Deeds Not Words

It's Time for Action

The sign says it all: Democracy is in danger. It’s only too late if we don’t start now.

At first, I thought the protest had fizzled. It was supposed to be a big rally, but I got to the NYS Capitol Building early (I’m a nut about being early) and there were three people with signs, looking pathetic, shivering on a streetcorner. I walked around to the back of the huge Capitol building, and nothing, just a few people hurrying by, heads down, on their way to lunch. I really feared that everyone had given up, accepted the hopelessness of doing anything.

And then—it was really a scene out of a movie, Norma Rae or something—I heard voices chanting in the distance. The sound grew louder and louder. And then around the corner came a stream of people carrying signs, waving flags, chanting: Tell me what democracy looks like? This is what democracy looks like!

There were seniors in well-worn pussy hats. There were college kids. There were people in wheelchairs. On one side of me was a white-bearded veteran with a cane. On the other was a young lady with pink hair livestreaming on TikTok. Hundreds of people showed up. And it was cold—I mean freezing, wind chill about ten degrees. But people showed up, angry and organized and determined to stand up, for all of us. I think we all realize what’s at stake if Musk and Trump aren’t stopped now, before they build up any more momentum.

After the rally at the Capitol, the crowd went on to Senator Schumer’s office to demand more aggressive pushback in Congress. A few people met with his staff, many more stood outside. This was organized through excellent local organizations like Progressive Schenectady and Bethlehem Indivisible.

So how to find out about ways to get involved in actions like this? Indivisible is a national organization that got started in 2016, and they’re back in business for Trump 2.0, bigtime. They’re aggressively and effectively organizing grassroots support.

Indivisible has a network of local organizations all across the country. Once you’re hooked up with a local group you can find out what’s happening: dates, times, locations for protests, rallies, phonebanks, fundraisers, whatever. Being on the mailing list of a group clues you in to all those details that make for a successful event—where to park, changes due to weather, what to bring, what to look out for.

The rally at the Capitol happened at state capitals across the nation. Here’s what it looked like in Denver, Colorado. (Thanks to Gage Evans for the photo.)

Cynics will point out that when hundreds, even thousands of people show up, it’s just a tiny percentage of the population. But that small group that’s willing to get up and go out and make some noise makes a huge difference. These protests are on local news, on podcasts, on Instagram and Bluesky and Facebook, on national news. Their reach is exponential.

“Deeds not words” was the motto of the long-ago suffragettes. They were pissed and organized and determined, too, and they had the right idea, I think. Just complaining to each other, or ignoring the bad stuff, or posting predictions of doom on social media, will get us nowhere.

Tell me what democracy looks like.

Dear Friends,

Are you worried about the state of the world and wondering what to do about it? I hope you’ll continue to check out The Optimistic Activist.

Every now and then I post some ideas for doing something. How to get out the vote, spread the word, and support progressive candidates. Ideas for simple but effective activism. As easy, as practical, as do-able as I can make them.

Together, I think, we can really make a difference.

“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future.”

--Noam Chomsky