Refuse the theatre. Step back from the frame. Move with purpose. (A short-form 'strategy-only version' will follow tomorrow — for those who prefer a clear plan without the background.)
The idea of this being a trap or an excuse to impose martial law has crossed my mind quite often. I am protesting everyday in the small ways mentioned here. But it’s starting to feel like it’s not enough.
I can’t help but think of the first lesson of Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Don’t obey in advance. Skipping out on this protest sort of feels like that to me.
I get that, and I'm not here to try to sway you either way — that decision should be yours, and yours alone.
But 'On Tyranny' was written in 2017, and much has changed since then. Not least the fact that Timothy Snyder — for whom I have the greatest respect — no longer lives in the US.
As this article states: "We should take that seriously: Snyder, Shore, and Stanley are not retreating from a fight but building new spaces for freedom—spaces they fear the United States can no longer sustain—and their departure is not a condemnation but a diagnosis, accompanied by a clear prescription: wake up."
Absolutely — I didn’t mean to suggest On Tyranny is out of date in terms of relevance. If anything, it feels more urgent now than when it was published. I just meant that the lens Snyder was writing through in 2017 couldn’t fully account for how much the landscape has shifted, especially when it comes to technology. We’re now facing threats that may have moved even faster and further than he could reasonably have foreseen. So yes, I completely agree: the conditions have caught up to the warnings, and in some ways, then some.
I completely understand — it’s bittersweet. But at the same time, it may help quash the moral argument you’ve been having with yourself, help you look at this through a clearer lens, and take the action that best leaves you with voice intact for the future.
The 50501 Movement is planning to explicitly avoid protesting in DC to not add to the parade crowd that could be spun as "support." They will be protesting everywhere else they normally do instead. But this is also a good reason to skip DC this time.
For June 14, Indivisible is taking the same approach as the 50501 movement in explicitly avoiding DC. I'm not aware of the situation on the ground in those areas that are within 100 miles of the border, however.
My Fairfax (VA - Metro DC) Indivisible group is doing a Visibility Brigade on the overpasses near the city. That should raise some awareness without putting ourselves in harm's way.
Caution is wise, but we can't get soooo cautious, driven by fear, that we don't raise awareness. Of course, there are many ways other than protest that effectively oppose this regime. We need to use the full range of tools and get creative with our toolbelt! New and unusual is what gets press attention.
We literally need to be willing to put our lives on the line. I am a 74-year-old white woman. I will definitely be protesting and marching. I represent a very “safe“ group, I realize that. Old white women generally are not looked at as threats. But I will place my body in front of someone who I feel is vulnerable, particularly in the queer community.
The Overton Window isn't just moving; the Overton Window itself is being defenestrated. (Which is to say: anything goes. If we haven't learned that by now, then we really haven't been paying attention.)
My takeaway from this piece is: look how far and how fast things have changed. Many of these things will likely not come to pass on June 14th. Not just yet. The point is (if I can take the liberty of interpreting) they are ON THE TABLE. For a future date. Plan accordingly.
Personally, I am taking a step back. The cognitive dissonance between my Inbox and the media is mind-boggling. I need to get a handle on that. I need "long thought/time" (which you, Lori, provide) not impulsive reactions which, even with trying to manage the torrent of information, has turned me, at least, as twitchy as a gerbil in a conditioning maze.
The rallies (been at three so far) were initially heartening—community, like-mindedness. (With the unfortunate reintroduction of songs from The Great Folk Music Scare of the mid-60s. Please, I am BEGGING, remove "If I Had A Hammer" from the playlist. And while we're at it, the answer is NOT blowing in the wind.)
I felt every word of that, John — and yes, you’ve absolutely got the heart of it. The point I was trying to land is: it’s not that all of this will happen on June 14th, it’s that it’s now within the realm of possibility. And that shift alone is something we really need to register.
Stepping back makes sense. The dissonance is real, and I think many of us are feeling that same twitchy, overstimulated state you described — I know I do. This moment asks for long thought and clear sight, not reflexive action, and if your post ends up being “I’ve got to think this through,” I’d say that’s one of the most honest and useful things you could share right now. I look forward to reading it.
Also, for what it’s worth: I fully support a moratorium on “If I Had a Hammer.”
In any other time the above advice would be considered paranoia. It is a damn shame that we have to be this aware of how to use our voices legally to protect our personal and professional futures. Thank you for the advice
You're welcome Marie, and I agree — it felt like paranoia when I was researching it. But the facts stack up, and can't be disputed. So now we adapt and move forward.
All good advice, I have but one note. Instead of trying to memorize a “legal support number”, write it or any emergency contact number with a sharpie on your arm, in case things go sideways. Of course I won’t carry my phone (I don’t have any numbers in my head). Otherwise - have good courage, being prepared, physically and mentally is half the battle.
Also - there are many protests planned for D-Day June 6th, a Friday, by 50501vets - Defend the Constitution. (Not just for veterans, all are welcome)
I would love to see crowd sizes that put tRump’s display to shame.
Thank you! I’m saving this article and just subscribed. The recent clash between conservative protesters and pro-LGBTQ counter protestors in Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park has a lot of us in Seattle on edge. Seattle can get pretty explosive with protests, so I was feeling a little wary about joining the ones on June 14th.
I’m a (liberal, sometimes dissenting) Catholic and was thinking of tuning into Pope Leo’s World Youth address instead. The Pope’s popularity clearly riles Trump, so it might be a solid resistance move for non-Catholics, too:
Excellent information and detailed with meaningful choices and actions we can choose. Honestly, I am not attending any event in the DC area. I have signed up for a Miami protest, where the cops, somewhat surprisingly, were extremely courteous at my last event in April. Now, however, it seems something is rotten in Denmark. And a jingoistic parade, as Trump's birthday present, spells danger with ulterior motives. The tanks on the streets are his "perfect" display of real America and many will fall for it. Protesters will be labeled as "radical leftists" on this "beautiful day." In other words, sub human. This just could be a set up for the BIG EVENT. Something that will make Jan. 6 look like a picnic.
Your decision to avoid DC and go to Miami seems wise. When we recognise the playbook, we can choose not to play the role being scripted for us. That’s not retreat, but discernment. Holding your ground doesn’t always mean standing in the most obvious place.
The most powerful thing we can all do is unplug our routers and power off our phones and computers for the day. That way even the bots can't help falsify the amount of attention they get.
Thank you for this information.
I wish there was some way to make sure not one actual protester shows up in the danger zones but you know they will still have their paid actors regardless and while I'm fine with them suffering the consequences of their decision, I'm not ok with being misrepresented.
This is going to be the worst birthday of my 52 year life. Fucking twat.
I'm sorry Diane, and I do understand. It scared me when researching it — but I know that forewarned is forearmed, and we can only respond strategically when we know what we're up against. That's why I shared it.
I needed to pause, and step away after publishing it. That pause has helped me reorient and rebalance, so I'm ready to step up and do whatever needs done, once again. I'd suggest you do the same, and take as long as you need. Self care is the foundation of resistance.
PS. If you haven't got a rebalancing strategy, I've written a few resilience posts. You can find them by scrolling down the YTSN homepage. 🙏
I love the banner idea. Outside the risk zone. Maybe ones that say “parade cancelled.” Isn’t the best protest of this particular event just staying home? If no one shows, the posturing and baiting is lost.
The comment about visibility becoming an issue down the track is true- I know I have an ASIO file, I obtained some of it under FOI. Nothing serious, known to attend marches, politically active, pretty low level.
I went to renew my ESTA after a new security agreement, and it took five days to clear. I’m honestly surprised it came through at all. I know my Australian files were viewed by the US, as well as social media scrapes. This is far reaching and follows you.
Exercise your rights at all times, but know where it can lead.
Consider going...with a camera and notebook. Don't protest...just observe quietly and document. In between the harmless tourists, you will see MAGA with all their usual decorations - Proud Boy uniforms, antisemitic signs, etc. Take selfies with them in the background; write down their names if you overhear them. Then get to a laptop and post like mad. Expose the noxious Trumpers who, in their day-to-day lives, pretend to be reasonable people. Call them out by name if you can determine their names, humiliating them into better behavior. No violence, no lawbreaking - just holding idiots accountable for their efforts to destroy democracy.
I appreciate your article’s advice at times, but overall it comes off as being quite paranoid, and as such, has the very real potential to scare many less experienced activists within The Resistance from acting all together. Self-censoring is the worse thing our movement can do right now (see “On Tyranny”, Snyder, 2017). We need to be building our Resistance movement, and Substack authors like yourself have the platform to be motivating others, not scaring them (see “On Tyranny”, #20: Be as courageous as you can.).
Thanks for your input Robin — we may not agree, but the conversation is important. May I refer you to my answer to similar points raised by a previous commenter:
'On Tyranny' was written in 2017, and much has changed since then. Not least the fact that Timothy Snyder — for whom I have the greatest respect — no longer lives in the US.
As this article states: "We should take that seriously: Snyder, Shore, and Stanley are not retreating from a fight but building new spaces for freedom—spaces they fear the United States can no longer sustain—and their departure is not a condemnation but a diagnosis, accompanied by a clear prescription: wake up."
Thanks for your response and a platform for discussion! My interpretation of your response is that Snyder et al’s departure demonstrates how bad things are in the USA, and as such, supports the caution your article promotes and the apprehension exhibited in its tone. Is that correct?
You're welcome! We're on the same team with the same goals — we just have different opinions on how to achieve them, that’s all. 😊
I first wrote a few advisory pieces on protesting 'safely' about three months ago. At the time, I assumed there wasn’t much to worry about in the US. But as I dug in, I learned about the surveillance infrastructure that’s been in place since the Occupy Wall Street days. That led me to write Why You Shouldn't Bring Your Phone to a Protest in the US. Then I decided to dig deeper.
I spent about seven weeks researching what’s happened to protest rights in other authoritarian regimes, and what’s currently unfolding in countries with once-open civic space, like the UK and Germany. I was so stunned by what I found that I felt a duty of care to share it. That became a two-part series: The Six Stage Playbook for Silencing Protest That’s Underway in the US. I want to be clear — I wrestled with myself before publishing it. I knew it might deter people from speaking out. But I felt strongly that people deserve the chance to make an informed choice.
Which brings me to this piece. I looked into the setup in DC around the parade, and what the wider implications might be for protestors. I laid it all out to help readers understand the context — and to explain why I was offering alternative strategies. There’s a very fine line between informing and deterring, but I did my absolute best to tread it. If I didn’t strike the right balance, I apologise. If you read the other pieces (which are free), I hope you’ll get a better sense of where I’m coming from — and that this isn’t about paranoia.
Lastly, I haven’t read On Tyranny (though I’ve lived through something similar in Zimbabwe). An earlier reader had been debating whether to protest, and quoted TS’s first lesson — Don’t obey in advance — then said, “Skipping out on this protest sort of feels like that to me.” So I looked up On Tyranny to better understand the reference, and found the article I shared. I passed it along to him — as with you — in the spirit of supporting people’s right to make their own choices. Timothy Snyder made his. I respect that.
Agreed. The numbers here https://generalstrikeus.com/ are telling. We're adding +/- 1,000 per day, but at that rate, it'll take 29 years to reach the 3% of the population we need. Unacceptable.
The idea of this being a trap or an excuse to impose martial law has crossed my mind quite often. I am protesting everyday in the small ways mentioned here. But it’s starting to feel like it’s not enough.
I can’t help but think of the first lesson of Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Don’t obey in advance. Skipping out on this protest sort of feels like that to me.
I get that, and I'm not here to try to sway you either way — that decision should be yours, and yours alone.
But 'On Tyranny' was written in 2017, and much has changed since then. Not least the fact that Timothy Snyder — for whom I have the greatest respect — no longer lives in the US.
As this article states: "We should take that seriously: Snyder, Shore, and Stanley are not retreating from a fight but building new spaces for freedom—spaces they fear the United States can no longer sustain—and their departure is not a condemnation but a diagnosis, accompanied by a clear prescription: wake up."
https://davisvanguard.org/2025/05/1st-professor-exits-usa-turkey/
I don’t agree that anything in “On Tyranny” is out of date, in fact, I might believe the opposite.
Our current conditions and trajectory—entirely predictable—have moved to meet the warnings.
Absolutely — I didn’t mean to suggest On Tyranny is out of date in terms of relevance. If anything, it feels more urgent now than when it was published. I just meant that the lens Snyder was writing through in 2017 couldn’t fully account for how much the landscape has shifted, especially when it comes to technology. We’re now facing threats that may have moved even faster and further than he could reasonably have foreseen. So yes, I completely agree: the conditions have caught up to the warnings, and in some ways, then some.
Exactly! Every single thing Snyder predicted in that book has now come to fruition.
…or well on the way (and predictable, my actual point).
Apologies to Lori, of course. Excellent writing.
No apology needed John!
Wow. Thanks for the article. I am glad people like Snyder will be able to continue their work safely, yet stung (in so many ways) as well by the loss.
I completely understand — it’s bittersweet. But at the same time, it may help quash the moral argument you’ve been having with yourself, help you look at this through a clearer lens, and take the action that best leaves you with voice intact for the future.
The 50501 Movement is planning to explicitly avoid protesting in DC to not add to the parade crowd that could be spun as "support." They will be protesting everywhere else they normally do instead. But this is also a good reason to skip DC this time.
Good advice — especially as there are many more reasons not to protest in DC this time.
https://substack.com/@loricorbetmann/p-164405788
For June 14, Indivisible is taking the same approach as the 50501 movement in explicitly avoiding DC. I'm not aware of the situation on the ground in those areas that are within 100 miles of the border, however.
My Fairfax (VA - Metro DC) Indivisible group is doing a Visibility Brigade on the overpasses near the city. That should raise some awareness without putting ourselves in harm's way.
Caution is wise, but we can't get soooo cautious, driven by fear, that we don't raise awareness. Of course, there are many ways other than protest that effectively oppose this regime. We need to use the full range of tools and get creative with our toolbelt! New and unusual is what gets press attention.
Absolutely, Karen — you’re speaking my language. 🙌
We literally need to be willing to put our lives on the line. I am a 74-year-old white woman. I will definitely be protesting and marching. I represent a very “safe“ group, I realize that. Old white women generally are not looked at as threats. But I will place my body in front of someone who I feel is vulnerable, particularly in the queer community.
Maggie, I just love you for your strength and determination — thank you. 🙏
The Overton Window isn't just moving; the Overton Window itself is being defenestrated. (Which is to say: anything goes. If we haven't learned that by now, then we really haven't been paying attention.)
My takeaway from this piece is: look how far and how fast things have changed. Many of these things will likely not come to pass on June 14th. Not just yet. The point is (if I can take the liberty of interpreting) they are ON THE TABLE. For a future date. Plan accordingly.
Personally, I am taking a step back. The cognitive dissonance between my Inbox and the media is mind-boggling. I need to get a handle on that. I need "long thought/time" (which you, Lori, provide) not impulsive reactions which, even with trying to manage the torrent of information, has turned me, at least, as twitchy as a gerbil in a conditioning maze.
The rallies (been at three so far) were initially heartening—community, like-mindedness. (With the unfortunate reintroduction of songs from The Great Folk Music Scare of the mid-60s. Please, I am BEGGING, remove "If I Had A Hammer" from the playlist. And while we're at it, the answer is NOT blowing in the wind.)
This may be my Substack post this week:
I've got to think this through.
I felt every word of that, John — and yes, you’ve absolutely got the heart of it. The point I was trying to land is: it’s not that all of this will happen on June 14th, it’s that it’s now within the realm of possibility. And that shift alone is something we really need to register.
Stepping back makes sense. The dissonance is real, and I think many of us are feeling that same twitchy, overstimulated state you described — I know I do. This moment asks for long thought and clear sight, not reflexive action, and if your post ends up being “I’ve got to think this through,” I’d say that’s one of the most honest and useful things you could share right now. I look forward to reading it.
Also, for what it’s worth: I fully support a moratorium on “If I Had a Hammer.”
I love the concept of the Overton Window being defenestrated. 🤣 Beautiful!
Thanks! Every once and a rare while, something jumps out of the unconscious.
In any other time the above advice would be considered paranoia. It is a damn shame that we have to be this aware of how to use our voices legally to protect our personal and professional futures. Thank you for the advice
You're welcome Marie, and I agree — it felt like paranoia when I was researching it. But the facts stack up, and can't be disputed. So now we adapt and move forward.
All good advice, I have but one note. Instead of trying to memorize a “legal support number”, write it or any emergency contact number with a sharpie on your arm, in case things go sideways. Of course I won’t carry my phone (I don’t have any numbers in my head). Otherwise - have good courage, being prepared, physically and mentally is half the battle.
Also - there are many protests planned for D-Day June 6th, a Friday, by 50501vets - Defend the Constitution. (Not just for veterans, all are welcome)
I would love to see crowd sizes that put tRump’s display to shame.
Thank you! I’m saving this article and just subscribed. The recent clash between conservative protesters and pro-LGBTQ counter protestors in Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park has a lot of us in Seattle on edge. Seattle can get pretty explosive with protests, so I was feeling a little wary about joining the ones on June 14th.
I’m a (liberal, sometimes dissenting) Catholic and was thinking of tuning into Pope Leo’s World Youth address instead. The Pope’s popularity clearly riles Trump, so it might be a solid resistance move for non-Catholics, too:
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/heres-when-chicago-mass-celebrating-pope-leo-xiv-will-take-place-at-rate-field/3755443/
Thanks for your support Elena, I appreciate it.
I didn't know Pope Leo's World Youth Address is on 14 June — thanks for highlighting it! That's a strong show of dissent, if you ask me. 💗
Excellent information and detailed with meaningful choices and actions we can choose. Honestly, I am not attending any event in the DC area. I have signed up for a Miami protest, where the cops, somewhat surprisingly, were extremely courteous at my last event in April. Now, however, it seems something is rotten in Denmark. And a jingoistic parade, as Trump's birthday present, spells danger with ulterior motives. The tanks on the streets are his "perfect" display of real America and many will fall for it. Protesters will be labeled as "radical leftists" on this "beautiful day." In other words, sub human. This just could be a set up for the BIG EVENT. Something that will make Jan. 6 look like a picnic.
That’s exactly my concern.
Your decision to avoid DC and go to Miami seems wise. When we recognise the playbook, we can choose not to play the role being scripted for us. That’s not retreat, but discernment. Holding your ground doesn’t always mean standing in the most obvious place.
The most powerful thing we can all do is unplug our routers and power off our phones and computers for the day. That way even the bots can't help falsify the amount of attention they get.
Thank you for this information.
I wish there was some way to make sure not one actual protester shows up in the danger zones but you know they will still have their paid actors regardless and while I'm fine with them suffering the consequences of their decision, I'm not ok with being misrepresented.
This is going to be the worst birthday of my 52 year life. Fucking twat.
I'm with you on that R.R.
And can I just wish you a happy birthday when it comes, regardless.
I have to say this really scares me and I know that’s not your main message. I think I’m worn down and that’s what trump wants.
I'm sorry Diane, and I do understand. It scared me when researching it — but I know that forewarned is forearmed, and we can only respond strategically when we know what we're up against. That's why I shared it.
I needed to pause, and step away after publishing it. That pause has helped me reorient and rebalance, so I'm ready to step up and do whatever needs done, once again. I'd suggest you do the same, and take as long as you need. Self care is the foundation of resistance.
PS. If you haven't got a rebalancing strategy, I've written a few resilience posts. You can find them by scrolling down the YTSN homepage. 🙏
Onward. We have to keep believing
🙌
I love the banner idea. Outside the risk zone. Maybe ones that say “parade cancelled.” Isn’t the best protest of this particular event just staying home? If no one shows, the posturing and baiting is lost.
The comment about visibility becoming an issue down the track is true- I know I have an ASIO file, I obtained some of it under FOI. Nothing serious, known to attend marches, politically active, pretty low level.
I went to renew my ESTA after a new security agreement, and it took five days to clear. I’m honestly surprised it came through at all. I know my Australian files were viewed by the US, as well as social media scrapes. This is far reaching and follows you.
Exercise your rights at all times, but know where it can lead.
Thank you for sharing that Indy — it's something that every civic-minded individual really needs to understand.
At some point we have to realize they do not have the capacity to arrest us all. There is safety in numbers.
Consider going...with a camera and notebook. Don't protest...just observe quietly and document. In between the harmless tourists, you will see MAGA with all their usual decorations - Proud Boy uniforms, antisemitic signs, etc. Take selfies with them in the background; write down their names if you overhear them. Then get to a laptop and post like mad. Expose the noxious Trumpers who, in their day-to-day lives, pretend to be reasonable people. Call them out by name if you can determine their names, humiliating them into better behavior. No violence, no lawbreaking - just holding idiots accountable for their efforts to destroy democracy.
A lot of super helpful information thank you and I feel better prepared! <3
I'm happy to hear that Se A (and you're welcome!) 🙏💗
Thank you.
I will be celebrating Juneteenth in Texas on the 14th. Our protest will be the 21st.
These guidelines are still applicable.
I am 79. I have but one life to give for my country.
You're welcome Priscilla. Thank you for your dedication.
I appreciate your article’s advice at times, but overall it comes off as being quite paranoid, and as such, has the very real potential to scare many less experienced activists within The Resistance from acting all together. Self-censoring is the worse thing our movement can do right now (see “On Tyranny”, Snyder, 2017). We need to be building our Resistance movement, and Substack authors like yourself have the platform to be motivating others, not scaring them (see “On Tyranny”, #20: Be as courageous as you can.).
Thanks for your input Robin — we may not agree, but the conversation is important. May I refer you to my answer to similar points raised by a previous commenter:
'On Tyranny' was written in 2017, and much has changed since then. Not least the fact that Timothy Snyder — for whom I have the greatest respect — no longer lives in the US.
As this article states: "We should take that seriously: Snyder, Shore, and Stanley are not retreating from a fight but building new spaces for freedom—spaces they fear the United States can no longer sustain—and their departure is not a condemnation but a diagnosis, accompanied by a clear prescription: wake up."
https://davisvanguard.org/2025/05/1st-professor-exits-usa-turkey/
Don't know if you've seen Snyder's response to why he left the States for Canada: https://open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p/last-years-move-to-toronto?r=4090mt&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Really grateful to you for sharing this Robin — I hadn't seen it. It's a really encouraging read (I do transcripts, rather than audio/ video).
Thank you for posting this ink!
Thanks for your response and a platform for discussion! My interpretation of your response is that Snyder et al’s departure demonstrates how bad things are in the USA, and as such, supports the caution your article promotes and the apprehension exhibited in its tone. Is that correct?
You're welcome! We're on the same team with the same goals — we just have different opinions on how to achieve them, that’s all. 😊
I first wrote a few advisory pieces on protesting 'safely' about three months ago. At the time, I assumed there wasn’t much to worry about in the US. But as I dug in, I learned about the surveillance infrastructure that’s been in place since the Occupy Wall Street days. That led me to write Why You Shouldn't Bring Your Phone to a Protest in the US. Then I decided to dig deeper.
I spent about seven weeks researching what’s happened to protest rights in other authoritarian regimes, and what’s currently unfolding in countries with once-open civic space, like the UK and Germany. I was so stunned by what I found that I felt a duty of care to share it. That became a two-part series: The Six Stage Playbook for Silencing Protest That’s Underway in the US. I want to be clear — I wrestled with myself before publishing it. I knew it might deter people from speaking out. But I felt strongly that people deserve the chance to make an informed choice.
(Sorry — I ran out of space.)
Which brings me to this piece. I looked into the setup in DC around the parade, and what the wider implications might be for protestors. I laid it all out to help readers understand the context — and to explain why I was offering alternative strategies. There’s a very fine line between informing and deterring, but I did my absolute best to tread it. If I didn’t strike the right balance, I apologise. If you read the other pieces (which are free), I hope you’ll get a better sense of where I’m coming from — and that this isn’t about paranoia.
Lastly, I haven’t read On Tyranny (though I’ve lived through something similar in Zimbabwe). An earlier reader had been debating whether to protest, and quoted TS’s first lesson — Don’t obey in advance — then said, “Skipping out on this protest sort of feels like that to me.” So I looked up On Tyranny to better understand the reference, and found the article I shared. I passed it along to him — as with you — in the spirit of supporting people’s right to make their own choices. Timothy Snyder made his. I respect that.
I hope this helps clarify where I’m coming from.
Thank you Robin! We need overwhelming numbers outside of DC. We are not there yet.
Agreed. The numbers here https://generalstrikeus.com/ are telling. We're adding +/- 1,000 per day, but at that rate, it'll take 29 years to reach the 3% of the population we need. Unacceptable.