Breaking The Pillars Of Authoritarianism

Hello Patriots!

We hoped for 20 participants at our One Million Voices Rising meeting last night; we ran out of chairs and name tags when 54 of you filled the room!  We’ve never seen such a focused, determined group—everyone was completely focused on stopping the ongoing MAGA power grab.  

Here are a couple of mid-week updates, including specific actions you may wish to join.

If you missed the meeting last night, here are the important highlights:

1. First, view this TED Talk by Erica Chenoweth - a worldwide authority on autocratic takeovers and nonviolent resistance. Chenoweth is recognized worldwide as an authority on autocratic takeovers and nonviolent resistance.
2. The key to destroying authoritarianism is to undermine the “pillars of support”, that hold up the regime, including business; labor; faith; education; civil service; military and police, etc. When the pillars start to crumble, the entire edifice falls.
3. We broke into small groups to brainstorm who we knew might be connected to some of the “pillars of support" Trump relies on for cooperation and support. We committed to have at least one serious conversation with at least one pillar-connected person before we meet again to discuss further non-cooperative actions we might take along millions of others nationwide.
   
   We'll meet again on Tuesday, August 26th, 5:30-7:00 pm. Location to be announced.

This evening, Wednesday, August 13, One Million Voices is holding the third informational session on Zoom, titled "Strategic Non-Cooperation to Fight Authoritarianism".

Please use this link to sign up:

One Million Rising: Strategic Non-Cooperation to Fight Authoritarianism · No Kings

Across the country, authoritarian forces are getting bolder and more dangerous. Trump and his allies are not hiding their agenda: mass deportations, rollbacks of civil rights, weaponized courts, and full-scale attacks on our democracy. We don’t have to wait until it’s too late. We can stop this. But it’ll take all of us—not just on single days of mass action, but through sustained organizing in our communities. That’s why this summer, we’re launching One Million Rising—a national effort to train one million people in the strategic logic and practice of non-cooperation, as well as the basics of community organizing and campaign design. This is how we build people power that can’t be ignored. You’re invited to join us—and lead. Let’s build a force bigger than fear and louder than hate. Let’s get ready. Let’s get organized. Let’s stop Trump. You’ll be onboarded to basic campaign design and learn how to implement it locally as well as get plugged into our next national campaign work. Your second community resistance gathering will move this action forward. Did you miss the previous sessions? That’s OK! You can use the YouTube links below to watch previous sessions and be caught up before Session 3 (though watching these is not required to attend!). Session 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4496VWDjwS0 Session 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahLB5Fre7nI&t=2s In Session 3 you’ll get plugged into our next national campaign work, and your second community resistance gathering afterward will move this action forward. To join an office hour offering additional support for leaders to help them organize and hold community resistance gatherings please sign up here: https://indivisible.zoom.us/meeting/register/p9VJwsUuRP6ZTqqNXTTgWQ#/registration Can’t get into the Zoom? No problem! Check out the livestream at nokings.org/rise - make sure to still register so you can stay in touch with us and receive all of the follow-up materials!

Mobilize

Tomorrow evening, August 14th, Steven Hassan, the author of "The Cult of Trump" will speak on Zoom about how we might understand how we got here and how manipulation, the media, and mind control tactics are being used to radicalize millions.

An Evening with Dr. Steven Hassan, author of The Cult of Trump · Defending Democracy in Hampden County

You’re Invited: An Evening with Dr. Steven Hassan — Author of The Cult of Trump Date: Thursday, August 14, 2025 Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Location: Western New England University Join us for a timely and urgent conversation with leading cult expert and mental health counselor Dr. Steven Hassan on the rise of authoritarian influence in American politics. A former cult member himself, Dr. Hassan has spent decades helping people understand and break free from coercive control. His groundbreaking books—including Combating Cult Mind Control and The Cult of Trump—expose how manipulation, media, and mind control tactics are being used to radicalize millions. With increasing concerns over QAnon, conspiracy movements, political extremism, and the weaponization of digital media and AI, this event will help make sense of how we got here—and what we can do to reclaim our freedom of thought. Free event! Bring your questions. Leave with tools for resistance. 📚 Learn more at freedomofmind.com

Mobilize

No Kings Westfield will stand in support of the democratic Texas legislators who are fighting to prevent the illegal off-year redistricting efforts of their republican colleagues.  We'll rally Saturday, August 16th on Park Square from 11:00am - 12:00pm to show our support for the rule of law, for the Texas legislators risking arrest, and for voting rights everywhere.

In Solidarity,

No Kings Westfield