These Are the Times That Try Our Souls

These Are the Times That Try Our Souls

NO KINGS RALLY Saturday, OCTOBER 18

Ukrainians took to the streets in massive numbers this July, while Russian bombs were raining down on their cities, when they thought their president was taking away key agencies guarding against corruption.

We are not asking you to do this! But rather to attend a peaceful day of mass mobilization on Sat. Oct.18 to tell our administration that we will no longer sit back while they impose authoritarianism on us.

Together we can show them that

  • We are not intimidated.
  • We reject strongman tactics, corruption, and stripping of our Constitutional rights.
  • We are the great majority in America and growing.

Thomas Paine said, in 1776 (updated for today), “These are the times that try our souls.”  249 years later we are being tested again.  And it’s not a time to just hit “like” or “angry” on your social media.

TO BE EFFECTIVE, this must be a massive rally.  If you absolutely cannot come, please, find a friend (who otherwise was not going) and have them attend in your place. If you can attend, bring some friends.

WLGAN will be congregating in downtown DC (let us know if you are meeting us and we will let you know where), but these rallies are nationwide. Find one near to you on this map.(scroll down to see map)

Thank you for helping save our democracy – it is a crucial time.

Hot Off the Presses

Hot Off the Presses

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT! 
THREE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SOMETHING – TAKE ACTION

Non-Profit Legal Defense Network

We the Action, in collaboration with Alliance for Justice, has just launched a defense network for nonprofits that are being targeted by this administration. The Nonprofit Legal Defense Network, needs lawyers to help nonprofits withstand these attacks, for example, by advising them on compliance, policies, handbooks, operations, etc.  HERE’s the link to volunteer.

Election Officers Legal Defense Network

The EOLDN connects pro bono attorneys with election officials (regardless of party affiliation) who are facing job-related harassment, intimidation and targeting.  They need litigators, employment lawyers, criminal defense and First Amendment lawyers (not election lawyers!) HERE’s a link to sign up.

Here’s a quote from a volunteer: “…administering elections [today] takes true courage.  Giving assistance to election officials is what makes me proud to be a lawyer.”

L4GG Pro Bono Litigation Corps- FEMA Whistleblower case

In August, 200 FEMA employees signed a powerful dissent letter to Congress exposing mismanagement, censorship and dangerous failures within the agency.  At least 30 of them have now been placed on leave.  L4GG is working with the Government Accountability Project (CAP) on this case.
HERE’s a link to volunteer or support L4GG’s Litigation Corps.

Please sign up to help these efforts!

Cory

Searching for an Effective Action?

Searching for an Effective Action?

WLGAN is all about taking action.  Please don’t think you are helpless or wonder “what can I do”. Here are some easy, powerful, effective activities you can do.

Boycotts and “Buycotts”
It’s through collective economic pressure that businesses will stop complying with authoritarianism

Which companies?  Here’s a Newsweek list of September boycotts.  Recommended: start with one company and find easy alternative “buycotts. ”Buycotts,” the opposite of boycotts, encourage buying from companies that have resisted the authoritarian actions of this administration.

Here are some examples of boy- and buycotts**:  Amazon (go to the source instead); Whole Foods (go to Mom’s, Wegmans, The Fresh Market, etc.).  Washington Post (go to the NY Times, the Guardian, etc.); Kindle and Audible (go to Barnes and Noble’s “Nook).
**(No guarantee these are the right “buycotts.”  Please do your own research!)

Flyers and stickers (i.e. post notices “in real life”): See this website at “Share Flyers in Your Community” of a boycott September 16-20

Motivate Others

  • One Million Rising   Indivisible has helped thousands to organize small meetings of neighbors, colleagues, friends.  They are encouraging us to either pressure or encourage ”pillars” to not cooperate.  It’s easy.  Give meeting participants a bit of history and context and challenge them to brainstorm effective “non-cooperation” actions in your community.

    Go to:  www.nokings.org/rise to learn about the concept, about “pillars”, and the underpinnings for this initiative. Watch the training sessions and get more detail.   And see our post of Aug 2 for more info.

No Kings-Another Mass Demonstration

  • Saturday, October 18   Put it on your calendar and find an event near you.  It is important that we grow the turn-out for these anti-authoritarian demonstrations.  If you are in DC, we will be downtown. Join US or organize your own group.
You Can Fight the Authoritarian Takeover

You Can Fight the Authoritarian Takeover

Feeling low?  Action is the antidote.  And there are so many actions you can take. Here are a few:

RALLIES
Saturday, Aug 16, come out to speak out against authoritarianism. Be vocal and visible.  Find a location near you around the country:  https://www.fightthetrumptakeover.com/

COMMENTS TO FED REGULATIONS
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has proposed federal regulations to strip coverage for abortions and abortion counseling from vet’s healthcare coverage.
Comments are due September 3, 2025 and must be submitted online.  Here’s the info to do so. And here is some information from the Center for Reproductive Rights to assist in crafting comments.  Anyone can comment!

TAKE IMPACTFUL ACTION
Participate in One Million Rising – organized by Indivisible enabling the public to push back against authoritarianism.  Go to:  www.nokings.org/rise to learn about the concept and the underpinnings for this initiative, watch the training sessions, and get more detail.   And see our post of Aug 2 for more info.

Together we can make a difference!
Cory

Photo: Gayatri Malhotra, Unsplash

A Million of Us Are Rising

A Million of Us Are Rising

Still looking for an effective way to save democracy?  Join One Million Rising.  An effort by Indivisible to organize “ordinary” Americans to push back against authoritarianism.

More than 40,000 participated in their two recent Zoom webinars!

We highly recommend the background info on authoritarianism from their first webinar featuring Maria Stephans and Daniel Hunter HERE. Daniel introduces the subject well at 15:10. Maria discusses specifics and talks about the concept of the “pillars” that need to organize and work with each other; she starts at 32:00. And HERE’s the link to Indivisible’s second training webinar.

Please consider signing up, like we are, to host a small group discussion about next steps (and/or ask a friend to host!)

Go to:  www.nokings.org/rise for more detail and to volunteer.  It’s not difficult and will be impactful!  We all need to continue to push back hard against authoritarianism and destructive regime actions.  We can do this in a collective effort.

Photo: Al Soot on Unsplash

New, Impactful Volunteer Opportunity

New, Impactful Volunteer Opportunity

This just in!  Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) has just rolled out the Pro Bono Litigation Corps (PBLC)a first-of-its-kind initiative mobilizing experienced, individual attorneys to take on some of the most pressing constitutional challenges of our time.  And they need YOU!

This program will focus on urgent, high-stakes impact litigation in areas such as:

  • Defending judicial independence
  • Protecting reproductive rights
  • Safeguarding immigrants’ rights
  • Advancing environmental justice
  • Resisting executive overreach

They have already filed their first major case: a class-action lawsuit filed on June 25 (together with some of the country’s largest environmental organizations).

If you are a litigator who is retired, solo practitioner, or former government attorney, your expertise is urgently needed.  Sign up HERE  

Cory

Photo: Nathan Lemon-Unsplash