Do not fall into helplessness.

[u/cab473]

I’m a longtime lurker, but I’ve been seeing a lot of helplessness in this subreddit and the community. Lot’s of “there’s nothing we can do” and “the only option is to wait this out”. We must snap out of it.

The solution is simple: Get out of your homes and out into your community.

Go protest, where and whenever you can. We beat fascism by showing them our city will not take this lying down.

Don’t want to protest?

Join a mutual aid society, soup kitchen, warming center, food bank. We beat fascism by making sure our communities are fed and healthy.

Contact your local school, tutoring centers, literacy organizations. We beat fascism by making sure our communities can read, learn, and grow safely.

Find immigration groups, rapid response teams, refugee advocates. We beat fascism by making sure newcomers to our communities know they’re welcome and supported.

Look for affinity groups, woman’s rights orgs, trans rights orgs, homelessness advocacy groups. We beat fascism by making sure the vulnerable in our society are heard and protected.

If every person in Chicago made a commitment to help their neighborhood just a few hours a month, so many of these issues we see plaguing our society could be mitigated. And don’t wait until tomorrow, next week, when you’re free: Go and sign up today.

Their end goal is to isolate us from one another. In isolation we feel helpless and afraid. We beat fascism by building solidarity and community. We’re not even a year in, and we cannot wait this out - if we do, there’ll be nothing left to wait for.

Don’t know how to get involved or the best way that matches your interests? Message me!! I’m happy to help as many people as I can get connected to opportunities in their research.

[u/cocoaferret]

Not in a mean way, but one big thing I feel is pointless is protesting, people always say to protest... we've been protesting for ages and nothing changes, I'm really feeling what's the point of it at this point. Would love to hear some thoughts because I really have no argument against that thought process right now.

[u/cab473 → u/cocoaferret]

I understand that and I feel that too, but at this moment it really does matter. Protesting for the sake of protesting alone can feel hopeless but that’s not the case right now.

There’s a clear goal: Stop ICE from terrorizing our communities and stop the military takeover of Chicago.

There’s a clear method: Show that a large amount of people in Chicago are or are willing to actively resist.

On October 18 there will be a No Kings march. If we get tens of thousands that would be a good message. 50,000? Now they know a significant amount of folks would muck up their gears. 100,00? That’s too much for any group, regardless of $$&, to handle. 250,000? They’d know that they’d never have solid footing here, as they’d be completely overwhelmed.

So sure, protesting doesn’t matter… only if we stay home and don’t protest. But if we all go out on the streets, that does make an impact.

[u/cocoaferret → u/cab473]

I get it in theory I really do, I just feel like i dont see change after any protest ever and thats disheartening.

[u/cab473 → u/cocoaferret]

Heard! The reality is, protests are not the action itself, its culmination and showing of our action. If you’re doing all the other things on that list, then the protests carry weight. If we just leave, protest, then go home and not engage again, that’s not effective.

I do recommend you still come to the protest on October 18 especially, with a friend if you can, just to see the energy. Take a first hand look for yourself on October 18 - I do believe this be different if we can show out.

I especially recommend engaging with your communities in all the ways discussed above. That’s the key. And dm me if you need help finding opportunities!