Democracy Under Attack: The Fight for a Just and Livable Future

In response to Trump’s first days in office from Elizabeth Bast, Oil Change International Executive Director: 

The first days of Donald Trump’s presidency reveal a calculated strategy by Trump and his billionaire backers to consolidate power and dismantle the democratic systems that protect us. These attacks threaten every aspect of life we fight for – from clean air and water to civil rights and human dignity. And through collective action we can and must resist them.

The democratic systems in this country have never delivered on their promise of justice for all, but even these imperfect systems give everyday people a fighting chance. For a long time these systems have tilted toward wealth and corporate power, leaving working families, Indigenous communities, and people of color to bear the heaviest burdens. Trump’s attempt to systematically dismantle the government and democratic protections only serve those who profit from pollution and injustice. 

Within days of taking office, Trump:

• Gutted climate and environmental protections. Trump backed out of global climate commitments while Los Angeles burned and instead declared an ‘energy emergency’ designed to encourage the production of even more oil and gas. This threatens frontline communities already facing toxic air, contaminated water, and climate disasters. He’s stocked his Cabinet with fossil fuel executives, so we can expect more of the same actions to make fossil fuel executives richer while our climate and people suffer;
• Took action to embolden violence, rip apart families, and target vulnerable communities. Trump has pardoned violent insurrectionists, targeted birthright citizenship, gutted government equity and inclusion initiatives designed to level the playing field for all Americans, and directly attacked LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, Tribes, and communities of color. These attacks compound generations of systemic discrimination and threaten to reverse hard-won civil rights victories;
• Launched a systematic attack to dismantle our government. Trump has dismissed key government employees across agencies, encouraged government workers to resign in order to stock the government with his supporters, begun to dismantle the U.S. foreign aid agency, and handed control of vital information to unaccountable tech billionaires. Many of these actions are considered illegal, and notable historians and academics are calling this out as a coup.  Hollowing out our government programs and funding will particularly impact low-income communities who rely on federal programs and protections. 

The rapid-fire assault on our rights and protections is designed to overwhelm us – but we refuse to let this calculated chaos paralyze us into inaction. This is a marathon, not a sprint. We’re channeling our outrage into strategic, sustainable action. Each of us has unique strengths to bring to this fight. Whether you’re organizing locally, supporting frontline communities, or having tough but vital conversations with friends and family, your role is crucial. This moment calls for reimagining and rebuilding our institutions to truly serve people over profits. Together, we build the collective power needed for lasting change.

Take action today:

• Support organizations providing direct services and mutual aid to targeted communities
• Talk to your neighbors about these challenges and how to respond. 
• Call your representatives to demand they do everything they can to block Trump and Elon Musk’s ploys to destroy democracy (find their contact information here and read this resource about stopping the Musk takeover) 
• Join local protests in cities across the nation, or organize your own. In just a few hours, hundreds of New Yorkers organized a protest after a local hospital denied care for trans children.
• Check on vulnerable community members, including LGBTQ+ folks, immigrants, and federal workers facing attacks. A great set of resources to help immigrant neighbors are the Immigrant Legal Resources Center’s Red Cards / Tarjetas Rojas
• Refuse to normalize this assault on democracy – this is not normal, and we will not surrender to it

When we stand together – working families, civil rights advocates, environmental defenders, and frontline communities – we have a fighting chance against the greed and corporate power that’s threatening our country. We’ve won crucial victories through the power of unified communities, even in the toughest times.

The path forward isn’t just about defending what we have – it’s about transforming our democracy to work for everyone, not just the wealthy few. Together, we can defend our democracy from billionaires and strengthen it so it serves the working people who make this country run. Through collective action and solidarity we will build the just, sustainable future we all deserve.