Introduction

The constitutional crisis we’re facing requires sustained, organized resistance at every level. While calling your representatives is crucial, it’s not enough. Democracy is defended by networks of engaged citizens working together through established organizations, grassroots movements, and local communities. This action planner connects you with the infrastructure of resistance that’s already mobilizing across the country.

The organizations and groups listed here represent different approaches to defending democracy – from legal challenges and electoral organizing to direct action and mutual aid. Some focus on specific issues like voting rights or immigration, while others coordinate broad-based resistance. Find the ones that match your skills, interests, and risk tolerance, then get involved. Democracy is not a spectator sport.

This list is only partially curated. If you find something better or find a sour link, let me know.

A Friendly Heads-Up About Digital Donation Enthusiasm

Before donating to these worthy causes, fair warning: many of these organizations use platforms like ActBlue that are really, really good at their jobs. Once you donate even a modest $5, you may find yourself on the firehose receiving end of what we’ll call “persistent fundraising optimism.” Think of it as the digital equivalent of that friend-in-need who always knows exactly when you get paid. These platforms have turned donation follow-up into an art form that would make a golden retriever’s dinner time enthusiasm seem restrained. The good news? Your small contributions genuinely do add up to meaningful change. Just maybe set up a separate email address if you’re planning to support multiple causes, unless you enjoy starting each morning with 47 new dire messages about democracy hanging in the balance. Remember, resistance doesn’t happen in a day. This is a long-haul endeavor. Unsub when you have too much in your inbox.


National Resistance Organizations

Political Action and Electoral

Indivisible

  • Focus: Grassroots political organizing, electoral campaigns, congressional pressure
  • Website: indivisible.org
  • Local Groups: Find local chapters through their website
  • Key Activities: Town halls, voter registration, candidate recruitment, No Kings Day organizing
  • Getting Involved: Join local group, attend actions, volunteer for campaigns

MoveOn

  • Focus: Online organizing, electoral campaigns, progressive activism
  • Website: moveon.org
  • Key Activities: Petition campaigns, voter mobilization, rapid response actions
  • Getting Involved: Sign up for action alerts, join local councils, volunteer
  • Gotchas: If you’re on their list, they’ll ask you every day for a donation until you tell them to stop. It can be frustrating.

Democracy For America

  • Focus: Training progressive candidates and activists
  • Website: democracyforamerica.com (currently throwing a norton alert, so this needs curation)
  • Key Activities: Candidate training, campaign support, activist development
  • Getting Involved: Take training courses, support endorsed candidates

Constitutional and Legal Defense

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)

  • Focus: Government accountability, ethics violations, constitutional enforcement
  • Website: citizensforethics.org
  • Key Activities: Legal challenges to emoluments violations, oversight advocacy
  • Getting Involved: Follow legal cases, donate, amplify investigations

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

  • Focus: Constitutional rights, civil liberties, legal challenges
  • Website: aclu.org
  • Local Affiliates: All 50 states have local ACLU chapters
  • Key Activities: Court cases, know-your-rights training, legislative advocacy
  • Getting Involved: Join as member, volunteer for local affiliate, attend trainings

Brennan Center for Justice

  • Focus: Voting rights, democracy reform, constitutional law
  • Website: brennancenter.org
  • Key Activities: Legal research, policy advocacy, court cases
  • Getting Involved: Follow research, support policy initiatives

Protect Democracy

  • Focus: Defending democratic institutions and norms
  • Website: protectdemocracy.org
  • Key Activities: Legal advocacy, research, institutional reform
  • Getting Involved: Support legal cases, follow research

Immigration Justice and Human Rights

United We Dream

  • Focus: Immigrant youth organizing and advocacy
  • Website: unitedwedream.org
  • Key Activities: DACA advocacy, anti-deportation organizing, community defense
  • Getting Involved: Join local affiliates, participate in actions

National Immigration Law Center (NILC)

  • Focus: Legal advocacy for immigrant rights
  • Website: nilc.org
  • Key Activities: Legal challenges, policy advocacy, community education
  • Getting Involved: Support legal work, follow policy updates

RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services)

  • Focus: Legal services for immigrants, detention monitoring
  • Website: raicestexas.org
  • Key Activities: Legal representation, bond funds, detention oversight
  • Getting Involved: Donate, volunteer for legal clinics

Media and Information

The Lincoln Project

  • Focus: Anti-Trump conservative messaging, political strategy
  • Website: lincolnproject.us
  • Key Activities: Political advertising, strategic communication, Republican outreach
  • Getting Involved: Share content, attend events, support campaigns

Democracy Now!

  • Focus: Independent news and analysis
  • Website: democracynow.org
  • Key Activities: Daily news program, investigative reporting
  • Getting Involved: Watch/listen, share stories, support financially

Regional and State Organizations

Swing State Focus

Fair Fight (Georgia)

  • Focus: Voting rights, election integrity
  • Website: fairfight.com
  • Getting Involved: Voter registration, election monitoring

All Voting is Local

  • Focus: State-level voting rights advocacy
  • Website: allvotingislocal.org
  • Key States: Focus on battleground states
  • Getting Involved: State-specific campaigns, legal monitoring

California Resistance

Courage Campaign

  • Focus: Progressive organizing in California
  • Website: couragecampaign.org
  • Getting Involved: Local actions, policy campaigns

Social Media and Online Groups

Facebook Groups

Note: Group activity and membership can change rapidly

Indivisible Groups by State

  • Search: “Indivisible [Your State]” or “Indivisible [Your City]”
  • Local chapters organize events and actions

No Kings Day Groups

  • Search: “No Kings Day” + your location
  • Planning ongoing resistance actions

Swing Left Groups

  • Search: “Swing Left [Your Area]”
  • Electoral organizing in competitive districts

Sister District Groups

  • Search: “Sister District [Your Location]”
  • Adopt competitive races in other states

Twitter/X Networks

  • Follow: @IndivisibleTeam, @MoveOn, @ACLU, @NancyPelosi, @AOC
  • Hashtags: #NoKings, #ResistanceNow, #DemocracyMatters

Other Platforms

  • Discord: Many local groups have servers for organizing
  • Signal: Secure messaging for sensitive organizing
  • Telegram: Some resistance groups coordinate here

Mutual Aid and Community Support

Legal Defense

National Lawyers Guild

  • Website: nlg.org
  • Focus: Legal observers, protest support, know-your-rights
  • Getting Involved: Legal observer training, jail support

Electronic Frontier Foundation

  • Website: eff.org
  • Focus: Digital rights, surveillance resistance
  • Getting Involved: Digital security training, privacy advocacy

Community Defense

Local Rapid Response Networks

  • Search: “[Your City] Rapid Response” or “Immigrant Defense [Your Area]”
  • ICE raid response, community protection

Mutual Aid Networks

  • Search: “[Your City] Mutual Aid”
  • Community support, resource sharing

Know Your Rights Trainings

  • Local ACLU chapters, community legal clinics
  • Understanding rights during police encounters

Issue-Specific Organizations

Voting Rights

League of Women Voters

  • Website: lwv.org
  • Local Leagues: Most communities have local chapters
  • Getting Involved: Voter registration, election monitoring

Common Cause

  • Website: commoncause.org
  • Focus: Campaign finance reform, voting access
  • Getting Involved: Advocacy campaigns, local chapters

Climate and Environment

Often intersects with democracy issues

Sunrise Movement

  • Website: sunrisemovement.org
  • Focus: Youth climate activism, electoral organizing
  • Getting Involved: Local hubs, actions, electoral work

Economic Justice

Working Families Party

  • Website: workingfamilies.org
  • Focus: Progressive electoral politics, working class advocacy
  • Getting Involved: Local chapters, candidate support

Safety and Security Considerations

Digital Security

  • Use Signal for sensitive communications
  • Be aware of social media surveillance
  • Know your rights regarding device searches

Physical Safety

  • Know legal observers and jail support contacts
  • Understand de-escalation techniques
  • Have emergency contacts and plans

Emotional Sustainability

  • Build support networks within activist communities
  • Practice self-care and avoid burnout
  • Celebrate small wins and progress

Remember

This is a marathon, not a sprint. Democracy is defended through sustained, organized resistance. Find your place in this movement, but don’t try to do everything yourself. Connect with others, share the load, and stay focused on the long-term goal: preserving constitutional democracy for future generations.

The organizations listed here are your allies in this fight. They have experience, resources, and networks that individual action cannot match. But they also need your energy, skills, and commitment to be effective.

Democracy is not guaranteed. It must be actively defended. Start today.