation part should not be that difficult since so many of their moves have been laid out in Project 2025.

Nevertheless, retrieving democracy is going to be a long struggle. This Project 2025 coup has been decades in the planning and in its set-up for the fast-moving consolidation of power Trump and his cronies are now perpetrating. 

Among the many ways citizens can provide support, one is by contributing funds to organizations and leaders who are truly fighting the fight. If your inbox is flooded, as is mine, with pleas for contributions from every liberal organization under the sun, your reaction may range from bewilderment at the variety to annoyance or, ultimately, disgust at the number--leaving you wishing they would just STOP.

In addition, the Trump regime's wanton firing of federal workers; looming threats to social security, Medicare, and Medicaid; and tariff games causing repeated huge falls in the stock market is creating a tremendous sense of financial insecurity. Many may feel, quite rightfully, that they need to conserve funds for their own survival, not contribute them to political causes. I will not use this space to urge readers to do so. 

But if you feel able and are inclined to donate to organizations or candidates, it would be most effective to contribute to those that are on the front lines of fighting against the Trump machine.

At the top of that list is Democracy Forward, which won many, many lawsuits against Trump in 2020, and is staunchly continuing to fight his administration in court now. To read about this organization and Marc Elias, the chair of its Board, click here. 

Also at the top of that list are the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State (DASS) and the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA). State secretaries of state have an immense influence on the fairness of elections. And given that Pam Bondi, the current attorney general of the United States, is a shill for Trump, state attorneys general may now be the main protectors of citizen and non-citizen rights.

And then there is the American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU) Immigrant Rights Project. Protecting immigrants' rights to due process preserves those rights for every American citizen and non-citizen.

In working to gain a needed majority in Congress, it is also important to keep all Democrats in office, including current centrists. That said, now is not the time for the bipartisanship that Democratic centrists are prone to. And when donating to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), one is relinquishing control of one's funds, letting those committees decide which candidates will receive financial support. 

For those who favor ensuring a robust opposition, it may make more sense to contribute to organizations like Leaders We Deserve, founded by gun safety activist David Hogg and Kevin Lata. This organization has been backing younger candidates with some success. Its organizers are young in years but appear mature in purpose and approach.

It also makes sense to donate directly to politicians who are speaking up vociferously against the Trump regime's harmful and illegal actions. Among these are senators Chris Murphy (Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Jon Ossoff (Ga.), Patty Murray (WA), Adam Schiff (Cal.), Ruben Gallego (AZ) Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) and, most recently, 

Cory Booker(NJ).

Within the last few months, the Democratic minority leader in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, required all Democratic representatives to hold town hall meetings in their districts. Some have been holding such town halls not only in their own districts, but in districts held by Republican representatives who have refused to show up and face the constituents who voted for them. That is creativity. 

In addition, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have been holding rallies in far-flung red states, showing people what real populism is.

These are only some examples of those doing the good work. There are others. Look for them. Support them--if only by calling or writing to express appreciation and encourage them.

For all going to the April 5 protests, stay peaceful. And for those braving the belly of the beast; that is, protesting in the nation's capital: stay safe.