Election results are still coming in. What if . . . . ? Here’s a list of local and national coalitions that are training people on how to prepare for whatever may happen, and making plans to take whatever action is needed to defend democracy on Election Day and after
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Choose Democracy, many dates
www.choosedemocracy.us
A group of longtime scholars, trainers, and leaders of nonviolent direct action. They have a four-point pledge for people to sign – basically to resist a coup – and a lot of material on their website drawn from studies of many other countries — successful and unsuccessful efforts to topple dictators. They do online trainings drawing from these examples.
Choose Democracy trainings: How to Beat an Election-Related Power Grab
Many dates, advance registration
https://choosedemocracy.us/trainings/#.X5EMeVllB-E
Working Families Party, October 28
The Working Families Party is part of a coalition including “Black Lives Matter leaders, organized labor, progressive groups and members of the House Democratic ‘Squad,’” which recently unveiled a progressive agenda to push for after the election. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/08/progressive-agenda-2021-joe-biden-427673
The Working Families Party hosts this agenda, called The People’s Charter, on its website.
They’re holding a teach-in on The Game Plan: Election and Beyond, on October 28
Protect the Results, November 4
“We are building a coalition of voters ready to mobilize if Donald Trump refuses to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election” The coalition includes many important progressive organizations.
https://protecttheresults.com/
Demonstrations across the country Nov 4: “Count Every Vote” (before declaring results of the election)
Common Cause Count Every Vote
Petition to state election officials
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/dont-rush-count-every-last-vote-this-november/
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
Bay Resistance
Coalition/network of local progressive organizations working together to plan local actions. You can “pledge to defend democracy,” sign up to get text alerts, and make other specific commitments
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/stop-fascism-defend-democracy
They are also doing trainings on how to prepare
Oct 25th 5pm – Organizing 101/Building an affinity group: https://bit.ly/37wrU11
Oct 27th 5pm – Nonviolent Direct Action: https://bit.ly/3oiPUe4
East Point Peace Academy, October 25- Nov. 3
“an organization dedicated to spreading the teachings of Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation”
Many trainings and events to prepare for whatever the election may bring:
https://www.eastpointpeace.org/calendar
Every day in the week leading up to the election and on Election Day (October 25 – Nov.3) the East Point Peace Academy will gather 4 – 6 PM at Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th and Broadway, Oakland, with a different theme each day. Find out more here
Street mural painting, October 29, 3- 6 PM: One of these gatherings will paint a pre-election street mural honoring life and building a vision celebrating what Democracy could actually look like. More info here
Jewish Youth for Community Action, Kehilla Synagogue, 1000 Grandmothers for Future Generations, and GreenFaith, October 29
How to Prepare for an Attempted Coup: An Intergenerational Training
Thursday, October 29, 7-9pm, via Zoom
PAMPHLETS
Stopping the Coup: The Disruption Guide 2020
No authors or sponsoring organizations listed but recommended by Bay Resistance
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WtDZYQ7Q-PUhxhv8VuRVfeD7q3DSpthktlYD-nx4pSc/edit
Hold the Line: A Guide to Defending Democracy
Written by longtime scholars, trainers, and practitioners of nonviolent direct action, recommended by Choosing Democracy
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J_9qWY5Oyk0NndSqzFVcGDbPDIMnccnsuRd34Vt0paE/edit
AND ANOTHER ARTICLE
From Choose Democracy: What’s the Game Plan If Trump Really Does Try to Steal the Election?