The one where I talk about *gestures at the world*
And what the fuck to even do?
A note: I started this earlier in the week, and as usual two things happened. One, life got busy and I wasn’t able to finish as quickly as I’d hoped to and two, things shifted and changed a bit. For example, calling your senators is STILL IMPORTANT, but the bill that went to senate did not pass yesterday — proof our calls are working.
I’ve decided to post this all the same, and tried to scramble to add some more of the resources I’ve seen come out, but if something is missing I’d love to add it. Feel free to leave a comment below.
Also — TODAY is the National Shutdown: no shopping, no school, no working, . I reference it below, but calling it out above the fold because it’s happening now. Striking and protest is a privilege, but if you can do it, do it.
There are also protests nationwide today. You can search what’s happening in your city here.
I don’t feel the need to preface this statement so I’m just going to say it: what’s happening in Minneapolis is horrendous. Nothing shocks me any more, but that’s not a reason to just let it happen.
Defund ICE. Abolish ICE. Fuck ICE.
I have oscillated in how ‘loud’ I am politically, and feel like with each news story that leaves me more outraged than the next, I get less and less sure of what to say. I am guilty of shouting into an echo-chambery void, I often feel I don’t have anything to say that others haven’t already said, I don’t want to center myself or claim authority as this country continues to live up to its ~3001 year legacy of oppressing black and brown people.
I am also more afraid than I’ve ever been to use my voice, and I have been doing a lot of work to reconcile with that. While 10 years ago I had no problem going to protests (alone), writing publicly about my thoughts, etc, these days I second guess that a lot more. Afraid of being doxxed, of putting my family in danger, of losing my job and being put on more ‘lists’. Afraid to go to a protest because I don’t know if I’ll make it home to have dinner with my family. In a way, I feel like my outward activism has regressed, while my motivations are stronger than ever.
So first and foremost, I am grateful and feel eternally indebted to the people who are showing up, who are using their bodies and their voices and are standing up to these injustices. I’m regaining my sense of self in this regard, I am regaining my bravery. I am trying.
To quote Dutch, “you don’t have to do everything, you just have to do something. And if doing something is scary: you know what’s even scarier than doing something? Doing nothing…because something can always be done”.
To echo a point I made ~2 paragraphs ago, I’m not writing this to center my narrative, but as I sat down to plan some essays for February it felt disingenuous to just keep going as if nothing is happening. Sure, I could throw a few notes up there and keep posting graphics on my Instagram story, but none of it feels like enough.
This doesn’t either, nothing feels like enough. But amongst these times, I find comfort that there are folks who are dedicating time to report, to educate, to gather resources. So if you’re wondering ‘what the fuck can I do?’, I am too. Here’s a quick roundup of actions to take, resources to bookmark, and a list of places I’m choosing to get my news.
Necessary disclaimer to protect myself: none of this is financial, legal, political, or any other sort of advice that I would need any sort of credentials to give. This is opinion, and is a collection of things I have found that are helping me get through this. This is not financial or legal advice!!! I am not telling anyone what to do!
Also, all links and actions are recommended as of the date this article is published. If anything changes, I’ll try to keep it updated, but bear with me if I miss new news or changes to any of the below.2
Specific Actions to Take
Join in on TODAY’s National Shutdown and Strike
If you are able to, call out of work and join in on the National Shutdown happening on Friday, January 30th (that is TODAY. Better late than never, right!?!?).
There are also protests happening throughout the country. Many are happening on the 30th as a companion to the National Shutdown.
And if you are reading this after the strike is over, protests are expected to continue. And whenever you can, shop local, and divest from companies that fund ICE (more on where to find those below).
Call Your Representatives
Yesterday, the senate voted 45-55 against a six-bill government funding package — all democratic senators and seven republicans voted ‘no’ on the bill — proof that calling our representatives works (even though it might feel like we shouldn’t have to).
Calling our representatives is important even though this particular bill has not passed.
The app ‘5 calls’ organizes various issues to contact your representatives about, shows which representatives are relevant, and provides call scripts. In addition to sharing my own desire to have my senators vote ‘No’ on yesterday’s bill, I’m also using the app to ask my state leaders3 to Support Minnesota, to Stop ICE’s attacks on immigrants and citizens, and to demand we stop supporting ICE in New York.
Alex Friedman gave some great advice on how she’s handling her communications with her representatives, since they were both decided ‘nays’ on yesterdays bill. Still applies.
Write your Representatives (After you have called them)
While calling your representatives is the best and number one way to let them know how you feel, writing also has some impact.
I like to use Resist Bot to quickly send messages via post, email, and fax. Text RESIST to 50409 to have them suggest campaigns, or take a look at state-specific letters here.
The ACLU has a general guide that gives helpful tips to consider when reaching out to your representatives.
Donate
Below, you’ll see a few roundups of guides that share ways to get involved — donating your time and money are useful ways to spread the wealth of our resources, however we can best do that.
Two of the most comprehensive resources for finding places to donate to are this Google Doc and this Reddit thread (I speak about both in more detail below).
Learn about the Tax Strike
This is not financial advice. This is not legal advice. I cannot be more clear about this! I am sharing this as something that you can learn about if you chose to, and engage with if it feels plausible to you. I am also still learning and am not at a point where I am recommending involvement (just giving you something you can learn about, should you choose to).
A friend shared this reel about engaging in a Tax Strike in a way that is legal (and without risk of retaliation). I understand this at a very surface level, and think it’s very important to talk to a tax professional if this is interesting to you.
The flyer attached attempts to explain it, but basically you’re not not paying your taxes. Instead, you’re creating a realllllly lloooonnnnnggg road for the IRS to get your funds into their hands. This is at least how I understand it. But again, please talk to a pro!
Here are a few more resources to help explain it:
What is a tax strike:
How to avoid penalties:
Tax Strike Guide Links, put together by Oregon Congressional Candidate Zeva Rosenbaum. This has the forms to file, a link to the high-res Tax Strike Flyer (shared above), and resources.
Resources, Guides, and Where to get the News
Guides and resource roundups
How You Can Help: MASTER LIST (r/minnesota). I found this list put together by u/cataloo on the r/minnesota Subreddit to be an incredibly helpful place to start. It outlines organizations and mutual aid funds to donate money to for those not local, and while the list also features a lot of in-person actions to take in Minnesota itself, I find it helpful nonetheless.
How to Fight Back Against ICE Right Now, by Alex Friedman. Hot Tip published practical guide on how to help Minnesota citizens, companies supporting ICE to boycott, and even includes a plea to members of the media to focus on how they’re framing their stories.
If every American did 3 of these 5 things, ICE would be stopped in its tracks, by Leona Waller. Leona outlines five actions that would have incredible impact if we could all commit to three. Some of the resources Leona shares I’ve not seen anywhere else, and I appreciate that she includes the cost to participate — both financial, but also sharing how much time these actions cost.
A late addition, but Jennifer Cook used mom friend’s weekly newsletter to share a roundup of what we can do now (aptly titled the weekly: what we can do now).
Where I’m getting my news
Ken Klippenstein is probably my most-read independent journalist on Substack. His newsletter is known for leaking memos and documents when no one else will (he released Luigi Mangione’s manifesto when no one else would), and continues to report and share even when he’s under investigation himself.
Jessica Yellin’s News Not Noise has been an excellent source of news for me. She’s been independent for almost a decade, and I appreciate her directness. She also has published a Google Doc of resources to directly help Minnesota.
If I’m trying to understand the core of an issue, I’ll head to Politics Made Easy first. Ben Sheehan simplifies politics, and recently what’s going on with ICE, in a way that makes it accessible without dumbing it down.
I’ve been reading Emily Amick’s newsletter, Emily in Your Phone for years now (and yes, I usually am reading it on my phone).
Is that it???
What else can be done? Showing up is always the first step. Getting involved at a national scale is important, but investing in our local communities can be just as important. Connecting with our friends and families, reaching out to folks online doing important work, and just doing something, anything.
As someone that often simultaneously feels like there’s too much to do and there will never be enough to do, I have to remind myself of that. Finding the balance of being informed and involved while also tending to myself, my home, my family.
It’s a daily and lifelong battle, but the resistance was never supposed to be easy.
Whatever number I put here would not seem accurate by some, so using 300 as a general catch all…
SAYING IT AGAIN: The information, links, and resources on this site has been provided for informational purposes only. They are not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for tax, legal or accounting advice. Consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction or activity related to these materials.
I also made a point to let Chuck Schumer know that I voted for him for the first time in the 1998 election held in my second grade class at P.S. 174, and asked him to not let that seven year old down.