What's Next?

After No Kings: Two Reflections and An Urgent Call

~by Joyce Herman and Sue Staropoli

Sue's Reflection

It was heartwarming and joyful to experience millions of us marching together all over the country, passionately and creatively letting our voices be heard.  (My favorite sign: "It's so bad, even the introverts are here!") 

We know a movement is growing, with energy to resist what is happening in our country — but the question now is — what are our next steps? Our action to make a difference must be more than attending a now and then protest. There is a real URGENCY in these times — as we face the possibility of war and the devastating effects of the "big, bad bill" that is moving through Congress, threatening harm to so many (actually all of us), including our way of living in democracy. And as we take action, however we're called, we remember that it is our non-violent, loving presence that is the most powerful way we can be a source of healing in our hurting world.

Joyce's Reflection

Over 80 years ago, during World War II and the Holocaust, an eight-year-old Jewish girl lay awake night after night asking: “How can they (the people she envisioned in charge of the world) be letting this happen????”

That little girl was me. Many years later, I came to understand that the citizens of Germany were not evil. Many were good people whose fears and prejudices had been manipulated by a master manipulator. And, as my dear friend Uta Allers, who was born in Germany during the war has said, most went like lemmings over the cliff. By the time they realized how they had allowed their lives and their country to be ruined, it was too late.

Americans face a situation with some similar elements today. It is not yet too late for us, but the time is short, and the stakes couldn't be higher.  We must stay awake, solidify as many relationships and connections as possible, screw up the courage and ramp up our action. Now.

AN URGENT CALL FOR SOLIDARITY, NOT DIVISION.

As we seek to become more powerful and more effective, a crucial principle to remember: SOLIDARITY IS THE ANSWER TO THE “DIVIDE AND CONQUER” TACTICS BEING USED TO TRY TO WEAKEN US. Movements fall when groups within the movement fail to see the need to coalesce on behalf of the larger goal.  

Have a plan of action:

• Find ways to support the most vulnerable groups. 

• Lift up their leadership. 

• Be creative in bringing people together. 

• Bring neighbors together. 

• Bring groups together across differences (e.g. social action groups from different religious organizations). 

• And make the process fun! Find the joy!

Look for — and highlight — examples of cooperation and courage

Here is an excellent example of a creative response to authoritarianism: On Monday, June 30, Faithful America, a Christian organization — in partnership with the Workers Circle (originally established to support Jewish immigrants) and Sheriff Accountability Action — offered a training on how to talk with your local sheriff and urge them to not cooperate with ICE in taking away immigrant workers, fathers, mothers, and children. 

Do not become overwhelmed into inaction

Our inboxes overflow with information, and requests for action and money reaching tsunami proportions. It is vital that we do not find ourselves submerged in choice hell.

Become action-oriented!

Here are a few of many organizations that are successfully contributing to the movement, and a few selected sites for information:

• Indivisible is one of the premier organizing groups 

  • Collaborates with other groups on large demonstrations

  • Offers action steps, background information and training for movement building

  • Holds weekly calls at 3 pm on Thursdays that provide up-to-date information and brilliant strategy with Indivisible founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin 

  • You can sign up and get the recording if you can’t make it.
    

• Indivisible Rochester is one of thousands of local Indivisible groups that keep people connected, energized, and involved. It's good to join both the national and local groups. You can also follow Indivisible on Blue Sky (an alternative to Facebook).

• People Power United: Laurie Woodward Garcia, a non-academic, plain-speaking, gutsy blogger, provides Information, community building, and creative suggestions for action.  As an example, after a list of actions, she cheerleads: “Hang a weeping lady liberty, or similar, flag in your front yard. You’ll find you have more supportive neighbors than you think. I post on Next Door when we are headed out for a protest and lots of folks show up. Be vocal and encourage others to be.”
  

• Rogan’s List provides well-sourced, well-curated actions on where you have the most impact in “fighting the right’s agenda and building a nation true to our most cherished values – every morning.” Its format makes it easy to make calls.
  

• Red Wine and Blue is a grassroots women’s organization and is one of the sponsors of Hands-Off, taking action at the local level. They now offer what looks like a great resource: 160 Ways to Change the World Without Losing Your Shi*t. 
  

• Good Trouble Lives On is a "national day of nonviolent action to respond to the attacks posed on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration and to remind them that in America, the power lies with the people." You can take action locally on July 17, 2025 from 2–4pm at Highland Park, 180 Reservoir Ave., Rochester, NY. Please register if you plan to attend.

More resources for solid information and inspiration

Substack hosts many excellent and well-informed thinkers you can read or watch. Here are a few you may or may not be familiar with:

• Status Kuo provides accessible political and legal analysis with a dose of humor.
  

• The Contrarian: These folks left the Washington Post on principle when the paper refused to endorse a Presidential candidate.  Different journalists with expertise in various areas interview solid resources, sometimes throughout the day. I particularly like Jen Rubin (who came on with her coffee cup and 30 minutes notice the day after we bombed Iran). 
  

• Heather Cox Richardson's Letters from an American. A historian treasured by many provides the history behind today’s politics.
  

• Robert Hubbell: A reflection on today’s news through a lens of hope.

AND, IF IT IS NOT TOO LATE WHEN YOU READ THIS, please find every creative way you can to oppose the war and the Big Bad Billionaires’ Bill.

Start by including daily calls to your representatives and demanding they take courageous steps to oppose this regime. Do not assume that Democratic Senators and Reps will be voting against the war and against the bill.  They have already caved on some pieces.  

We suggest putting these numbers on sticky notes on your computer:

• Senator Schumer, (202) 224-6542

• Senator Gillibrand, (202) 224-4451 

• Congressman Morelle, (202) 225-3615

MOST IMPORTANTLY!

• Know that you can't do everything.

• But you can do something — the thing that is yours to do.

• So find an issue that touches/breaks your heart and find a path/community to engage with.

• Make a difference where you can.

Let us go onward — in solidarity, taking action, maintaining joy and humor, and with love for what our country can be and for one another.