Standing up for Democracy – Resistance Training for Everyone

Becca Kornet, Progressive Mass Western Norfolk County

Progressive Mass Western Norfolk County (PMWNC) recently held our first session of “Citizens Standing up for Democracy” in Medfield. The two hour in-person session was based on learnings from Rep. Pramila Jayapal(D/WA)’s Resistance Lab Training and Indivisible’s One Million Rising program. During the session, we:

  • Shared information about democratic backsliding, featuring Erica Chenoweth’s video essay “History and Practice of Nonviolent Resistance”
  • Reviewed the pillars that hold up an authoritarian regime (e.g., military, business, religion, education), and thought about how we are each connected to them
  • Explored the spectrum from opponents to allies, highlighting the importance of trying to move someone just one click toward allyship
  • Presented a range of tools and tactics (e.g., the Five R’s – reveal, redeem, reframe, redirect, and resist) that everyday people can use to stand up for democracy
  • Worked together to come up with ideas for how we could stand up for issues we care most about

Participants felt empowered to think about actions they could take as everyday citizens. They also felt hopeful because we had a strong sense of community in that room, with folks showing a lot of empathy and compassion for others. 

PMWNC’s is planning future sessions, which will to be relatively small (10-12 attendees max) and hyper-local (most all participants from the same town). We are continuing to build our list of interested folks and will be scheduling more sessions soon. Currently, we are planning additional sessions in Medfield, as well as sessions with participants from Norfolk, Millis, Franklin, Milford, Wrentham, and Foxboro. If you live in one of these towns or somewhere else in the area and would like to participate, please email ProgressiveMAWNC@gmail.com!

(Source of images: Pramila Jayapal’s ‘Resistance Lab Training’)

What Resistance Looks Like: A Progressive Mass Chapter’s Perspective

Jan Soma, Progressive Needham

Progressive Needham is pushing back against the dangerous overreach of the Trump administration by mobilizing supporters. We focused on resisting authoritarianism through non-cooperation in our September 2025 meetings. For example, we looked at ways we can all weaken the pillars that allow Trump to maintain power that Eric Chenoweth highlights in her book Civil Resistance.

Among the ideas generated:

    • Support MA bills/ballot questions that rise above current authoritarian policy (e.g., same day voting and immigration protections).  

    • Support labor unions. 

    • Encourage federal legislators to have public hearings that shine light on wrongdoing. 

    • Boycott companies that don’t share your values (note recent success with Disney/Jimmy Kimmel). 

    • Donate to organizations that sue to uphold laws that protect our democracy. 

    • Tell your alma mater that you want them to fight back against federal government extortion efforts. 

    • Support faith institutions that provide sanctuary for immigrants and reject the politicization of religious organizations. 

    • Encourage teachers to refuse federal government control over what they teach. 

    • Help elect pro-democracy candidates across the country. 

    • Support DEI

Karen Walker, who represented the Needham Area Immigration Justice Task Force, gave a presentation on how we can push back and protect immigrants who are being targeted by ICE. Action ideas to support immigrants are summarized here.

We also signed a letter from Progressive Massachusetts to thank Governor Healey for protecting vaccine access in Massachusetts.  

In this work, we join grassroots organizations, like Indivisible, from across the country and other Progressive Mass chapters across the state, in building support for spirited, nonviolent protests and actions.   

If you live in Needham, contact us here to get on Progressive Needham’s list. We’d love to see you at our next event! If you don’t live in Needham, find a local chapter near you here or contact chapters@progressivemass.com to learn how you could organize a chapter in your community.