Trump is President again, now what? It is a grim picture, no matter which way you color it. However, do not remain idle and let the disaster artist paint whatever he wants. We have the power to fight back. And while a general strike or a Civil Rights Era-type protest march to DC would be effective, those are daunting tasks to take on yourself. If you feel up to it go for it, but in the meantime, I would like to offer a few things you can do right now.
To start, get involved in local politics. The federal government will not help us and will be a barrier to progress.
In Minneapolis every city council seat is up for reelection, as well as the mayor. Consider volunteering for one of their campaigns. If you aren’t in Minneapolis see what is happening where you live. For most city councils in Minnesota attendance and resident engagement is low. A well-thought-out email, phone call, or speech at a city meeting will make a bigger impact than you might realize.
Are you passionate about LGBTQ+ or immigration issues? Push your municipal government to make a commitment to protect their rights. Start a Pride celebration if your city doesn’t have one. Connect with immigration resource centers like Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC).
Environmental regulations are in Trump’s crosshairs, so local resources must be invested in eco-friendly projects. Organize your neighbors to demand expanded access to public transit and other transportation options that don’t require gas-powered vehicles. Charging stations, bike lanes, and sidewalks are great options that most cities are capable of adding.
Maybe you have concerns about capitalism’s inherent tendency towards monopolization and want to encourage more small businesses and cooperatives. Zoning changes, new developments, and many other items related to the commercial sector go through the planning commission. Consider attending with your neighbors to voice any concerns about new consolidations of local corporate power. Depending on the city, you could even serve on a commission!
So all that is well and good, but most of us have day jobs and can’t commit to municipal politicking all the time. Is our duel against Trump only a nights and weekends gig? Of course not! As some federal public sector unions have shown, organized workplaces are at the front lines of the class war between us and the billionaire-in-chief.
If you are in a union but have been meaning to get more involved, now is the time. Don’t have a union yet? Start organizing your workplace. Talk to your co-workers about their working conditions. Put together house parties, or trips to the bowling alley. Grab lunch as a group. Get to know one another and elevate their class consciousness.
Do your coworkers like talking about celebrity gossip? Tell them you heard through the grapevine that union members make more money and have better benefits (including pensions!) than their non-union counterparts. You can add that the real scandal is all of that is extra true for women and people of color, and extra extra true for women of color.
The labor movement has been more active than in recent memory. Watch for worker actions locally and show your support by attending rallies, pickets, or strikes. Community support is an effective way to put pressure on greedy bosses. It also helps uplift the spirits of workers when they need it the most. They’ll be grateful for your presence.
I realize that this is all a lot to keep track of and a lot to ask of one person. Fortunately, many groups in the metro area have their hands in all the areas I’ve outlined. One group is the Twin Cities chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (TCDSA). For a number of years, they have been active in local politics and the labor movement here. No matter what progressive policies motivate you there is someone in TCDSA organizing around it and they’d love for you to join.
At the very least, please do not isolate yourself. The capitalist class wants you to feel politically powerless so you turn to the market for pseudo-empowerment via cheap commodities and entertainment. Don’t be fooled or discouraged. If we stick together through solidarity and community engagement we will be able to overcome four years of Trump. Hell, we did it once already, and, by the end, we’ll be stronger than when we started.