We are at an unprecedented time in history. A time when it is not safe for the majority of people to exist, and that means if we are capable, we need to step up. We can no longer flounder and allow the status quo to flourish because there is no status quo. Anyone and everyone who is not rich is going to be impacted by this at some point. Most of us already are.
So, what does stepping up look like? I’m glad you asked because I have a few ideas.
Take your work and talents and use it for the resistance.
What do I mean by that?
Now is the time to use the skills you have developed through education, experience, determination, self teaching, etc. These are going to be needed going forward. We must form an active resistance and we must communicate amongst one another.
We must develop underground networks of communication so we can disseminate information. This is the only way we survive.
Journalists, Writers, Investigators
The first people I thought about were the journalists. Journalists are supposed to be the people telling the truth to the citizens, and now if journalists have the capacity and ability they need to step up. We need you now more than ever.
Who is already doing this work and how can we build upon it? We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We just need to support what is already there.
Along with journalists we need any writers that can step up and help fill in roles that are needed to help disseminate information.
Anyone with strong investigation skills, good research abilities, and those who are good at figuring things out you’re going to be needed to work with anybody disseminating information, if you are not the same people.
We are seeing massive amounts of disinformation spread. Major groups within the government that provide important information such as the CDC, the FDA, the national weather service, are going to need someone replacing them. The people need to know what to do to be safe.
So we need journalists and writers creating underground newspapers, podcasts, television, radio. However, the messages can be spread. And those investigating need to be putting their skills to use.
We already know that this is possible, because this is what has happened since the government decided to ignore the pandemic. Individuals have had to step up and provide the news, and they found ways to investigate around the government. That needs to happen again on all of the following issues:
– We need people investigating the state of food, food safety, and any recalls. This may look like contacting groceries, having networks of workers at farms and stores that serve as informants on what’s going on for the journalists, or sick people informing these networks right away as illnesses crop up.
– We need people keeping track of the weather, and helping provide emergency warning systems. App developers can get involved and provide services by having an app to provide updates by area. This may save lives if there are no longer warnings of inclement weather.
– We cannot stop tracking COVID and other potential pandemics. Bird flu is on the rise and we need people tracking them as well. With the CDC gone, we need to keep vigilant in tracking wastewater, and getting hospitals and medical professionals willing to be the people who would otherwise have provided the info to the CDC providing that info to journalists instead.
– We need someone keeping track of all of the harm Trump is causing. Is he trying to get rid of the ADA? Let us know. Is he trying to repeal the 14th amendment? Let us know. Keep us up-to-date on that so we can fight back.
Media Makers
Beyond disseminating information, media makers are going to have a very important role.
Part of their role is going to be keeping people calm. That’s going to be hard because everybody is already on edge and it’s hard to be calm when you are not treated like a human being. But, people turn to the media for comfort when they are struggling the most, and media makers are going to need to be there.
This means two things.
First, media makers have to make content that is comforting. This means shows with happy endings. Sure they might not always be realistic. This doesn’t have to be the only content, but people are going to need stuff they can use to dissociate with otherwise they’re not going to get through this fascist regime and any fallout that follows.
This is especially true for marginalized communities. Marginalized communities are desperately going to need to feel represented and people will cling to that media. This is where Ashtyn and I fall within the resistance.
We are part of the media makers who are trying to create content that we hope will change the world.
Second, we are going to have to create media that moves the needle forward but we can’t do so in ways that are overt. With rich people rejecting DEI practices, including most of the studios in Hollywood, a lot of the mainstream content is going to be the same. It’s going to be remakes and reboots and people are going to be miserable.
So those of us who are fighting against the status quo are going to be of utmost importance. We are going to have to find interesting ways to slide messages of inclusion through.
We know that people learn how to treat others better through the media they watch. They learn how to treat disabled people through the media they watch. Unfortunately, much of that media is harmful and flawed and doesn’t include us which is why society treats us that way. But the work we do must be stealthily able to increase people’s awareness of marginalized communities and make them see that inclusion is the way forward. The world is much better for everyone when everyone is included.
Designers, Developers, Accessibility Specialists
Back in the day, people would use private radio stations, CB channels, underground videos, secret meetings in hidden locations, and other ways to disseminate information.
Today, one way to get information out there could be the creation of apps. Designing the platforms to disseminate information, media, and more is going to have to be a hallmark of this work and we are gonna need to turn to graphic designers, web developers, software developers, coders, and others who can help create the infrastructure so that people can share information safely and without government interference.
Accessibility specialists will need to be able to make sure that the apps can be used on a wide variety of platforms because disabled people are going to need to have access to all of this as well. Disabled people are almost always excluded, especially during emergencies like this, so making sure any content is available to the most amount of people possible is the best way to go about this, and that includes disabled people who need accommodations.
Agitators
Agitators can be anyone. They are an important part of the resistance. These are the people that try to disrupt the system.
For example, DHS and ICE want to deport Brown people. They have systems where you can report people. Why not start reporting the addresses of all of the higher ups in government? Get ICE hunting after them.
Have a big MAGA house in your neighborhood? Report that to ICE.
Another thing to do is disrupt Congress. We need to get into some nonviolent civil disobedience in Washington.
Start hosting sit-ins. Record everything that happens as a result.
If you have privilege, consider getting between authorities and marginalized bodies.
Agitate and uproot the systems however you can. We need you more than anyone on the front lines right now!
We appreciate your labor and love.
Agriculturalists
As food becomes harder to get we are going to need to have people within communities creating food within these spaces. Neighborhood gardens, home gardens, fruit groves, and urban gardens need to be created.
People need to have access to food and people who can grow food, tend gardens, and take care of the land are desperately going to need to step up. With food recalls no longer being a thing we need people working with these producers to also make sure that food is safe for communities that need it.
We definitely need this especially in marginalized communities, who often have food deserts in their neighborhoods anyways.
There is so much work to do and these are just a few ideas that are rumbling around my head.
We will be working to make media. That is our goal and our lot in life, especially during this time of great destruction and terrible upheaval
I hope y’all stay safe as we try to get through this together.
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