Keeping the momentum from ‘No Kings’ alive: Tips for how to protect democracy | Opinion

President Donald Trump’s needless military crackdown in Los Angeles is the latest step in his brazen attempt to transform our democracy into an authoritarian regime, where civil rights, the rule of law and peaceful protests are abandoned. Sen. Alex Padilla and other elected officials who have pushed back have been met with brute force, underscoring the need for more than just peaceful protests.

Meanwhile, this past weekend, an estimated 5 million people across the country participated in nationwide “No Kings” protests, rallying against Trump and his administration.

We are at a tipping point to save democracy. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment that requires everyone to do what they can. This much is clear: No one person can save our democracy. We are the cavalry, and there is a role for everyone.

But the question many ask is: What can I do?

The short answer? Plenty.

While it is understandable to feel hopeless or think of giving up, the hard reality is that preserving democracy takes work. And it requires everyone to have some skin in the game if they don’t want to live under an authoritarian regime.

There are many ways — both large and small — that citizens can contribute. As someone who has volunteered during every election cycle since college, I want to share what I have learned over the years at this crucial moment.

Stay informed

We must stay informed and engaged. That means subscribing to respected news sources, such as The Bee, The New York Times and National Public Radio.

Get involved

Get involved today — not tomorrow or next week. Some folks might have time to donate, while others might have money available to give to organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and Democracy Now.

Other ways to get involved? Run for local office or school boards. Or you can help with voter registration drives led by Headcount, Rock the Vote, the League of Women Voters and Vote1234.

Host a virtual fundraiser

Leading up to the 2020 presidential election, the Parties for Democracy initiative raised $450,000 in just three months, supporting highly vetted grassroots organizations with proven track records, including the Lincoln Project, Activate America, Fair Fight, Democracy Forward, Commit to Democracy and Vote Forward.

Virtual Parties for Democracy require considerably less time to plan compared to an in-person party, yield higher turnout and raise on average $10,000 per party in one hour through videoconferencing. Moreover, virtual fundraisers can reach friends and family across the country, and are thus not limited to local friends and family.

Let your voice be heard

This country was founded on free speech and peaceful assembly. Show up at protests or town halls of elected officials by consulting the websites of your elected representatives or local advocacy groups. Or call or write to your local, state and federal elected officials.

Politicians respond to money and public opinion. A groundswell of public action and voices is the best way to get their attention.

Engage with your neighbors

Social media can be toxic and not a good use of time, but face-to-face conversations with friends, family and neighbors can be more effective. Going to transit stops and shopping centers to engage in conversation with folks to spread the message that what is happening is not normal, and that it is in fact dangerous and harmful to the health, strength and prosperity of the country and individuals.

A number of groups are involved in helping people bridge the partisan divide, including In This Together America and Committee of Seventy, while Net Impact helps individuals become engaged citizens.

You can also set up at your local farmer’s market and connect patrons to opportunities to plug in by either donating money or time to the many effective grassroots organizations operating in battleground districts to help bring about a more diverse government.

Our goal is to reach out to their constituents and have them call their congressional representative and encourage them to stand up to Trump. My fellow volunteers not only enjoy connecting with our neighbors, but we are also regularly and consistently thanked for the guidance and direction we provide to advance the cause.

Activism makes a difference

The other question many ask is whether their activism will make a difference. My answer? Absolutely.

A postmortem analysis by the grassroots organization, Activate America, showed that for the races in which they invested, it positively affected the outcome by 2% to 4%, which advanced the margin of victory in several close races.

Everyone who believes in democracy has a significant role to play as we come together to defeat the most dangerous threat to our country in our lifetimes.

By forming or joining an Indivisible Group or supporting the many other grassroots organizations in your area, you and your concerned friends and family can contribute to positive change while assuaging your concerns in the company of kindred supporters.

This story was originally published June 18, 2025 at 6:00 AM.