What’s Next?
We are building the momentum! Each event brings more and more boots on the ground. People are asking “What is next?” and “When is the next big event?” The answer is the groups are working on it. A countrywide mass mobilization takes time, logistically locations need to be confirmed. SAFETY is the number one concern; this takes time and effort. Locally we have to take into consideration the size of the crowd, parking, visibility, permits as needed and so much more. It’s harder than it sounds and the leaders are working together to make it happen.
What is the “3.5% rule"? This refers to statistics that a government can be overthrown by nonviolent protests if approximately 3.5% of the population actively participates in the protest at its peak. This idea suggests that a relatively small percentage of mobilized citizens can be a powerful force for political change. In the United States that would be approximately 13 million people. On April 5th, nationwide, 3.5 million people took to the streets. There is work to be done to increase that number.
In the meantime, many groups are doing smaller, local events, and participate in those. Or go to indivisible.org and look at all the many resources and events they have listed under the “TAKE ACTION” tab. Virtual events are free and very informative, look for one that aligns with your passion. Offer to help organize. Planning any event takes many hands, ask how you can get involved by contacting one of the many local groups.
Over the past 90 days I’ve heard “call your representative” and that meant nothing to me, until I learned who they were and how to reach them (going to Jefferson City helped that as well). Traveling to our state capital reminded me that they are equal humans with a job, in fact they have a job that is supposed to be representing the people that gave them that job. They work for us! Use this time to go to the Missouri House of Representatives page and the Missouri Senate page. Poke around, learn more, get comfortable - at a I heard “You can’t break it, but you can use it!” Take this time to learn more about what is happening at the state level and how easy it is to send an email, find a phone number to submit testimony.
In the recent The Reality of Project 2025 virtual meeting with Heather Cox Richardson and Representative Jasmine Crockett. Jasmine said, Unfortunately “your protections are not at the federal level, your protections are at the local level. The felon-in-charge wants you to BELIEVE that he can tell the schools what they can teach your kids, that is a lie, it is your local school board that sets those standards. And it is your local city council decides how the local police handle what is happening in your city, this is NOT decided at the federal level.” She recommends that we get to know our government locally, vote locally, run for an open seat in the next election.
Keep coming back. Check the events page often as we gather event information. The next mass mobilization IS COMING, please be patient.