An America as good in practice as it is in promise requires sustained effort and unwavering commitment to civil rights and equal justice for all.
Efforts to whitewash history, redefine who is American, erase entire communities, and advance grievance policies that seek to protect those who feel victimized by fairness all promote the dangerous ideology of white nationalism.
The Trump administration’s efforts to create chaos and spread fear are strategies to distract from their attempts to elevate this hateful ideology, implement unconstitutional policies, and redefine established law.
We can and must counter corrosive policies that divide us along racial, religious, economic, gender, and ideological lines.
Here are 10 ways to join people across the country in advancing civil rights and rejecting white nationalism.
We must take action now.
1: Register to Vote
Elections have consequences, and they don’t just happen every four years. Make sure you and everyone you know is registered to vote.
2: Wield Power Through Your Vote
Join the And Still I Vote campaign to reclaim and wield your power through your vote. The And Still I Vote campaign works in strategic partnership with state organizations to mobilize voters to be the change they want to see.
3: Learn How to Counter Disinformation.
Bad actors are very good at hiding disinformation in plain sight, including disinformation related to voting and hateful disinformation that seeks to exploit tensions and sow division. Learn how to spot and counter disinformation and what to do when you see it online — then train your family and friends to do the same.
4: Demand Inclusive Curriculum in Schools
No armor is more potent against the destructive forces of bigotry and hatred than an open mind and the opportunity to learn with and about children and families who are different from us. Write to your governor and demand inclusive and welcoming environments that celebrate and affirm all students in all schools and reject attacks on inclusive curriculum.
5: Advance Policies that Promote Equity in Education
The promise and power of this nation will always lie in its ability to ensure that people of all races, backgrounds, and origins have the opportunity to achieve their dreams and goals. It is both possible and necessary to change policies at the federal, state, and campus level to remove race-based barriers to opportunity in higher education and ensure a fair chance at success for all students.
6: Join Efforts Now to Ensure a Complete Count in the 2030 Census
Ensuring fairness and accuracy in the decennial census is vital to the health of our multiracial democracy, as the data guide legislative representation, the allocation of federal funds, and help policymakers make informed decisions. Follow the Roadmap to the 2030 Census for a complete, fair, and accurate count.
7: Oppose Mass Deportation and Protect Birthright Citizenship
These anti-immigrant policies tear apart families, our communities, and the fabric of our nation. Mass deportation is inhumane, and Trump’s attack on birthright citizenship is unconstitutional. Taxpayer dollars should not fund cruel, racist, and unconstitutional policies that deny basic rights.
8: Tell Congress to Reject Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP
Medicaid is a lifeline. More than 80 million people — more than 1 in 5 people in the United States — rely on Medicaid for health insurance, including 17 million older adults and people with disabilities. Cuts or harmful changes to Medicaid would be devastating. Additionally, more than 40 million people use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) every month to put food on the table. Ask your members of Congress to oppose cuts that would weaken SNAP and Medicaid. We can’t sacrifice people’s health care and nutrition assistance for tax breaks for billionaires.
9: Help Create a New Paradigm for Safety and Justice
The Vision for Justice platform serves as a north star in the movement to transform the criminal-legal system and reimagine safety in America. Now is the time to reimagine what safety means. Join us to create a new paradigm for safety and justice in America.
10: Stay Informed About How Federal Policies Impact Workers’ Rights
Follow the National Employment Law Project’s Worker Policy Watch for accurate and reliable information on how federal policies are shaping workers’ rights and what is at stake for working people nationwide under the Trump administration.