Resistance 2026
Every generation reaches a point where silence becomes a kind of surrender. The No Kings March, with an estimated seven million people standing up for democracy, was a reminder that we haven’t reached that point yet. But the questions that followed were just as important as the march itself. One person wrote in response to photos posted on social media, “Wake me up when you’re ready to do something about ICE.” In The Atlantic, George Packer cited the protests favorably but also wondered whether “sporadic” protests could reasonably sustain an effective political movement.
We shouldn’t ignore the negativity when people question the efficacy of the protests or, worse, see them as nothing more than a way to feel virtuous. Rather than dismiss those doubts, we can explain exactly why we show up, what these actions represent, and what they can realistically achieve.
The No Kings March served as an idea. One that united every single American who was there physically or in spirit. An idea that screams, we are not a monarchy. We fought a revolution to end tyranny, and we are united to do the same once again: not with guns, we aren’t idiots, but through nonviolent collective action, boycotts, and small acts of resistance.
Massive, state‑by‑state, city‑by‑city, town‑by‑town protests like No Kings forge a resistance that aims to change the status quo but those changes take time. Their impact isn’t only measured in policy shifts. They send a signal to the world around us: tiny sparks in dark places, proof that we are not complacent and that we refuse to accept the slide toward authoritarianism. Just as importantly, these marches create internal shifts. We learn what broad solidarity feels like. We see images of people across the country and feel that instant, electric connection: the “I am not alone” moment. We rediscover the power of nonviolent First Amendment action, straighten our spines, lift our voices, and assert moral principles against the nihilism of the MAGA regime. Walking side by side redirects our shared despair and gives us something rare these days: hope.
The success of the No Kings March can be measured by the amount of engagement that continues on after the cameras stop rolling.
I don’t know about you, but I struggle with the idea that living in a blue state means there simply isn’t much do. But national movements depend on infrastructure, culture, and momentum. And when you think about what’s really happening right now, it isn’t about political parties. It’s about our very survival as a country. It’s about the rich versus all the rest of us.
And from where I sit, I can see that we have all the power. We just need to realize it. Living in a blue state doesn’t exempt us from responsibility; it gives us a different kind of responsibility.
In November 2025, there were calls for Black Friday boycotts and they weren’t as successful as I’d hoped, but there was an impact. There was also a showing of symbolic power in visibility, solidarity, and proving that consumers can collectively resist corporate and political influence. While Black Friday was sadly successful for businesses in spite of the call to boycott, specific companies being targeted have been showing large sales declines in 2025.
With the growing number of people living below the poverty level, corporations are going to start seeing even bigger declines. We can help speed up the decline by “solidarity spending”.
What I mean by that is, even if you can afford to buy unnecessary items change your habits so that you direct your money towards co-ops, thrift stores, community businesses. I know we pay a bit more to shop at the local hardware store than to go to Home Depot, but I’m making a commitment to shop locally as much as possible. But more importantly, to only purchase what I truly need. And when I have to purchase something online, I will look for options outside of Amazon.
It’s been said that a rising tide raises all boats. But what about the ones who have no boats? When the water rises, there is no high ground, and we find out that the best way to stay afloat is to hold each other up. Together we can make a metaphorical raft. There’s no compass, no captain but the raft stays afloat until it finds solid earth. We can then walk away but carry with us the memory of how we held each other above the rushing waters.
We can survive this. Don’t eat the rich, starve the rich.
Everyday Resistance Practices
• Strengthening local civic institutions UU congregations, libraries, mutual aid groups that are the backbone of democratic culture.
• Supporting local journalism Even a single subscription or donation keeps watchdogs alive.
• Showing up to city council or school board meetings Not glamorous, but incredibly influential.
• Building cross political relationships Not to convert, but to prevent dehumanization, which is the soil authoritarianism grows in.
• Practicing visible solidarity Yard signs, letters to the editor, public statements, they normalize dissent and reduce fear.
• Training in de-escalation and bystander intervention small towns need people who can keep conflict from becoming violence.
• Supporting vulnerable neighbors quietly and consistently Resistance is also mutual care.
• Keeping pressure on state level representatives Even in blue states, policy can drift without constituent engagement.
• Sustaining your own hope and stamina Burnout is a political outcome. Rest is resistance.